Nursing an Active Toddler

[Gina Grothoff]

It is official.  My baby had his first birthday and so once again I am actively involved in extended breasfeeding!  This is my third child.  I nursed the other two,....I usually say...a really long time (we made up for generations who did not nurse).

 

So now I have this busy, active, nursing boy.  He was an early eater of solid foods, I started around 5 months because he seamed so eager- and by 9 months he was eating 3 meals a day and sometimes more.  This has been unusual for me because my other two were not very interested in solids until much later.

 

So he really was getting where he would not nurse much in the day, except before naps and upon waking for naps and in the evening and of course at night.  But then, this week, he seamed to not be feeling well and began nursing more during the day and at night.  It has gone on for a few days.  I thought he was feeling better yesterday, we went to the park with friends and he ran away from me and played.  But today he has been clingy all day, won't let me set him down, can't seam to distract him.  He did eat some today but continues to nurse a lot and eat far less than he was.

 

I know some of this is him not feeling well (he sleeps more and is not his usual self).  But I wonder too how much is developmental.  I know others have described eager eaters who then around this age, loose interest in food.

My two other children are 7(almost 8) and 12 years old, and so it has been awhile since I have had a toddler.

 

[Missy]

I've got an almost 3yo active nurser and she definitely has gone through phases. There were times when I thought she'd wean really early b/c she'd go hours without nursing, but as she's aged, she tends to seek comfort in nursing. I claim it to be the BEST boo boo fixer in the world, not to mention nutritious and just what their little bodies need. My son is 7.5 and he nursed for-ever too! Good luck with the change...just a sign of new needs and growth.

[Charlotte Woody]

Yeah, I've found it comes in spurts. 17 mo DS was an eager solids eater but then it dies down and he nurses twice as much during the day and then goes back to eating us out of house and home every few weeks or so. He drives me crazy with night nursing when he doesn't feel well (like now...has first ear infection and I'm a wreck over it) but I know it's what he needs to feel better so I get over myself! I LOVE nursing a toddler though... It really is a lot of fun and they are so sweet... No better way to curb a tantrum either!! Best wishes!