Ok, so never in a million years did I think I would ever entertain the idea of nursing a toddler. Don’t get me wrong, there are a million and one reasons one should continue nursing…but I NEVER thought I would. *Note to self: Stop saying NEVER, it seems that I always end up doing exactly what I said I would not do. Prior to becoming a mommy, I would totally gawk at toddlers who would toddle over to their mommies and ask for milk.
I always thought if my wee one could ask for milk…it was time to give the boob the boot.
Breastfeeding has been pretty easy for me since my little guy was born, so I have never had to supplement with anything. Other than the general trials and tribulations of being a first time mom, I made it to my first goal of nursing exclusively for six months pretty seamlessly and then added in solids accordingly until my dude was a year. This was the way it was supposed to work. Spend the first 6 months just nursing and then months 6 through 12 practicing eating and working our way to at least 3 solid meals per day.
My little guy is now 14 months now and he eats like a champ albeit still skinny as a string bean and nursing all the time but definitely eating 3+ meals every day. So herein lies the dilemma…I am now the mom who has a little toddler who walks up to his mom and asks mama for mi mi (milk) and says “tank you” after.
Do people look at me? Probably! Have I thought about weaning? Absolutely! Have a read a tons of articles about mommy lead weaning and baby led weaning? You bet! Do I have the heart to listen to my strong-willed child cry if I deny him milk? Not yet! So what is a momma to do?
I am really self-conscious about nursing a toddler, but it works for us and keeps the sanity in our house so I have continued. At this point, nursing seems second nature to me but I am I have to admit a nice supportive non-nursing bra sounds really appealing. Not to mention, it would be nice to stop flashing random people at stores in Walnut Creek every time my little senor decides he would like some milk on demand. So as I write this, I am stuck wondering if my little one will ever self wean.
What if he doesn’t ? Will I cut him off ? Any one else experience this ?
Moms please weigh in…
Comments
OMG! I can so relate. My daughter is a year and a half and I’m still nursing. Like you, I gawked at the site of a mom breastfeeding her toddler before becoming a mom. But, now I’m in that same situation. I was at a restaurant not too long ago and had to whip out my boob! Hey, it kept Princess quiet. What else was I supposed to do? Never say never!
I nursed one to 18 months and another to 16 months. There just came a natural time where I felt it would be super easy to wean if I wanted to. For my first son, it was because he would only nurse for like 2 seconds, then race off to play again. I was tired of run-by sips! The second one was just too rough… he would pinch and I just couldn’t get him to stop, no matter what I tried (and I tried it all). So, when that natural lull came, I took it. As my LLL leader says, nursing is beneficial to both mom and baby so long as it is *mutually* agreeable!
I must say, I would have been in the same place had my little man not started biting me when he had the top and bottom teeth 🙂 Yep, that pretty much stopped the nursing for us! Lol. Otherwise, I don’t know when I would have stopped with my son. Luckily, I just started to offer a bottle or cup of formula (later milk) more often and he eventually was ok with it. A 3 day trip for Momma to Miss America in Vegas helped as well. I told myself if he doesn’t try to nurse when I return home, I’m not going to offer it. That was that! I cried a little when I realized we were done, but the very same month I became pregnant with our daughter. So the sadness was replaced with nausea and the idea that I would be doing it all over again in 9 more months 🙂 Don’t worry, it will happen when it needs to. I think it’s great you have nursed for so long!
Good for you! Keep giving into that kid till hes ready. My little guy just started complying with no more mamma tete without crying. He still asks four times a day and hes almost three. Dont worry about what people think just think about the great bond with your baby. He will always feel he can count on you. Breastfeeding is one of the hardest emotionally draining jobs ever. People make up tons of lame excuses not to breastfeed but I think they just dont want to do the hard work. Hang in there mom he wont still be aaking for milk when he goes to college
Whoever thought I’d be nursing a 2yr old and pregnant? It’s amazing what nature shows you is natural once you become a mom. At least there are more and more women out there who keep doing what they need/want to with their babies (especially without being on a soapbox about it instead of succumbing to what they perceive to be the social norm. For every one of us that give our human babies human milk like it’s no big deal, there will be another woman who will feel like she can do it too. 🙂
You are so right! I am just learning how not to say “I would never…” Loved your comment! Keep them coming 🙂
OMG! I totally relate to the run-by-sips! Very impressed by how long you nursed your kiddos! Yes, the mutually beneficial is a must to keep going 🙂 I look forward to more comments!
Oy Vay Jen! Biting! It just sounds painful and I would most definitely be done with nursing as well. I totally think there will be a part of me that will be sad when he is done nursing when it finally happens although I cant imagine feeling like that now. You are such a good mama!I don’t know how you do it with two kiddos 🙂
Wow! Very impressed! Yes, nursing is definitely draining but seems to get easier and easier physically as time goes on. The first 6 months felt like an eternity. Kuddos to you mama!
You are so right! I think I only felt committed to nursing the little guy because so many other women I admire were breastfeeding. I remember telling myself that if they can do, so can I 🙂 You rock lady!
The sacrifices we make as moms to breastfeed our babies is worth every bit. Good for mom’s health (& excellent natural liposuction!) Good for baby.
I had to go on a gluten free, dairy free diet (I learned to sympathize with those who have major allergies) with my first daughter as she had a protein intolerance. WHAT an adjustment! She only stopped nursing at 16 months because I was pregnant with her little sister and my milk changed – not to her liking. Now the baby is 15 months and isn’t even close to letting go. The bond is invaluable, and I hold her close and treasure the moment every time, because I don’t know how much longer it will last, and then even though the bond will always be there, it will change, for good. I can usually hold her off out in public and keep the nursing to the intimacy of our home – not much of an inconvenience. So I leave the timing up to her, for now.
Bottom line, if it still works for your family, then you are doing what is best. The time to make the change will come when it just doesn’t feel right or practical any more, or when either you or the little one are ready. And you will simply know when that is. You are, after all, a mom. =)