Are you breastfeeding a toddler?

[ilovejack02]

I have a silly question... or maybe not so silly i dont know. My first son I only nursed about 3 months. It hurt alot and I really think I had some p.p. depression so i really just wasnt handling things well for a while. ANYWAY lol, next baby im hoping to be in there for the long haul, maybe not as long as some of yall, but im gonna try. Now for the question, do you give your kiddies regular milk too once they get over a yr old or none until you stop breast feeding?
Im just curious, THANKS!

 

[tanyaandallie]

My ds is 22 mos and still nursing. He does not drink cows milk. I have tried and he has no interest in it. My dd was the same way, although at 3.5 she loves chocolate milk and sort of likes regular cows milk.

I think all moms are different. Some offer cows milk, some don't. It's not necessary to offer cows milk, but there is nothing wrong with it either. All personal preference.

 

[flminivanmama]

we gave them milk around a year

 

[Monkeyfeet]

I have a silly question... or maybe not so silly i dont know. My first son I only nursed about 3 months. It hurt alot and I really think I had some p.p. depression so i really just wasnt handling things well for a while. ANYWAY lol, next baby im hoping to be in there for the long haul, maybe not as long as some of yall, but im gonna try. Now for the question, do you give your kiddies regular milk too once they get over a yr old or none until you stop breast feeding?
Im just curious, THANKS!

Hi! May I first start off by suggesting that you attend LLL meetings before you are due and they can help out with questions you have before? Then if there is a problem after, you can call them right up and they can help. It should not hurt, but does if there is a bad latch which sounds like there may have been.

I offeed Organic cow's milk to dd at 1 yo, but she hated it and at 2 yo she still will not touch it. After a lot of research I feel that cow's milk is not needed, nor is it really good for dd. I can pull up articles if anyone is interested. However, if she decideds to drink it then I would prefer she has organic. Our doctor agrees that it is best for little ones to have organic milk due to the hormones and antibiotics in them. I do not drink milk, but dd does. She he gets regular milk and dd would get organic.

Ok, so way more info than you asked for.

 

[hannahsmomma]

Both dd and ds drink a ton of cows milk while nursing. I also use organic, mostly because it just taste better.

 

[ilovejack02]

Hi! May I first start off by suggesting that you attend LLL meetings before you are due and they can help out with questions you have before? Then if there is a problem after, you can call them right up and they can help. It should not hurt, but does if there is a bad latch which sounds like there may have been.

That is def the plan to do that this go around. Ihope to have a much happier experience next time around. I swear if need be Im gonna get a b.f. specialist too live with us .
We only use a local creamery for milk, they have been around here for i swear a hundred years lol. They dont call themselves organic, but they dont use any of those growth hormones or whatever folks are using on the cows these day. So we have always stuck with those. Ive read articles on the no milk debate. My oldest 2 have always been very healthy children. SOME of that i attribute to they have never been in day care. But with Osteoporosis seeming to be striking quite a few of the older folks in my family we will def be drinking milk along with looking at all the other ways to get calcium in our bodies. Until my ped says no more milk Ill stick with it.

 

[amarberry]

Now for the question, do you give your kiddies regular milk too once they get over a yr old or none until you stop breast feeding?
Im just curious, THANKS!

We introduced organic cow's milk to DD when she was 13 or 14 months old. She wasn't really interested for a couple of more months. Personally, I think that after 12 months is a good time to introduce kids to dairy, but it doesn't mark the end of nursing.

 

[disneydude]

Our children both drink organic milk. Our oldest nursed for 40 months and started milk at 12 months. Our youngest is 30 months still nursing strong and has also drank milk since 12 months, the youngest also loves soy milk.

 

[justhat]

We started milk with my daughter around 12-13 months but she kept on nursing till 21 months. I looked at cow's milk like any other baby food. After all, you introduce fruits, veggies, cereals, etc. but it doesn't replace nursing, so I did the same with milk.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I agree with justhat. Milk doesn't replace breast milk, just in addition too.

Now my oldest never really got a taste for milk until she stopped nursing. Then she started to like it more (and drinks a lot of it as 5 year old now.)

He little sister is allergic to milk. She does drink chocolate soy milk. I can't get her to drink the plan kind much.

They both nursed until around 27 months old. Really Lily still tries to nurse a few mornings a week. She doesn't get any milk. She still tries for about 5 seconds. Some habits die hard. She is 30 months old now.

 

[kstgelais4]

I am still nursing my 21 mo. old ds. I am leaving for London tomorrow (just him and I) to see my sis, and I kinda wanted him to still be nursing just so I can calm him on the long plane ride. Kind of a selfish reason I know. My goal is to nurse him until 2 years. My others were 18 months, 11 months (he weaned himself, very sad for me), and 19 months before they weaned, so this is the longest I have gone. Anyway, I just have to say good for you ladies, sticking to your guns and going against the norm.

 

[Juliet25]

sorry but thats gross..and i think it fits your needs emotionally more than it does nutrionally..seek therapy please.

 

[Juliet25]

Can anyone explain to me or share their story of their child "self-weaning"? My son is 23 months now and nurses 3-5 times a day (usually 2x a night for sure). I thought about trying to night wean him, but then I changed my mind! I'd really like to just let him decide, but I'm curious about how that happens. If anyone would care to share their stories, I'd love to hear them!

My DD weaned a few months ago at 3 1/2. She had just entered day care around her 3rd birthday, so I didn't want to suddenly stop. Eventually, it became less and less important for her to nurse after school/in the morning, and it was mostly at night. If she wanted to nurse, I just distracted her. Eventually, and with a bit of coaxing from me, she was ready to wean. I think the whole process took 3 months. I think the longest she went between nursing was a week. After that, the process was very quick.

It's hard, I know. I felt like she would *never* stop nursing. But if I get the opportunity to nurse another child, I would do it at least 2 years.

Nursing's an awesome experience. Too bad some poor souls can't get past their own hang-ups to realize how beautiful the experience is.

 

[annie1995]

sorry but thats gross..and i think it fits your needs emotionally more than it does nutrionally..seek therapy please.

You are obviously not educated in breastfeeding much are you?
Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY
Nursing toddlers are SICK LESS OFTEN
Nursing toddlers have FEWER ALLERGIES
Nursing toddlers are SMART
Nursing toddlers are WELL ADJUSTED SOCIALLY

So It is you I'm afraid that should seek therapy for being so judgemental, and closeminded. Nursing is a beautiful bond between mother and child that should never be shot down or labeled "gross" just because the mother chooses to nurse into toddlerhood. I nursed my first two children until they were 3. And I plan to continue nursing my youngest until he feels it is time to stop. I will not force him, but I will not deny him. Please keep your negative opinions to your self. This thread is for support for nursing mothers of toddlers, it is not a place to come and flame us.

 

[amarberry]

He little sister is allergic to milk. She does drink chocolate soy milk. I can't get her to drink the plan kind much.

I love chocolate soy milk too (in fact, I might just need to have a glass tonight after reading this!). Have you tried the Very Vanilla Silk Soymilk? It's the only soymilk my DD will drink. It's very tasty and it might start getting her more used to a vanilla or plain flavored soymilk.

 

[DianeV]

Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY
Nursing toddlers are SICK LESS OFTEN
Nursing toddlers have FEWER ALLERGIES
Nursing toddlers are SMART
Nursing toddlers are WELL ADJUSTED SOCIALLY

--sounds just like my kids who never 'nursed' at all! Do you realize what you just did? Exactly what you are accusing the other person of doing - I am not going to post anymore or 'intrude' however I think it needed to be mentioned

 

[ilovejack02]

Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY
Nursing toddlers are SICK LESS OFTEN
Nursing toddlers have FEWER ALLERGIES
Nursing toddlers are SMART
Nursing toddlers are WELL ADJUSTED SOCIALLY

--sounds just like my kids who never 'nursed' at all! Do you realize what you just did? Exactly what you are accusing the other person of doing - I am not going to post anymore or 'intrude' however I think it needed to be mentioned

Im all about folks breastfeeding as long as they see fit. I am going to try to do it longer next time around, i only hit 3 months with DS and i was very sad, all those things you just listed describes DS too. My close girl friend nursed her oldest until 2 and her DD is the most UN socially adjusted child in the world. She is never sick and very smart, but because mommy is a nervous over protective mom she has created a socially unfit child. I dont think nursing or not nursing helps with SOME of those things. I do believe breastfeeding is best, but coming from a someone that only breastfed for 3 months and my child is NEVER sick and is super smart and well adjusted, lets not just think that only breastfed babies are that way. ALSO to those that want to judge because folks want to breastfeed for an extended period of time I think that is crappy too. Get a life and quit worrying about how long someone breastfeeds their kid its not your business.

 

[AngieWin]

Re cows milk -

I work part time and for the first year I pumped and they got bottles of mommys milk. After a year they would get whole milk in sippy cups when I was at work and then nursed at home.

My goal was to get them through the winters for the extra immune system boost. DS2 is now 18 months and no signs of stopping. DS1 self weaned at 21 months when I was pg.

 

[Tinker_]

AngieWin--
I love that you are doing what I am!! I work 2 days a week, and I HATE pumping!!! I don't know why-- just not my thing. So, DS drinks Cows milk from a sippy when I am at work, and I nurse as soon as I get home

YAY FOR NURSING MOMS!!!!!! <3

 

[northriver]

Just popping in to say "hi"! My older child self weaned at 22 months. DD is almost 20 months and still nurses once or twice a day, always first thing in the morning and sometimes afternoon, and only at home. She was almost weaned at 18 months, but then had a nasty stomach flu and the only thing she could keep down for 3 days was breast milk. If she hadn't been nursing I suspect she may have needed to be hospitalized for IV fluids. So, yes, thank goodness for mommy milk!!! In any case, if she wants to nurse at Disney I wouldn't stop her, and i'm glad to know there are so many other moms nursing toddlers!