CLW toddler asking to nurse?

[Moonprysm]

DS weaned at 27 months on his own, much to my surprise (he was a 24 hour nurser almost the entire time). Today (at 33 months) we were talking about the baby coming. We talked about the fact that the baby would eat "nummies" (DS' word for nursing). DS made a comment about wanting to nurse when the baby gets here. I really don't know how I feel about that. Honestly I was perfectly fine with the idea of him nursing to 3 or beyond, but that was before he weaned. For some reason, continuous nursing for several years doesn't bother me, but it's like when he weaned, he suddenly became "too big" and "too old". The thought of him suddenly nursing again is honestly kind of disturbing (although it was originally something that I hoped for because I was very disappointed I wasn't going to get to tandem nurse). I mean I guess I could always pump and give him a cup if he really wants it, but I just don't know how I feel about the whole thing. Will he hate the baby if the baby gets to nurse and he doesn't? Anybody have experience with something like this?

[Apple Girl]

When I was pregnant with DS2, DS1 almost "self-weaned". Sort of. He cut back significantly on his nursing, down to almost 1x a day (before bed). I thought it was the end of our nursing relationship.

When DS2 was born, and all of the sudden I had TONS of milk again, DS2 was happy like it was Christmas. He went back to almost full time nursing for several months. Now, he is what I imagine a typical 2.5 year old does, usually on the move but likes to nurse at quiet times (his afternoon lull, bedtime, early morning when he first wakes up).

I previously was weirded out by the idea of tandeming, but it was totally different for me when it moved from just the *idea* of nursing 2 kids at once to when it became my boys that I was nursing. And, it's seemed to make them closer too - they will hold hands or rub each other's heads while I nurse. It's very sweet. Also, there has been very little jealousy of the new baby (who is not so new anymore at 7 months!), which I attribute to older DS not being kicked off the breast before he was ready.

So I guess the point of my post is, obviously you should only do what you are comfortable with, but you may surprise yourself when the time comes. I have heard many people say that their DC was tapering off with nursing, and when the baby was born there was renewed interest, if only for a few weeks or months.

Good luck!

[milkybean]

I would let him.

Then again I myself was forcibly weaned when my mom was pg with my brother, then talked her into letting me nurse again (pointed out that she had TWO children and TWO "sip sips"...she expected me to be a lawyer with that sort of forceful argument). So I kinda would have to let my kiddo start again, karmically speaking (and not wanting my mom to yell at me from the great beyond, LOL).

Sounds like you know that it's simply your perception that he's too old and to big, so you can work on that perception.

It's amazing how babylike those big kids can look when they are nursing....

[mommyto3girls]

you may also find that he really won't nurse after the baby comes. Maia weaned at age 2 (I had emergency surgery while pregnant and was hospitalized for a month straight and then on and off til after delivery) in the month beore sage was born, maia asked often, i she could have milkie again after the baby came. I told her she could try and see if she still liked it. after sage came there were 4 times that she tried; however, she had orgotten how to latch on, she curled up, placed her mouth on my nipple and waited sort of unsure what to do. After trying this four different times over the first week or so she declared "Milkies only work for Sage now, not for this big girl." And that was pretty much it. Though just before Sage weaned (at 42 months) Maia (who was almost 6) asked if she could try nursing again, I did tell her no at that time but offered her a ew drops on a spoon (I was only producing drops by that time)