getting frustrated with the touchy touching

[mamaofthree]

my 2 1/2 (almost 3) year old has suddenly got very touchy touchy when he nurses. he pets me, and although in the beginning it was sweet, now it makes my skin crawl. it is all i can do to keep nursing. i usually end up holding his hands or somehow getting him to stop (usually say i can't nurse if he pets me) to nurse him now. it makes me nuts that this is our nursing relationship now. except when he is sleeping and is nursing, it is usually just not pleasant for me anymore. i want to let him lead the weening, but my gosh... i wanna pull my hair out.
i have actually put a limit on how frequently we nurse during the day because he would be on there 24 hours a day. any time i sit down he comes running and wants to nurse. now it is in the morning, at nap time and before bed (and then usually all night) and if he gets hurt or needs some sort of comfort. i have never nursed a child this long. my last three weened when i got pregnant (at about 2 1/2) so i am not sure how this will go.
any advice on how to make this more pleasant?

[mandib50]

i remember these days and honestly i don't have any tips of what i did to make it easier. i hope you can find a way that works for the two of you.

[eunytuny]

I totally get this because my ds drove me bonkers with the twiddling and petting. I could only put up with it for so long and then when I decided enough was enough, at about 2yrs old I'd put him down when he started doing it. It was a long struggle (really about 3-4 days) but he got over it and is still happily nursing without touching the other one. To help (the free boobie was like a magnet) I'd say you can only touch if you are absolutely still. No moving at all" And then I would put my hand over his and if he moved, I'd move his hand away completely. He would fuss and fight and we'd go back to staying completely still. Now (He is 39 months) he doesnt even touch anymore. Thank Goodness!. Hope it goes well with yours.