Are you breastfeeding a toddler?

[DisneyDiva13]

I simply don't understand why anyone CARES what anyone else does. I'll do what I want with my kids. You do what you want with yours. It's really THAT simple.

 

[NurseKim]

I haven't read all the posts here. But I want to say that I am a full supporter of Breastfeeding moms. I work as an RN with preemies and I love to teach moms how to BF their babies. I am actually going to sit for the IBCLC boards in July.
My Alex weaned at 15 mos...I had just passed my 1st trimester pregnancy with Ethan (yes I nursed while i was pg! ) I just weaned Ethan last month. I was ready, he was not as ready, but it worked out OK for us. He still will occasionally ask (he will sign for milk) but I just tell him that it's all gone and he goes about his way. I had his dad put him down for naps and bedtime occasionally and then I just stopped at naptime, then bedtime, then on 2/22, Ethan nursed for the last time in the morning. I had no idea it was the last time.
I am proud to have given my boys the best nutrition a baby could have. Kudos to all moms who BF their babies...and toddlers!

 

[AngieWin]

Has anyone had any luck weaning cold turkey with a 2 year old? It is time and he is not going to give up willingly! Any suggestions would be helpgul. I weaned dd at 2 1/2, but it was very easy and she was as ready as I was. DS, not so much, but I am really ready!

DS1 self-weaned at 21 months (with a little help from momma). When he woke up in the morning, instead of nursing, I gave him a sippy cup. I would try distracting him with other activities or planning other activities at nursing times. Drop the nursing that is his least favorite first and then leave the most favorite (for us that was bedtime) for the last.

DS2 is nursing at 19 months and since I am not pg this time, we will stop when we are both ready, whenever that is!!

 

[flminivanmama]

I've never done it but I can give you some ideas that I know other moms have used...

well we did drop the after nap nursing completely by switching to chocolate milk - I didn't do it on purpose - one day he woke up and I offered him chocolate milk and from that day on that's all he wanted after his nap!! I guess he was around 2.

somethings I know that have worked for others is to designate one chair for nursing - and then be near that chair as little as possible LOL, not sitting down, be out of the house as much as possible...

also you may find that just setting some limits or doing partial weaning (ie night weaning) might make the relationship easier.... and then you won't want to wean completely, you know?

 

[labst60]

I've never done it but I can give you some ideas that I know other moms have used...

well we did drop the after nap nursing completely by switching to chocolate milk - I didn't do it on purpose - one day he woke up and I offered him chocolate milk and from that day on that's all he wanted after his nap!! I guess he was around 2.

somethings I know that have worked for others is to designate one chair for nursing - and then be near that chair as little as possible LOL, not sitting down, be out of the house as much as possible...

also you may find that just setting some limits or doing partial weaning (ie night weaning) might make the relationship easier.... and then you won't want to wean completely, you know?

TOO FUNNY! Chocolate Milk is one my personal lifesavers. USUALLY, a mid-day request for "mommy milk" can be warded off by a sippy cup of chocolate milk for my 2 year old DD! Plain old "cow milk", forget it!

 

[hannahsmomma]

We used chocolate milk with dd and it worked wonderfully. I nursed her until she was almost 3, but with him it is just time. It is just stressing me out to the point were I am not a good mommy anymore. Basically it does mean that I can not sit down all day. As soon as I sit it is an open invitation to nurse.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I was looking through working mother, April 2007 at the dentist office this afternoon. They had a quote from Gwen Stafani (from no doubt) She said:

"I believe nursing gives you superpowers. How else could I get all this done?"

I think it said her son is a year old, still nursing.

I loved it. 2 thumbs up for Gwen!

 

[KandiB47]

Well, I not nursing a toddler yet but I wanted to subscribe. DS is 10 months old. I saw Kellymom.com mentioned in a previous post. Does anybody here have a kellymom handle as well? I'm KandiB47 on kellymom. I am very surprised to find all these EN's on the DIS boards. Very cool!

 

[emh1129]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but I just wanted to say that I think ALL of you nursing mothers are AWESOME. I was not able to BF my two sons, unfortunately. I tried everything, but it just didn't work out. I think what you all are doing is great and anyone who has a problem with it needs to just mind their own business. Perhaps they should be forced to eat all THEIR meals in private.

 

[hannahsmomma]

Update: Disney World weaned ds! I nursed ds Thursday night and we left Friday morning to come to DW. He hasn't nursed since. Has not even thought about it. I am excited to have made such a smooth transition that has been long over due (he is 2 & 1/2) but I am sad because I was not expecting it. I guess it is fitting since this is where he was conceived after 2 years of fertility treatments. DW really is the most magical place ever!

 

[emh1129]

hannahsmomma- I'm so glad that weaning went smoothly for both of you! That's wonderful I hope your family had a great trip!

 

[tanyaandallie]

Hmmmm, I have spent so much time on kellymom but had no idea there was a forum there. Must check it out!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Update: Disney World weaned ds! I nursed ds Thursday night and we left Friday morning to come to DW. He hasn't nursed since. Has not even thought about it. I am excited to have made such a smooth transition that has been long over due (he is 2 & 1/2) but I am sad because I was not expecting it. I guess it is fitting since this is where he was conceived after 2 years of fertility treatments. DW really is the most magical place ever!

OP here again...
Glad to hear you had a smooth transition and both of you are okay with it! Yay!
However, I would not refer to it as "long overdue". My son will be exactly 2.5 on Thursday and is still nursing strong. Not only do I not think it's time to wean him, he is at the LOWER limit of what anthropologists believe is the natural, biological weaning age for human beings. I am not saying you weaned at the wrong time, by any means...but I did want to put it out there that nursing a two year old is not a problem if both mother and child want to continue. It has myriad health and social benefits for both parties. Just tonight, my son developed a sudden fever. He didn't feel much like eating or drinking, and frankly I am completely unworried. I know as long as he will nurse well, he will get what he needs to stay hydrated and he will heal more quickly.
Clearly it was the right time for both of you and I'm very happy it was an easy "graduation"...and at Disney, no less!

 

[lilianddomsmom]

Hello.

I am a proud nursing mama of a 19 month old whirlwind toddler. I am hoping to get a good response from any other breastfeeding mamas of toddlers. I know there are a lot of you, because when I went to WDW last November/December, ALL of the babies nursing in the baby care center were over 12 months old!

So, who else is breastfeeding an older baby/toddler?? Have any tips or experiences to share about nursing in WDW or elsewhere?

P.S. I am not looking for opinions about whether or not it's appropriate. The research is VERY clear that breastfeeding past one year is nothing but beneficial (healthwise, socially, emotionally, etc.) so long as both mother and baby want to continue. I am also not interested in whether others find it appropriate at WDW. I'm sure I'll get a few of those opinions, anyway!

i just stopped breastfeeding my dd2 when she was almost 25 months, i'm still breastfeeding my ds10 months

 

[wen774]

Wow..what a great thread. Its so nice to see so many extended nursing mommies here.

I nursed my daughter until she was about 2 1/2. She nursed through my pregnancy and I tandem nursed after my son was born. I regret that my son only nursed til about 1 year due to some health problems he was having at the time. It was a great experience for me and my children.

 

[julm26]

Now please don't take this wrong... But are you all stay-at-home moms? I don't how or when you would have the time to do this if you worked?
Just a note: I never breastfeed my daughter (who now is 2.5) she did not take to it and she is very healthy and happy!!!

 

[amarberry]

Now please don't take this wrong... But are you all stay-at-home moms? I don't how or when you would have the time to do this if you worked?
Just a note: I never breastfeed my daughter (who now is 2.5) she did not take to it and she is very healthy and happy!!!

I was home with my DD until she was 4 months old. I went back to work from the time she was 4 months old until I quit working when she was 10.5 months old. I then went on to nurse her until she was 22 months old. The months I was at home with her after quiting my job was a breeze since she was only nursing maybe 4 or 5 times a day once I stopped working and gradually less and less. The pumping months were the challenge.

Breastfeeding my child was extremely important to me so I made it my priority to ensure that it would continue. My supply wasn't the greatest, so I ended up pumping 3x a day at work (mid-morning, lunchtime, mid afternoon). I was very lucky to have a supportive boss and lactation rooms in my building. I just brought work with me (files to review, etc.). I also would pump right before I went to bed (an hour or two after DD nursed last) and whenever I had a chance over the weekends. Was all of this fun...no, but I feel like it was worth it. Probably one of the things that kept me going was that I refused to let my job be the reason I stopped nursing my DD. It would have made me feel that my job was more important than her.

 

[flminivanmama]

Now please don't take this wrong... But are you all stay-at-home moms? I don't how or when you would have the time to do this if you worked?

before my children weaned they were nursing very infrequently and for very short periods of time.

 

[wen774]

Now please don't take this wrong... But are you all stay-at-home moms? I don't how or when you would have the time to do this if you worked?
Just a note: I never breastfeed my daughter (who now is 2.5) she did not take to it and she is very healthy and happy!!!

My best friends has extended nursed both of her children while working full time. For her it was a priority. Its a choice, and not always an easy one, but it was important to her so she made it work. I honestly am not sure if I could have done it if I wasn't a SAHM, but it certainly can be done.

 

[AngieWin]

I worked fulltime with DS1 and he weaned at 21 months. I now work part-time and DS2 is almost 21 months and no sign of weaning yet. It is hard at times, but well worth any struggles I had!