I have a new found respect {even more than before} for women who choose to do extended breastfeeding, because it is no easy task. I nursed my son until he was 16 months old, and he pretty much weaned himself. So, when my daughter was born, I chose to breastfeed her as well, and it has been smooth sailing ever since. That little lady is now 22 months old…and let me tell you…it’s a little different than nursing and infant.
Toddler Breastfeeding = Toddler Gymnastics
You would think that if a child wants to nurse, that they would do just that. Lay in your arms, do their thing and be done. It’s quite the opposite, actually. Breastfeeding a toddler is basically the equivalent of toddler gymnastics. My daughter has gotten really good at multitasking while nursing. She plays {pulls} my hair, sticks her feet and fingers in my mouth or up my nose, and loves to pull at the skin on my neck and chest. I’m honestly surprised that I don’t have scratches all over my chest and face or that she has yet to find and stick anything into my ears.
Toddlers Can Talk!
When they are infants, they cry…when they are toddlers, they talk! So, now when my daughter wants to nurse, she says “eat” or “eat adain {again}.” This is nice for the fact that I know what she wants, but it is a little comical too! My husband and I have joked about teaching her to say “feed me,” but I think we are better off to stick with “eat.”
Toddlers Have Gross Motor Skills!
Yep, she’s a shirt grabber. If it’s when she’s just getting up or she’s tired and ready for bed, she’s normally pulling on my shirt, pointing to our glider and saying “eat.” She knows what she wants and when she wants it, and there’s no stopping her at this point.
Toddlers DO NOT nurse for long periods of time
Nursing a toddler is nowhere near as time-consuming as nursing an infant. My daughter will nurse for maybe 5-10 minutes and she’s good-to-go. It’s definitely not an inconvenience for us unless we need an overnight sitter….but we are working on it!
Oh yeah, they have teeth…No explanation needed.
Ok, so it’s not really that bad, but all of these things DO happen almost every day. I am in no rush to wean her because I feel that when she is ready, it’ll happen. It’s a comfort thing for her and I am completely fine with nursing because I know that she is only little for a short time and this is only temporary. It’s also comforting to me to know that I am able to make her feel safe and happy when she needs that throughout the day. I’m not concerned with what other people think, either. She usually only nurses when she gets up and when she goes to bed, so we are rarely out in public and even if we were…I wouldn’t care. Every child is different and has different needs. This is something that is a healthy need for my daughter and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
