re: Breastfeeding (the toddler years)

For the last week or so my 20 month old has wanted to nurse CONSTANTLY! She has nursed so much that my nipples are sore, and now it hurts every time she latches. I don't know if it's teething or a growth spurt or what, but it's exhausting! I'm tempted to go get some almond or soy milk for her, just to give my breasts a few hours rest...

I think it's most likely a growth spurt. I can't find any information on growth spurts after 12 months but I found a lot of mommies saying the same thing about their 19-21 month olds.

stopped breastfeeding my son at 18-19 months and i regret it but i think i did it ong enough to the point that it helped buid his immune system but at the same time i still gave him cow milk. is that how you moms did it or did you just breastfeed the whole time . This time since i have more knowledge I plan to breastfeed for as long as i can and not give her cow milk but almond or coconut milk instead.

Quoting Miss-Maia's Mommy:" I think it's most likely a growth spurt. I can't find any information on growth spurts after 12 months but I found a lot of mommies saying the same thing about their 19-21 month olds. "

I'm sure it's either a growth spurt or teething- or maybe both! I didn't end up getting her any almond milk... I decided I want to at least wait until her GI appointment next month before I introduce anything new. I'm having such mixed emotions about it. On one hand- I really want to have my body to myself for a while, but on the other hand- she has a lot of health issues (asthma and acid reflux) so I am want to give her BM as long as I can, and she is probably going to be my last baby so I feel sad about the prospect of never breastfeeding again.

Quoting J&M {EBFB}SAHM09:" stopped breastfeeding my son at 18-19 months and i regret it but i think i did it ong enough to the ... [snip!] ... i have more knowledge I plan to breastfeed for as long as i can and not give her cow milk but almond or coconut milk instead. "

With my oldest two I started giving them cow's milk at 12 months and they weaned at around 14-15 months. My youngest is 20 months and she has a cow milk protein intolerance (so she can't have it) so she has never had any fluids besides breastmilk and occasionally water.

Quoting J&M {EBFB}SAHM09:" stopped breastfeeding my son at 18-19 months and i regret it but i think i did it ong enough to the ... [snip!] ... i have more knowledge I plan to breastfeed for as long as i can and not give her cow milk but almond or coconut milk instead. "

humans don't need cows milk, so my son only gets it occasionally in his cereal. sometimes we use soy milk instead. He's still BFing at 28m, but even if he stopped nursing sooner, then I wouldn't give cow's milk.

Quoting dream:" humans don't need cows milk, so my son only gets it occasionally in his cereal. sometimes we use soy ... [snip!] ... we use soy milk instead. He's still BFing at 28m, but even if he stopped nursing sooner, then I wouldn't give cow's milk."

Yeah my son never drinks milk. he sure does love cheese and yogurt though :-) One of my friends has made breastmilk yogurt before and I really want to but idk if I can pump enough. I have a pump but I've never really used it.

Quoting J&M {EBFB}SAHM09:" http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/tooth-decay/"

yes?

Quoting Becky☮Will:" Yeah my son never drinks milk. he sure does love cheese and yogurt though :-) One of my friends has ... [snip!] ... made breastmilk yogurt before and I really want to but idk if I can pump enough. I have a pump but I've never really used it."

How do you make it? Sounds interesting & pudgy loves her some yogurt. Maybe through some strawberries & bananas in there & trick my BD into trying it. lol

Quoting Miss-Maia's Mommy:" How do you make it? Sounds interesting & pudgy loves her some yogurt. Maybe through some strawberries & bananas in there & trick my BD into trying it. lol"

I have no idea how to make it lol

Quoting mamadebs:" For the last week or so my 20 month old has wanted to nurse CONSTANTLY! She has nursed so much that my ... [snip!] ... what, but it's exhausting! I'm tempted to go get some almond or soy milk for her, just to give my breasts a few hours rest..."

Probably cognitive, the vocab explosion causes a lot of frequent nursing on the run up to 2 years. It doesn't feel like that long ago we were at that.. and i just came in here to catch up bcos my nursling is turning 3 in a few weeks!

sheesh, 3 years old, how does it happen lol. He will often only nurse down to bed at night now, it's amazing how quickly it happens. He still nurses during the night, but not during the day. I would never have thought such a frequent nurser would cut down so much. We recently had 10 hours apart, the previous longest time before that was 3 hours apart, and he latched on immediately when i got back to him. <3 full term bfing  

Quoting J&M {EBFB}SAHM09:" stopped breastfeeding my son at 18-19 months and i regret it but i think i did it ong enough to the ... [snip!] ... i have more knowledge I plan to breastfeed for as long as i can and not give her cow milk but almond or coconut milk instead. "

we're just doing breastmilk and then no other type of milk. He can drink other milk if he wishes, but it's not a significant or important part of his diet. He only had breastmilk for fluids till 9 months, then sips of water too. Around 18 months he had a little cows milk here and there and was drinking water frequently. He started having whole fruit smoothies around 20 months, and just after he was 2 years old i'd water down a little fruit juice with meals. Now at nearly 3 his main drink is water, with maybe 1 cup of fruit juice or smoothie a day. He has 5-6 small meals and snacks a day, nurses down to sleep at night and for his nap when he naps. Then he nurses a few times during the night, although occassionally less. He's about 75th centile in weight and height i think, bright and very active.

I understand the reason to breast feed an infant but Id like to be enlightened as to the reason to breastfeed a toddler that has teeth and a memory. I think if I could remember sucking my moms boob (and I remember my toddler years). I think I would be in therapy.

Quoting a'Renee Reddick:" I understand the reason to breast feed an infant but Id like to be enlightened as to the reason to breastfeed ... [snip!] ... a memory. I think if I could remember sucking my moms boob (and I remember my toddler years). I think I would be in therapy."

It isn't any different. It actually helps with tantrums and when they're sick. Tons of reasons for it.
Not sure why you happen to be in this particular thread.