bequest hidebound: Breastfeeding a Toddler

Friday, March 2, 2012

Breastfeeding a Toddler - Mama and Baby Love

This is picture of Penelope nursing in the middle of her 2nd Birthday party, she got a little overwhelmed at times and new just the safest spot to reconnect.

I originally imagined this post planned to be a how-to, but then it seemed kind of silly. ?There is a ton of information about it already online and when you really think about it, it is pretty?intuitive.

I think the hard part is dealing with people?s criticism and their prejudices against nursing an older baby, a toddler ?nursing.

For me, I don?t really worry about what people are thinking. I figure if they have a problem with it, then they are not my friends anyway and don?t deserve my mental time.

I have been really blessed that friends and family are supportive, but I know that is not the case for a lot of people. ?So to you I say, just stand your ground. ?You can set boundaries with your toddler to only nurse at home and a night and make some compromises, but in the end, try to stand up for yourself and your child.

I don?t think full term breastfeeding is for everyone, I am not saying it is the best and the only way, if you wean at 6 or 12 months or whenever, this post is not to make you feel bad. ?Any amount of breastfeeding should be celebrated. ?I just wanted to offer some support and resources to the Mama?s out there that are still nursing toddlers.

I think Penelope will be one of those kids who will be still nursing at 5. ?She will probably never ?self wean?. ?I will have to put an end to it at on point. ?I am not sure when that will be.

Right now, I love nursing Penelope. I missed out on the first 5 months and even after that we never got the full experience. ?So any little bit of nursing I get, I cherish.

Sometimes it makes my skin crawl, but when I get to that point, I just set a boundary. ?For example, she used to always want to use while I was on the toilet. ?When she was a baby and younger toddler I allowed it, because I didn?t want to leave her unattended. ?But now I say no nuh-nuhs when Mama?s in the bathroom.

Sometimes she asks for it during the day when I am just not in the mood, and I say the nuh-nuhs are taking a break.

Nursing a toddler can be very entertaining. ?She is always doing something funny, doing yoga, trying to sing and ?nurse at the same time. ?Sometimes, especially when she is sleepy, she still looks like a little baby to me, I love it.

Here are are great posts to check out for more info on nursing a toddler:

twiddlers manners.

a whole series on toddler nursing posts.

a great post on nursing an older toddler, a preschooler really.

this is just funny.?

lots of good links within this post

this is a good post about the health and emotional benefits of nursing a toddler

I hope this post helps a little, if any Mama?s are wanting to continue breastfeeding but are not feeling?confident?enough to do so. ?It really is a wonderful experience.

Just the other day, I hand expressed a little milk (Penelope comfort nurses and my milk is pretty much dried up) and she latched on to get it, and then she popped off and said, ?mmmm, licious!? ?It was so sweet.

Do you have any sweet, toddler nursing moments to share?

Or on Facebook!