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Jess Forum Pro
Joined: July 25 2006
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Posted: July 20 2009 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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I have a couple of questions for all of you who have or are nursing a 2yr old or older.
First question:
My dd is 28mo and back in April I night weaned her. She kind of reduced her nursing to in the morning, at nap (if she took one), and at bedtime. I am 32 weeks pregnant also, by the way. But recently she has been asking to nurse a lot more, several times a day and even waking up to nurse at night again. I usually offer her water at night unless it is around 5:30 or 6ish, then I will let her nurse. But I was wondering how often you nurse your 2+ yr olds and wondering why she starting to ask so much now. She would nurse all day! She says "mommy, can i have nonnies? I like nonnies, it's yummy!"
Second question:
When your toddler falls asleep nursing, how do you get them to unlatch? She clamps down a lot, especially when she falls asleep. I have tried breaking suction, but it seems to make her clamp even harder or bite my finger too. I tell her we are all done when she is awake and I have tried that too when she is asleep while trying to break the suction, but man it hurts when she won't let go and I am ready to stop. She would nurse for forever at a time if I would let her, but sometimes I really need to stop because it can be so uncomfortable.
Thanks!
__________________ God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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jdostalik Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 15 2005 Location: Texas
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Posted: July 20 2009 at 11:52pm | IP Logged
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I nurse my almost 2.5 year old all the time, but he is my first 2 year old to get this old without a newborn to usurp his priority in the nursing line. I often try to distract him with a snack, book or game if he has nursed tons and is still trying to climb into my lap for more. I find that sitting down is a liability with this voracious nursing toddler!
Unlatching works for me by gently pressing on his nose--he lets go because he can't breathe...sounds mean, but it isn't really...he just unlatches and usually rolls over and crashes for a while.
Hope this helps. You are doing a great job, Jess, letting your little one nurse through the toddler years...I have never had a case of sibling rivalry with my toddlers once a new baby arrived because I have always tandem nursed...It's not possible for everyone but it is worth it if you can manage it...
Hugs!
__________________ God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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LucyP Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
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Posted: July 21 2009 at 10:01am | IP Logged
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Okay I don't nurse as I am an adoptive mama, but my 28mo is asking for bottles again all the time and also having what she calls "soukies", when she pretends to nurse (restricted to over my clothes only). I have no idea why this is - but I have wondered with my dd if it is because she is aware of being a bigger girl (she potty trained and is doing more for herself lately) and this is a way to relax and cope?
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Fe2h2o Forum Pro
Joined: Sept 09 2005 Location: Australia
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Posted: July 23 2009 at 11:21am | IP Logged
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Could it be your milk supply is down? It usually happens at some point during the pregnancy.
I nursed (well, I still am) Bilby throughout my third pregnancy. By the end, she was wanting to nurse _all the time_:-( She didn't ever stay on for very long, and I finally realised that it was because there wasn't any milk (she was 22 months when he was born). As soon as the milk came in though, she nursed like a newborn.
It settled back a bit after a few weeks, but a couple of months later (actually, probably about 28 months!) she started wanting to nurse a lot more again.
Talking about it with another friend whose child is the same age (and was also still feeding him), he was doing the same thing. We figured it was probably building up to some other developmental milestone. Shortly after that she did make a number of large progressions in her talking.
She's currently 33 months, and nursing is _finally_ seeming to slow down a bit.
(You might find it worth looking at the book Adventures in Tandom Nursing by Hilary Flowers. It's doesn't just talk about feeding two children, but also feeding while pregnant. I found it really worthwhile—even given I had a couple of friends whose brains I could pick!)
__________________ Mama to Puggle (ds 05/04), Bilby (dd 10/06) and Cygnet (ds 09/08)
The Genial Hearth
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Sarah Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: July 23 2009 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
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My 2 yo nurses like a newborn. All the time day and night. I'm getting really tired but don't really feel up to weaning yet. Nursing just sounds easier than weaning right now, but I'm not PG. That is usually a motivator.
When he is asleep I usually wait between suckles and quickly jerk away. If you don't time it right you are dead meat! I have gotten it down now! When awake I usually sit him up and tell him we are done. It doesn't always work, though.
__________________ Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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StephanieA Forum Pro
Joined: May 11 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: July 24 2009 at 7:27am | IP Logged
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I am pregnant too with a nursing 2.5 year old. He calls it nonnies too
Sometimes I am SO sick (quessy) when he nurses SO HARD.
I try my best to distract him during the day, but at night it is difficult not to let him nurse when he wants. I have tandem nursed and gosh, it was the hardest thing I ever did. I agree with the sibling rivalry stuff to a certain point. I do think it is personality too.
I usually try to limit nursing sessions, but it doesn't always work. Then I give in and pray....seriously...one Hail Mary after the other and then hit up Our Lady of La Leche. I turn it into a spiritual offering as it is difficult for me to nurse and be pregnant at the same time. (Although this is my 9th time doing it
You'd think I'd be use to it by now.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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Jess Forum Pro
Joined: July 25 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 372
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Posted: July 24 2009 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
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Sarah, Oh I soooooo know what you mean about not timeing it right *OUCH* If I try to pull away she starts sucking again and hard.
I don't think my milk is drying up. I actually think it has come back, maybe colostrom? I don't think it ever went away completely. She had reduced her nursings and wasn't nursing for very long and then all of a sudden started again and she drips while nursing . I though she was drooling, but I don't think so. I can hear her swallowing a lot more now. I think maybe my milk decreased for a little while and it has come back or the colostrom is in and she is enjoying that. She comments a lot on how yummy it is
__________________ God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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