My youngest is now 14 months. I nursed my twins until they were 18 months, but by this age (14 months), they were only nursing when they woke up in the morning and before bed, and maybe once during the day.
My youngest, however, is nursing like crazy- all the time, no plans of slowing down, no regard to where we are, what is going on, if she sees me sit down, she wants me to pick her up and she wants to raise my shirt up to my neck and nurse.
Doesn't matter how much she has eaten (she eats plenty of food- good food, so this is not the problem), and even if she just nursed 5 minutes ago- It is driving me crazy! We aren't ready to wean yet, but do want to cut back.
Here is the problem, I believe- she never took a pacifier or sucked her thumb (which the twins both did suck their thumbs) and I know that a baby this age still has the sucking instinct/reflex, and she has been using ME as her pacifier/thumb alternative.
She also wouldn't know what to do with a bottle- she drinks from a straw-type sippy cup for all her water and such (which, yes, she does get plenty of).
Any suggestions? Thanks!
This is not uncommon, here is another site that is all about breastfeeding, just scroll over to thier message boards, it's on the right side.
They know there stuff in this area.
Your daughter sounds like my nephew. He's 3 now and weaned a couple months after turning 2. He had the same nursing personality. I really think it's just a personality thing.
I second going to La Leche. It's a great place to get ideas & to make some friends.
It too have been my baby's pacifier! My second baby was so attached to nursing that it was really hard for her to quit, she nursed until she was almost 3 years old. While it was hard for me at the time, I acctually miss it now! So I guess my best advice is just to hang in there and know that she will outgrow it eventually. In the mean time, sometimes a fun activity will distract her from wanting to nurse, like reading a book together, going for a walk, helping you bake something, etc. It may be that she wants to nurse more when she is simply bored and can't think of anything else to do. Having a friend over to play is also a great distraction, although you baby may still be too young for that one. Good luck!
Have you tried to give her a bottle? Maybe try to give her a bottle once in a while instead of the sippy cup? She has time for that later. Then you can gradually wean her in the next 4 months or whenever you are going to? Hooray for you for nursing your children so long! My last was nursed the longest, and she is the happiest child I have!(and the youngest, so she gets a lot of attention!)
have you tried making designated nursing times or place? obviously this may not be overly convenient while you have your twins too, but my good friend had an issue with this. She ended up telling her son that the "milk" was sleeping and that nursing was for before bed and first thing in the a.m.
obviously, this met with some resistence at first... but her son soon got with the program and was o.k. once he realized he wasn't being cut off. she nursed him like this until he was 2 1/2... then he weaned himself... and it was their quiet time together. (also helped because he was a big kid.. appeared older than he was... she got tired of the rude comments and stares in public... sad to say, but this helped keep it enjoyable for everyone)
I really, really recommend the book "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler," published by La Leche League. It's a very unique book with info not available anywhere else, and it's a great balance of suggestions of how to wean or reduce nursing in non-traumatic ways and also how to enjoy your little person who is growing up but still a baby in so many ways.
You could borrow it for free from your local La Leche LEague group (www.llli.org) or find it cheap at POwells.com or Amazon.com.
Congratulations of your nursing relationship--you and your babies will reap the benfits of it forever. ;)
I had a niece like this.. I'll have to ask my sister what she did....
do distractions work? offering a snack or water instead? i know you said that it doesn't matter if she's just eaten or not. are things suddenly stressful or busy in a way that she's just seeking additional time with you? do you feel like the only quality time you spend with her is nursing time? maybe trying to play with her during the day, replacing special time with you one on one with nursing time? just suggestions. la leche league is a great place for support and answers. how weaning happens is a great book you might want to check out, it will offer ways to help "cut back" etc. good luck, and good job on nursing baby for so long and wanting to continue eventhough things aren't playing to your plan at the moment. teething or developmental changes can also be the cause of a new need for extra nursing.
just say no. She's old enough. give her real food and only nurse her morning/nap/before bed. otherwise give her snacks - cheerios. Hold her on your lap, sing/play...but do not let her pull up your shirt - wear a one-piece swimsuit under your shirt if you need to.
Hi K.,
Get the information from kellymom another mom recommended and find a La Leche League group at www.llli.org for support. I would just tell you to remember that every child is different and unique. My son was the exact same way, no matter how much he ate. He still nurses frequently at 23 months. It really is a personality thing in some cases. My son is a people person and wants the connection nursing brings in addition to the food.
H.
I nursed both my sons until they self weaned, right around 30 months. This "stage" your baby is going through is short lived, but it is more a security issue. Do you leave your daughter to go to work at all? It seems like she wants you close right now. Just give it 2 weeks and you should see a decrease in need. Mostly enjoy it, it is such a short part of your lives together!
