Breast Feeding a Toddler HELP!

Teresa - posted on 02/12/2010

I agree w/ Marcy. Good luck and be firm! My son is only 22 months right now, but I will NOT nurse him if he's throwing a fit until he calms down and asks nicely. If he's crying cuz he's hurt, sick, or super tired, it's a bit different, of course. But if I have told him no or wait for whatever reason then he has to wait.

Marcy - posted on 02/12/2010

you are doing great. It sounds like you are really practicing attached parenting which is also our parenting style. Its so nice to raise a child this way but also exhausting. There have been plenty of times I have put my kiddo on the boob just because it was the quickest way to soothe him. I am just now starting to put my foot down with him. At first it was really weird but now I tell him "No, you cannot nurse but you can have milk and a snack". its so tough....I know! Good luck and keep me posted.

Meghann - posted on 02/12/2010

okay Marcy. I usually give in after telling her no thats not nice and to say sorry to mommy 1st than maybe u can have "baba" but its my fault because i give it to her even if she doesnt say sorry. She is fine without it when she is playing as long as i keep her attention but I can not do that all day since i have choirs to do at times at home. this is going to be diffucult she is so attached. I have this summer to wean before pre k if she goes.

Marcy - posted on 02/12/2010

Meghann if she pinches you, kicks you or screams then you should not let her nurse at all. Just tell her NO and that she needs to behave like a nice girl and DO NOT give in. Just stand up (obviously you are taller than her and walk away). We never raise our voice to our son. I get on his level, tell him NO, you are hurting mommy, stand up and walk away. You need to set these boundaries with her. I think you may find when you do this, the nursing will decrease naturally.

Meghann - posted on 02/12/2010

thank you all I will try a few of these and see what works. i can only distract her for so long untill she pinches me kicks me or screams. i will keep you posted!

Katie - posted on 02/12/2010

I don't have any good weaning advise for you but there are a few options for your boobs. I would say give it a year to see how much they recover on their own, but in that time there are creams you can use. One brand you should check out is Mama Mio (http://www.mamamio.com/). After a year or so, if you feel like your boobs still need a significant pick me up, there are non-surgical laser treatments. I think I might want to go with that someday depending on how my breasts look after my son weans. And then of course there's the option of a surgical breast lift or implants. I personally would never get implants but I have done a little bit of research of lifts and I don't really like the look of the majority of the results I've seen. But maybe if my boobs were in worse shape I would consider it. Who knows.
As far as being hungry all the time, I feel ya. I have found that I'm really hungry more often lately. I think it has to do with breastfeeding as well as just having a toddler in general. You're probably keeping pretty busy and not really taking as much time to look after yourself and ensure that you are getting some good healthy food in you as much as you should.

Marcy - posted on 02/12/2010

Meghann my son is 3 1/2 and still nurses but only for about 15 minutes a day! Okay...here is the deal. First off, there is an extended breastfeeding circle and a militant breastfeeding moms circle that you should join. You will find more moms in these circles who are nursing toddlers. Here is what I did....distraction...distraction...distraction. Is she drinking milk? I started by cutting out one feed per day. When he asked, I told him not now but he could have milk instead. He was mad but after a few days he got it. Then after a few more weeks I did the same thing again. This time it was easier. Now he does it to fall asleep and first thing when he wakes up but thats it. Go slow but be persistent when you tell her "not now" stick to it....

Meghann - posted on 02/12/2010

also I was wondering why i feel like i am always hungry? is it becuase i am still breast feeding?

Meghann - posted on 02/12/2010

also I was wondering why i feel like i am always hungry? is it becuase i am still breast feeding?