Nursing moms - a question about toddler

[SLK1]

Yeah, I guess that does make sense. Since I never "got" breastfeeding, I just felt like asking. Now for the next question, is 4 or 5 too old to breastfeed? Someone posted they told their child that it's something they do in private. If it's in private, isn't it considered "wrong" (for lack of a better word)? I mean, at what point is it considered "odd" for your child?

You know what? Never mind that question...it's really stupid. Just personal preference that is really no one's business. Sorry for asking!!! Happy nursing!!!

 

[justhat]

I haven't read past the 1st page, but we took my daughter at 14 months and she really cut back on the nursing a ton during the trip. Before the trip she was nursing several times a day, specifically before naps, but she just crashed out in the stroller most days on the trip so that eliminated the naptime nursing. And otherwise she was fairly distracted and didn't ask. So by the end of our trip (8 days) she was basically nursing when she woke up in the morning, before bed at night, and overnight-that was it. Not fun for my body!

Oh, and FWIW, she was also in that squirmy stage and when I tried to nurse her cause she was overtired, hungry, grouchy, etc., she just wrangled around in my arms so that did not work out. She just had little interest in stopping the activity to nurse so she basically cut it out on her own.

 

[cuppycake]

So you're telling me there's still hope for my daughter? Nearly everyone who knows I'm still nursing DD3 thinks I'm nuts. I figured she'll wean eventually, but not yet. She speaks in complete sentences and when she wants milk, she will say "I want your milk." Fortunately, I was able to teach her that mommy's milk is for in private only, so NIP is not an issue for us and it hasn't been since she vacation at 15 months.

There's hope! I just had to comment, because I've been where you are. My DD number 2 was a nursing fool. I thought she would NEVER quit. She turned 4 in April (and by around 3.5-4, I was starting to get more uncomfortable with nursing...I was just done). She was only nursing to sleep at night. We starting talking a bit more about how one day she wouldn't need to nurse anymore. She just started not asking every night.

The last time she asked was a week ago, but the last time she nursed was about 6 weeks ago. She doesn't freak when she asks and I say no (cuz really, I just put her off...."let's close our eyes and if you don't fall asleep in a few minutes we can nurse"....works every time ).

Good for you and know that it WILL end someday. Everything in good time, I suppose!

 

[AKADrea]

I'm sure you can nurse discreetlly so that most people wouldn't even know what you're doing

I have to deal with my almost 2yo shouting "NURSIE" when he wants it! Luckily it's mostly when he's tired or hurt ;-)

 

[Colleen27]

Yeah, I guess that does make sense. Since I never "got" breastfeeding, I just felt like asking. Now for the next question, is 4 or 5 too old to breastfeed? Someone posted they told their child that it's something they do in private. If it's in private, isn't it considered "wrong" (for lack of a better word)? I mean, at what point is it considered "odd" for your child?

You know what? Never mind that question...it's really stupid. Just personal preference that is really no one's business. Sorry for asking!!! Happy nursing!!!

It is personal, and it is something that changes based on experience. I always thought I'd wean my kiddos right at 1, based on one who never took to nursing and switched over to formula completely by about 4mo and the other who self-weaned at 10mo. Now? My youngest is coming up on her 1st birthday and I don't see her weaning any time soon. So while I'd say right now that for me 2ish would be my limit, I have no idea if I'd still feel that way if DD hasn't weaned herself by this time next year, you know? That's just parenting, you sometimes find yourself doing things you swore you'd never do!

 

[justhat]

It is personal, and it is something that changes based on experience. I always thought I'd wean my kiddos right at 1, based on one who never took to nursing and switched over to formula completely by about 4mo and the other who self-weaned at 10mo. Now? My youngest is coming up on her 1st birthday and I don't see her weaning any time soon. So while I'd say right now that for me 2ish would be my limit, I have no idea if I'd still feel that way if DD hasn't weaned herself by this time next year, you know? That's just parenting, you sometimes find yourself doing things you swore you'd never do!

I completely agree. Nursing was so hard for me in the beginning with my 1st. She lost a ton of weight, I had double mastitis, etc. We did mostly bottles for the 1st 3 weeks, then I tried again and we had success. After that beginning though, I was definitely weaning by 1yo, or so I planned. I never in my life planned to nurse a kid beyond a year. She went on to nurse till 21 months. With kid #2 I had no specific plan in mind as I saw what happened with the 1st and he sort of weaned at 9 months, then went back to nursing about a month later and weaned for good at 22 months, only after I pushed him in that direction cause I was done. With this kid I have 0 expectations, especially cause both of my kids have already begged to feed it bottles so I know I'll have to either supplement or pump so they can share in the experience to and who knows where that will lead.

 

[disfan07]

she was a preemie didn't need an antibiotic until age 3.5. How many kids are that healthy?

Me, Me, Me!! haha...i was 4.5 when i needed my first antibiotic...i was a bottle baby all the way.

I do have one question just out of curiosity....is everyone here who exclusively breastfed a SAHM?
I'm just wondering because while it is a littel ways off (i'm only 20) i do plan on going back to work after having kids so i would be able to breastfeed all teh time while on maternity leave but after that i wouldnt be with them all day...would it be a logical thing to breastfeed morning and night and than just supplement during the day? Becasue in my mind right now, when i have kids i do really want to breastfeed them but i also want to work but i havent wraped my mind around how that would work out.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I do have one question just out of curiosity....is everyone here who exclusively breastfed a SAHM?

No, I was/am a full-time working mom. DD was exclusively breastfed and never had a drop of formula. Was it easy? No, it takes committment. But it is doable. As I mentioned in a post earlier, I had trouble pumping. It took a lot of work to pump enough for bottles while she was at daycare. Luckily, her daycare was two buildings down the street from where I worked and I would go down every lunchtime to nurse her. That was one less bottle I had to pump for. I had a 12 weeks of maternity leave. I started pumping after 6 weeks to build up a stash of milk in the freezer, and I needed that for the days when I just couldn't pump enough. I also pumped on weekend days at least once to get a little extra. I don't want to scare you though. Many moms don't have problems pumping like I did.

Even though it was a ton of work, I don't regret it at all and would do it again. I did stop pumping once DD turned 1 and we transitioned her to cow's milk, but we continued nursing until she was 21 months. Towards the end, she would only nurse first thing in the morning and right before bed at night.

 

[Madzac]

As I posted I have nursed all three of my kids, the first two to age two and the baby is now 21 months and still nursing. I too am a WOHM. It is not easy to pump, but I did it with all three and none of them had a drop of formula. It doesnt take a lot of time, takes a supportive work environment, but you can make it work!!! When your time comes, I recommend getting a really good pump and enlisting help of other WOH nursing moms for support!

 

[Sparkleshine]

As I posted I have nursed all three of my kids, the first two to age two and the baby is now 21 months and still nursing. I too am a WOHM. It is not easy to pump, but I didnt with all three and none of them had a drop of formula. It doesnt take a lot of time, takes a supportive work environment, but you can make it work!!! When your time comes, I recommend getting a really good pump and enlisting help of other WOH nursing moms for support!

Ditto this but I only have 2 kiddos! Full-time WOHM and my kiddos never had a drop of formula either - I feel very fortunate! It is totally doable.

 

[CLR4321]

LOL! I had to laugh about your gymnastics comments. I remember when my son went through that phase! I nursed him until he was 27 months old (basically just at night or to put him down for a nap on my days off after he was about 14 months old because I was working 9-10 hrs a day after that 5 days a week). I wouldn't worry. You can find a quiet empty bench, use the baby care centers or do it on a ride that is moving (people aren't going to be looking at you, they will be watching the ride). If the baby pulls off your cover up, dont worry.

 

[AngieWin]

I'm another working mom who just did breastmilk. DS #1 and DS#2 (now 6 and 4) were 8 weeks old when I went back to work. I pumped for them until they were 12 months old and then nursed only on days off and nights. They self weaned, ds#1 at 21 months (20 weeks pg) and ds#2 at 36 months (8 weeks pg). DS#3 will be 4 months old when I go back in 2 weeks and I will pump again for a year. We have no plans for any more babies, so we will bf as long as we both decide.

I agree that pumping while working can be a challenge, but it is infinitely worth it.

 

[Tiffany_PartyOf7]

I haven't read any of the replies but wanted to give my .02

I've nursed a 2 year old at Disney numerous times. I will do so anywhere and anytime. I've never receive any bad comments about it. I think most people at Disney are too preoccupied to even notice you are nursing. LOL. Oh and mine were crazy nursers too - little gymnasts. LOL

 

[tartemis]

Another working mom here that nursed exclusively -- and I had a premie. Pumping sucks, but I didn't want my DD to have any formula so I made it work. I would nurse before work, pump once in the morning at work, come home for lunch to nurse, pump once in the afternoon at work, and then nurse right when I came home from work and before bed.

At 12 months, I introduced milk and stopped pumping at work and just nursed before work, at lunch, and after work. I eventually weaned her when she was 16 months and I was pregnant with #2 (who will be here in a few weeks!) I definitely hope that I'm able to do the same thing this time.

 

[Mommy2Julia&Brynn]

I'm so happy to see this thread! I needed it!

My DD is almost 16 months, and she'll be 17 months when we go. We still nurse 4 times a day, more if she asks for it (and I'm one who has to deal with her saying, "b**bie!" or lifting my shirt and saying, "mmmmm...!"). She is quite a gymnast and distracts easily, but I guess it's not just her! Must be the age! She won't use a cover, either, so I'm hoping that some of the mentioned spots aren't crowded or that those baby care centers aren't too uncomfortable. Glad to know I'm not alone in this! Now, off to post a cloth diapering question...