HELP! My daughter is almost 2 & still wants breast milk

Rita - posted on 10/19/2010

mine is also my third child, he is a boy and still taking breastmilk up to now. he loves to eat but i noticed that even if he eats enough he'll never felt contented until he had his milk from me. for me since i am working at home so why will i stop him if he benefits so much from breastfeeding. he is growing up stronger and smarter than other kids who is not taking up breastmilk so why bother to stop him. i am planning to breastfeed him until 2years. i hope thats help!

Victoria - posted on 10/16/2010

my son is at nursery 3 days and he will happily have a bottle there, just not when mummy is around! I happily BF before bed but it is hard when he nags me constantly at home, he is not hungry and is a good weight (13kg, 85.5 cm), I think maybe it is for comfort.

Victoria - posted on 10/16/2010

My son is the same. He has a feed before bed, but has now started demanding it more often where as I was hoping that the BF would tail off on its own. I have tried making him bottle in the day and he just throws them away as asked for a BF, if not he screams!

Tina - posted on 10/07/2010

Sounds like someone has been telling you it's not okay to breastfeed until she is 2? This all goes back to personal preference. I am also on #3 and my son is still nursing and I'm NOT pressing a bottle or a sippy cup. He knows how to drink from a cup and does so during the day but not my breast milk. I'm actually enjoying him nursing, I know he is my last child (I had my tubes tied-and it was recommended by my doc) so I'm just going with the flow. Each child is different and will do things all at different times. Which includes weaning. Not saying wait til she's 3, but let her enjoy her comforting time with mommy.
Mine does the same as Vickie's son and agree with her comments as well.

Amanda - posted on 10/06/2010

She definitely finds comfort in nursing, but she is also getting lots of good nutrients and immunity benefits from your milk. There is nothing wrong with her still nursing. Make sure the reason you want to stop is bc YOU want to, not bc society thinks breastfeeding is gross(which it most certainly is not). I have heard of moms saying that they have helped their LOs with weaning by telling them that boobies are only for when lying down in bed and then also setting a timer and slowly working the time down, one feeding at a time.

Vicki - posted on 08/21/2010

World Health DOES recommend breastfeeding until AT LEAST two years old... She clearly knows what is best.

Of course it's a comfort thing. It's yummy, and it's mummy! How could that not be the perfect comfort food? My son LOVES it. It is his absolute favorite. He nurses upon waking, before his nap, and before bedtime. Often he'll check in during the day as well.

Anyways, our baby's stomachs are much bigger now than they had been before. I know I'm not making any more milk than I had been a year ago, so while it's not filling my son's tummy, it is still satisfying for him to have. Eventually, as he grows even bigger, it will fill him even less and less, until the point that he will find it more satisfying, quicker, easier, to have a cup of water. I'll probably be very sad when that time comes, but even now when he wants milk, I get him to tell me either "Mom milk" or "cup milk," and generally unless he's wanting to lie down or feeling particularly upset, he'll go for the cup. He also is all about the chocolate milk. He loves to mix it, and will get his own milk from the fridge by himself. (I worry about this because it comes in a glass bottle... but he wants to do it.)

So my advice? Let the kid have her milk. It's not forever.

Elisa - posted on 08/19/2010

It does sound like its a comfort thing for her and every child is different. I think you are going to have to use weaning techniques, remove one session at a time. Make sure she has some sort of comfort toy or blanket that you can place with her when you are breast feeding that will help her associate that same kind of comfort. Then when you eliminate one of the feeding sessions make sure that is available along with her sippy cup to replace the food.
You may need to endure the screaming a couple of times so she doesn't use that as a power tool to get what she wants. But explain that the breast milk is unavailable and try to provide distractions ahead of time. And always add lots of love.

Rachel - posted on 08/16/2010

My girl is the same, but I don't mind being a SAHM and all. So sorry sweetie no advice for you but I am there to talk if you want