X-posted in Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy
Wanted to post here too as more women would possibly have experience BF a 3.5 yr.old
My 3.5 yr. old son is currently BF about 6-7x a day all centered around sleeping(to go to sleep, in middle of night 1-3x, in the am and then before and after naps). Since he was a baby I have been home with him. he is very avid nurser! I have set limits with him over the last year so that I can be happy with our nursing relationship but before that he was pretty much feed on-demand. (He's also one that would prefer momma's milk over food.)
Since the new year, I have gone back to work and being a massage therapist I occasionally have to work during a nap. (usually he goes down with milk, but then has to wake up without it). This seems to create alot of stress and upset for him. He will cry and be upset for anywhere from 20 mins to up to an hour and half after waking wanting mommy's milk. My husband tries so hard to be compassionate and distract him but ds's will is strong in this respect. He won't let go until he's ready. I have tried to talk with my ds about the fact that I am going to be gone that day and Daddy with be with him and he can have milk when I get home. But alas, everytime it is the same. I feel bad that he gets so upset each time and wonder if this is just a normal reaction at his age or something else. Is it more a problem because it happens so inconsistently and he is so used to his regimen of waking to milk? I guess this would be a normal response but why do I feel like it shouldn't be?
As he has matured to 3.5yr.old, am I placing too much need for his independence/understanding in this respect than is fair?
Has anyone else come across this behavior? any wisdom to pass on?
I am feeling ready to be more done in the way of nursing but he is still so attached. I am struggling with my need to be more done and his need not too. I talked to a la leche league person about wanting to cut back and she suggested night weaning first. As much as I would love a better night's sleep wondering if it might be better to work on day since it is affecting us more there. But how do you get your 3.5 yr. old down for a nap without nursing?? or the car??
BTW he was sleeping longer at night like 5-7 hrs before waking this summer and I was feeling like FINALLY he's moving on here. But then we went on a trip a couple of weeks ago and he's back to waking up every 2-3 hrs. UGH! is there a developmental leap going on here that could be triggering this or just the excitement of the trip?
sorry for all the questions....really just wanting insight on the no milk wakeup tantrums....
Wanted to post here too as more women would possibly have experience BF a 3.5 yr.old
My 3.5 yr. old son is currently BF about 6-7x a day all centered around sleeping(to go to sleep, in middle of night 1-3x, in the am and then before and after naps). Since he was a baby I have been home with him. he is very avid nurser! I have set limits with him over the last year so that I can be happy with our nursing relationship but before that he was pretty much feed on-demand. (He's also one that would prefer momma's milk over food.)
Since the new year, I have gone back to work and being a massage therapist I occasionally have to work during a nap. (usually he goes down with milk, but then has to wake up without it). This seems to create alot of stress and upset for him. He will cry and be upset for anywhere from 20 mins to up to an hour and half after waking wanting mommy's milk. My husband tries so hard to be compassionate and distract him but ds's will is strong in this respect. He won't let go until he's ready. I have tried to talk with my ds about the fact that I am going to be gone that day and Daddy with be with him and he can have milk when I get home. But alas, everytime it is the same. I feel bad that he gets so upset each time and wonder if this is just a normal reaction at his age or something else. Is it more a problem because it happens so inconsistently and he is so used to his regimen of waking to milk? I guess this would be a normal response but why do I feel like it shouldn't be?
As he has matured to 3.5yr.old, am I placing too much need for his independence/understanding in this respect than is fair?
Has anyone else come across this behavior? any wisdom to pass on?
I am feeling ready to be more done in the way of nursing but he is still so attached. I am struggling with my need to be more done and his need not too. I talked to a la leche league person about wanting to cut back and she suggested night weaning first. As much as I would love a better night's sleep wondering if it might be better to work on day since it is affecting us more there. But how do you get your 3.5 yr. old down for a nap without nursing?? or the car??
BTW he was sleeping longer at night like 5-7 hrs before waking this summer and I was feeling like FINALLY he's moving on here. But then we went on a trip a couple of weeks ago and he's back to waking up every 2-3 hrs. UGH! is there a developmental leap going on here that could be triggering this or just the excitement of the trip?
sorry for all the questions....really just wanting insight on the no milk wakeup tantrums....
