re: Breastfeeding (the toddler years)

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."

first off, teeth have nothing to do with breastfeeding. some kids get teeth as young as 3 months old.
second, I doubt you remember anything before your 3rd birthday and probably not much before your 4th. Most people don't nurse that long anyway and of those that do, and remember it (usually people who were nursed past 4 years old), it is almost always a pleasant memory.

To a baby and toddler, boobs are associated with milk / food, period. There is no sexual connotation for them or anything inappropriate. Just as a banana or a cucumber might be "sexual" to some people. It's really just a normal food to most people.

here are some links with a lot more info
http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/toddler-foods/

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about2090033.html

<blockquote><b>Quoting a'Renee Reddick:</b>" 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."</blockquote>


Breastmilk will even benefit a woman of your age. It's healthy as smurf and still has nutrients as well as antibodies. Cow milk is actually LESS neccesary for human consumption yet it glamorized with "got milk" ads and so forth.

Toddlers and preschooler are not traumatized by breastfeeding and I can assure you that would be the last things my children will go to therapy for.

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."

Because children don't just stop growing after their 1st birthday. Also, they prescribe donated breast milk to some cancer patients. Why? Because it has nothing to do with how many teeth you have or how much you can remember it's about nutrition and the immune system. The fact that anyone would stop breastfeeding before they're child is ready to is what confuses me. It makes them feel safe, it gives them energy and almost all the nutrition they need. I read a book to my daughter while she nurses, I talk to her, she smiles at me. It's an amazing way to bond with your toddler.

My daughter will be one next month and I'm drawing a blank on how I continue nursing combined with solids....
She currently eats 2-3 small meals a day. She nurses about 5-7 times during the day and gets up 2-4 times a night to nurse. I wanted to let her self wean but my nipples are hurting so bad   I'm almost positive I don't have thrush and I'm not pregnant either. Everyone keeps telling me to wean her from the night feedings and up her solids during the day. I'm also being told to just start giving her whole milk (which I will not do). How can I find a perfect medium? Because right now, the pain is making me want to give up   I won't, but believe me, I want to. Does it get better?

Quoting Cghhffhnjj:" My daughter will be one next month and I'm drawing a blank on how I continue nursing combined with solids.... ... [snip!] ... medium? Because right now, the pain is making me want to give up   I won't, but believe me, I want to. Does it get better?"

I wonder what could be causing the pain? I would google lactation consultants in your area and try to find an answer first. How long has the pain been going on for? Its happened to me a few time s(my son is almost 2 1/2) but it usually only lasts a few days to a week. And it DEFINITELY could be thrush or a clogged duct! Those go away with hot showers, massages, and switching positions of breastfeeding.
Are your nipples dry or red? Itchy?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Becky☮Will:</b>" I wonder what could be causing the pain? I would google lactation consultants in your area and try to ... [snip!] ... duct! Those go away with hot showers, massages, and switching positions of breastfeeding. Are your nipples dry or red? Itchy?"</blockquote>




It started two weeks ago and just never got better. She has 3 teeth and does bite at times so that's what I thought caused it. But I just can't imagine that is truly the reason. My nipples are a tiny bit on the pink side but nothing super noticeable. They don't itch either. I was thinking clogged duct but it's both nipples and she nurses so often I would think they would be relieved if it was in fact that. I'm waiting to hear back from my doula who is also an LC to see if she can offer advice  

Quoting Cghhffhnjj:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Becky☮Will:</b>" I wonder what could be causing the pain? ... [snip!] ... be relieved if it was in fact that. I'm waiting to hear back from my doula who is also an LC to see if she can offer advice  "

Maybe she's having a growth spurt and nursing more often and/or sucking harder during nursing to trigger more milk production. My LO did that a few weeks ago- and my nipples were so sore! It didn't last too long, though. As far as what to do when she turns 1- you don't have to change what you're doing right now...just let her keep nursing on demand. Or, if you (and she) are ready to space out the feedings a bit then just offer another drink in place of a nursing session. It's really up to you how you want to do it- whatever works for you and your LO.

Quoting Cghhffhnjj:" My daughter will be one next month and I'm drawing a blank on how I continue nursing combined with solids.... ... [snip!] ... medium? Because right now, the pain is making me want to give up   I won't, but believe me, I want to. Does it get better?"

Did you check for a crack, red bump, or cut on your nipples? I couldn't figure out why mine were sore for the longest time then I found a small red mark on the bottom. I just used some Lanolin from Walmart before she nursed so it wouldn't hurt. It healed after less than a week. I got one on the other side after that from her using her teeth to eat again. Mines 14 months old. Around 12 months though my breasts always felt tender like she was trying to get milk out that wasn't there. It was because of a growth spurt though, she was nursing a lot more than usual.

Lanolin is like the miracle treatment for breastfeeding haha
And as for when your LO turns one, that's all up to you and her. I never specifically changed anything. My son is 2 1/2 and still doesn't drink cows milk. He does love yogurt and cheese though, so you can try those for her. But when it comes to feedings, I have always fed on demand whether it be solids or breastmilk. My son still doesn't necessarily hve a strict schedule on when or how much he eats.

Quoting Miss-Maia's Mommy:" Did you check for a crack, red bump, or cut on your nipples? I couldn't figure out why mine were sore ... [snip!] ... was trying to get milk out that wasn't there. It was because of a growth spurt though, she was nursing a lot more than usual."

My doula came over last night and took a look at everything. She thinks that her sucking has changed because of the use of her sippy cup. I always put a small amount of water in one and leave it on the floor for her to sip on here and there. She rarely drinks it, but I have it there mainly for her to get used to it.
My nipples look fine according to her. So I guess it's just that she has a "stronger suck". She brought some lanolin over last night and I put it on immediately lol. I'm hoping my nipples get used to it soon because everytime she latches it feels like the beginning all over again.
Thanks so much for your help ladies   I'm confident that I can continue to nurse into toddlerhood!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Cghhffhnjj:</b>" My doula came over last night and took a look at everything. She thinks that her sucking has changed ... [snip!] ... beginning all over again. Thanks so much for your help ladies   I'm confident that I can continue to nurse into toddlerhood!"</blockquote>



Yayyy! :-) so glad we could be here to support you.

omg, my son is almost 2 and still gets up for a night feeding most nights (he sleeps through sometimes)....... How can I help him sleep through? I am pregnant again and need my uninterrupted sleep.

Quoting yogini mama:" omg, my son is almost 2 and still gets up for a night feeding most nights (he sleeps through sometimes)....... How can I help him sleep through? I am pregnant again and need my uninterrupted sleep."

My son will be 2 in September and is up multiple times a night  .

I was pregnant when my daughter was getting up multiple times through the night too (every 3 hours) and after a few months, I couldn't do it any more. My husband went in to cuddle with her or just reassure her. I think it took about a week and she started sleeping though the night. She was 16 months.

We have tried that with my son multiple times and he just gets angry (you aren't mama, I asked for mama). I think part of the problem is that my husband doesn't see it as though it is important as he did when I was working and pregnant (though I end up sleeping in my son's room after about midnight almost every night so I can get more sleep and my husband doesn't like that I'm gone).

Quoting Roe23:" My son will be 2 in September and is up multiple times a night  . I was pregnant when my daughter ... [snip!] ... in my son's room after about midnight almost every night so I can get more sleep and my husband doesn't like that I'm gone)."

My DD will be 2 in October and still wakes up several times a night as well. Usually I nurse her to sleep and put her in her crib, and then when she wakes up I just bring her to my bed. My other two daughters were both sleeping through the night at this point- and with both of them I was even able to put them to bed awake and they would go to sleep. My youngest will crawl out of her crib if I put her in it awake, and she will get out of my bed if I try to lay in it with her. It's frustrating.

Quoting mamadebs:" My DD will be 2 in October and still wakes up several times a night as well. Usually I nurse her to ... [snip!] ... out of her crib if I put her in it awake, and she will get out of my bed if I try to lay in it with her. It's frustrating."

Since my son got his 'big boy bed' (a twin mattress on the floor), I've felt so much more rested, even though he is up just as frequently at night. He was climbing out of his crib too (and so proud of himself), I was scared he was going to land on his head.