My nursing 19 month old

[mscoffee77]

Hi, my son is 19 months old and has recently started asking verbally to "Ni" meaning nurse. He was only nursing 1-2 times a day, but now seems to want to nurse a 3-4 now that he has learned to request. This actually started while we were on vacation and my parents kept him & our 3 year old for one night while my DH and I stayed at a motel to celebrate our belated anniversary(our first time leaving the 19 month old overnight). He did real well and actually slept through the night. Anyone else experience an increase in nursing once your toddler learned to request? Also, just wanted to also get a little support on here because DH thinks I should wean since he can now "ask for it". He was very supportive up until after our son turned 12 months and now thinks he's too old. Thanks ladies

[ramama]

You know, my DDs always had ups and downs when it came to nursing frequency in toddlerhood. I don't recall it specifically being tied to learning to request it, but my memory is foggy anyway LOL. Perhaps it's like anything else new that a kid learns, they want to try it out and do it often to see the results. Like, then a kid learns to climb and you can't keep him from doing it all day, until it gets old and he moves on to something else.

Regarding your DH, for some reason being old enough to ask for it is a real trigger for a lot of people, along with teething and a myriad of other milestones that people think should trigger weaning. I would say, in a lighthearted way, that it seems silly to deny someone something simply because they learned to ask for it, and when he STOPS asking for it, that's when he'll wean.

[Shanny2032]

What PP said was a great response to your question about how to respond to your husband. I'm sorry he isn't more supportive now. My dd started signing at 9 months and at almost 11 she can sign milk now. BUT, for as long as I can remember - maybe since about 8 months - she has been asking to nurse by doing the "milky dance" it's a little shake she does when she wants to nurse. Anyway, my point is that I wouldn't wean and 8 or 9 month old because they learned to sign milk, thereby asking for it. HTH

I am a Nanny for a toddler as well and what you said does not surprise me at all since he has learned to ask for it. Now that she is talking we are finding out all kinds of things she knows and she is very proud of herself so I am sure your baby is too. He is able to ask for what he want and needs and I think that is a great thing!

[naturechicplus1]

it just occurred to me that our babies have been able to "ask" to nurse ever since they were born...ever see the video of the newborn who crawls up to his mom's breast to suckle immediately after birth?? remember the head bobbing?? see if DH can see it that way, or at least get off your back through cold and flu season since it's such good protection, that should give you time to think of a new argument before spring. My son is 18 months and is having a resurgence in nursing as well, I thought he was slacking off a bit a month or so ago. i think it has to do with teeth, learning to talk, the whole independence/dependence thing at this stage and more.

[Down2Earth]

Originally Posted by ramama

You know, my DDs always had ups and downs when it came to nursing frequency in toddlerhood. I don't recall it specifically being tied to learning to request it, but my memory is foggy anyway LOL. Perhaps it's like anything else new that a kid learns, they want to try it out and do it often to see the results. Like, then a kid learns to climb and you can't keep him from doing it all day, until it gets old and he moves on to something else.

Regarding your DH, for some reason being old enough to ask for it is a real trigger for a lot of people, along with teething and a myriad of other milestones that people think should trigger weaning. I would say, in a lighthearted way, that it seems silly to deny someone something simply because they learned to ask for it, and when he STOPS asking for it, that's when he'll wean.

Very good response! My DD started signing milk at around 6 mo, it would have been unthinkable to wean her that early.

[Picard]

DS is definitely experimenting with ask and you shall receive. He is nursing more now than ever before at nearly 19 months. He also seems to think it is a game at night to continue asking. One night he must have asked to nurse 15 times in a row. This is exhausting! I'm hoping it slacks off soon.

[diroamamama]

For me, my 19 month old's ability to ask for it has probably increased his desire to nurse, but it's also enabled us to 'talk' about it... that is, just 'cause he asks, doesn't mean I'm going to nurse him. (of course, it doesn't mean I'm not either...)

[hrsmom]

Yes, I've noticed an increase in wanting to nurse during the day now that she has a word for it. Like the pp said, it also opens up being able to talk about it. Today I told her the nueys went night night (it was the middle of the day and we were getting ready to head out) and she was ok with that. They really didn't go night night, they are incredibly sore and I was stalling!