re: Breastfeeding (the toddler years)

Quoting Misty*Twins+1+Twins*:" Well, I'm about to be nursing 3 toddlers... the twins turn 1 on the 16th and Calista is almost 2.5 and ... [snip!] ... so I'm just not mentioning the fact she'll be 2.5 on Feb 10th. We'll see how long that will last. She's definitely not ready..."

Why does he want to wean her? It can't be he thinks all children must wean at the same exact time? that seems rather arbitrary. Whatever the case congrats & WTG momma. It's tough enough nursing twins, let alone also nursing an older child.

Quoting justanothamotha:" Why does he want to wean her? It can't be he thinks all children must wean at the same exact time? that ... [snip!] ... arbitrary. Whatever the case congrats & WTG momma. It's tough enough nursing twins, let alone also nursing an older child."

Thanks. I'm not sure which was worse... nursing toddler twins and a baby, or a toddler and baby twins. LOL I've been breastfeeding for 4+ years now. Anyway, he's very militant with discipline and my 2.5 year old is on the bratty side right now. He sees breastfeeding as a reward for bad behavior and that if I wasn't breastfeeding her still, she'd be better behaved. That sound pretty convoluted when I type it out LOL. Anyway, he's not going to win this battle. He knows that they're my boobs and I get to choose.

Quoting Misty*Twins+1+Twins*:" Thanks. I'm not sure which was worse... nursing toddler twins and a baby, or a toddler and baby twins. ... [snip!] ... when I type it out LOL. Anyway, he's not going to win this battle. He knows that they're my boobs and I get to choose."

I'm glad you are going to keep nursing if she's not ready to wean   if she's struggling behaviourally then it would be kinda cruel to take her comfort from her, it'd only make her feel worse=act worse anyway.

I wish people didn't think of comfort or loving parenting and meeting your child's needs as some kind of reinforcer or reward, they are not dogs or rodents (which is what that entire behaviourism model is based on). Maybe direct him to some articles on the natural child project or aha parenting?

You're doing an awesome job bfing all your kids   I've been bf for 3.5 yrs now, i think he's going to wean soon.

Hello
DS will be 16 months on the 16th. We co-sleep and the last week hes been sleeping through the night would it be ok for me to wake him up to nurse? He dosent eat much solids.

Quoting Misty*Twins+1+Twins*:" Well, I'm about to be nursing 3 toddlers... the twins turn 1 on the 16th and Calista is almost 2.5 and ... [snip!] ... so I'm just not mentioning the fact she'll be 2.5 on Feb 10th. We'll see how long that will last. She's definitely not ready..."

M is still going strong at 4, I think some kids need to nurse longer. I hope P doesn't nurse till 4 >.<

Quoting TantricLemons:" M is still going strong at 4, I think some kids need to nurse longer. I hope P doesn't nurse till 4 >.<"

That totally sounds like me. LOL I'm going on 6 yrs....and my younge rone is just turning 3 & I keep thinkin g- Oh Lord, I don't know if I got another year left in me right now.  

Quoting justanothamotha:" That totally sounds like me. LOL I'm going on 6 yrs....and my younge rone is just turning 3 & I keep thinkin g- Oh Lord, I don't know if I got another year left in me right now.  "

real good birth control >.<

Quoting Freya D:" Hello DS will be 16 months on the 16th. We co-sleep and the last week hes been sleeping through the night would it be ok for me to wake him up to nurse? He dosent eat much solids. "

I wouldn't, he'll nurse when he needs to so long as it's available. He might be really needing the sleep just now, i'd trust that and expect things may change as there's so many developmental things going on at that age.

Quoting TantricLemons:" real good birth control >.<"

It's funny you say that because I've been totally bugging Dh for another & he isn't hearing it. LOL I guess I must be a glutton.  

Seriously though, I recall feeling tapped out when my older was 3 ish & the 2nd was due & when the new baby came I kind of felt renewed a bit & far less bothered about it - and now that we are back at the 3 yrs mark I seem to get in a rut with nursing & feel a bit touched out about it - but this time there is no new baby to help me with this feeling - so we'll see if I can come around again....I hope so.

Quoting Mama*AtoZ:" I wouldn't, he'll nurse when he needs to so long as it's available. He might be really needing the sleep ... [snip!] ... the sleep just now, i'd trust that and expect things may change as there's so many developmental things going on at that age."

i'm only worried because hes only been eating solids for 5 months. he only eats one 4 oz serving of baby food and what ever he wants from dinner (i give him what we eat but he feeds him self). he nurses at least 4 times for +20min, 2-3 45min and then lots of little drive byes

how often did your 16 month old nurse?

Quoting Freya D:" i'm only worried because hes only been eating solids for 5 months. he only eats one 4 oz serving of ... [snip!] ... he nurses at least 4 times for +20min, 2-3 45min and then lots of little drive byes how often did your 16 month old nurse? "

I just nursed them on cue, so I have no idea, it varied greatly & they had times they refused all solids at that (both kids). Unless he acts ill, trust him to cue when he needs it. They won't willingly starve themselves & if he isn't waking at night wanting to eat, then he isn't hungry. You can wake him & see if he will nurse if you are feeling full (I would do that occasionally) but otherwise, I'd ride it out.

Quoting justanothamotha:" I just nursed them on cue, so I have no idea, it varied greatly & they had times they refused all ... [snip!] ... can wake him & see if he will nurse if you are feeling full (I would do that occasionally) but otherwise, I'd ride it out."

k thank you  

Quoting Freya D:" i'm only worried because hes only been eating solids for 5 months. he only eats one 4 oz serving of ... [snip!] ... he nurses at least 4 times for +20min, 2-3 45min and then lots of little drive byes how often did your 16 month old nurse? "

Ds only got into solids at 14 months, he was having a few spoonfuls off my plate for each meal (he would skip some meals completely) and then nibbling on snacks. At 16 months he could go 3 hours between nursing and sometimes longer but sometimes more often. It was a couple of years ago now so i can't remember exactly how often, but nursing and solids frequency went up and down a fair bit till he was 2.5. His nursing has been the same for a long time now but his desire for solids goes up and down - as it does for adults. He is 90th centile for height and 50th for weight i think, tall and musclar and bursting with energy at 3.5 yrs so leaving him to follow his hunger and desire to nurse has done him well.

Quoting Misty*Twins+1+Twins*:" Thanks. I'm not sure which was worse... nursing toddler twins and a baby, or a toddler and baby twins. ... [snip!] ... when I type it out LOL. Anyway, he's not going to win this battle. He knows that they're my boobs and I get to choose."

   this is my DH too, except he also thinks that BFing too long will "be traumatic" if they can remember BFing when they are older.  

Quoting Freya D:" Hello DS will be 16 months on the 16th. We co-sleep and the last week hes been sleeping through the night would it be ok for me to wake him up to nurse? He dosent eat much solids. "

personally, i would rather try and up daytime nursing and let him sleep through the night .. but that is just me. if you prefer the night nursing, by all means, you can still offer it at night.