Reasons We're Still Nursing

[aylaanne]

My son is 2, and still nursing. I know, shocker, right? But people are constantly bombarding me with criticism, and while I have lots of reasons I'm still nursing, I wanted to list them somewhere.

• It's a great parenting tool: when he's super out of control or overtired, an offer of "guick" can calm him right down.
• When he's sick with the same cold I have, I give him antibodies in my milk.
• I WOH, and I go to school, and nursing gives us a great "reconnect" moment that's packed with intimacy. I think our nursing relationship makes our separations much easier for both of us.

Those are the ones I can think of off of the top of my head. What are some of yours?

[Baby_Cakes]

It's great nutritionally. I don't have to worry about any gaps in her nutrition when she goes through phases of not wanting to eat or wanting to eat only one thing for a few days.

The number one thing I usually say, though, is just, "It works for us."

[AllyRae]

We're nursing our child for as long as she wants to because:

-She has a primary immune deficiency and breastfeeding offers her some protection
-Human milk is the only milk a human needs
-It is an instant pain relief
-It's an instant fussy relief
-She loves it
-It helps her unwind
-Why not? There's no good reason to stop in the near future!

[hollytheteacher]

It's species specific...why buy milk from a cow when you can lactate for free.

It is comforting.

There is no reason to stop giving my child something he loves/craves.

It helps us both relax and drift off to sleep.

He tells me it tastes like strawberries and clementines and looks shiny. (i just think that's cute)

[tanyam926]

I have been nursing for a while now, ds1 nursed until 5.5 y.o. and I am currently nursing 4.5 yr old ds2 and 1.5 yr old ds3.

To be honest, it just seems so completely natural to keep providing the comfort and nutrition of nursing as long as they need it.

I haven't had to defend my choice to extend BF in a while bc everyone pretty much just accepts that I do what I do.

So for us the main reasons are:

-I can clearly see that nursing is a need for my children well into their childhood yrs and I feel like I can easily meet that need
-There's so much good stuff in there that I would like for them to get it for as long as possible
-Nursing is such a great tool to have in my mothering toolbox, we have a saying in our house that goes, "Mimis make it better" and it's definately true!

[sunfish21]

The health benefits to both of us continue as long as we are nursing.

It is great for nutrition, calming down, bonding,...

I often throw in a little about culture weaning so early...

[curiouscanadian]

I'm lucky that those who disagree keep their thoughts to themselves, but similar to your reasons:

• any time I've considered starting weaning DS has happened to get very ill and I've been sooooo grateful to still be nursing as it's the only thing he could keep down
• it's the best, most intimate way for DS and I to say "hello, I've missed you" after a long day apart (I WOHM as well)
• it's my nutrition insurance policy against picky-toddler eating habits
• it's still the healthiest and most portable snack food there is
• it's the fastest, easieset way I know of to get DS back to sleep in the middle of the night
• it works for us and is none of anyone else's business

The number one thing I usually say, though, is just, "It works for us."

[kcstar]

-- it provides DS with one consistent thing in the topsy-turviness of our current life. Security needs are human needs.

It's not good to wean toddlers when too many other changes are occurring.
-- My grandmother died the week before he turned two.
-- The next month I had a business trip out-of-town
-- Then my mom had surgery for her cancer
-- Then we hit the holidays
-- Then Mom's liver failed, and we went up to help with hospice and stay for the funeral
-- He caught a cold while we were visiting
-- Just after my Mom died, we learned that my MIL is starting chemotherapy.
-- We've been home for a week and it's been enough just to restore night-weaning.

He's still mourning his grandma (my mom), quite possibly anticipatory mourning his granny (my MIL), AND sick. Weaning can wait.

[pdxmomazon]

1) The only thing she eats besides "nee nee," with any regularity, is crackers and yogurt....

2) It's easier than weaning!

[ElliesMomma]

i'm going with the idea that it's good for her psychology to get to nurse as long as she wants it. currently, she says she is never going to stop, even when she's a grown up and nursing her own babies! i'm going to let her believe that for awhile, why not?

also it's good for her relationship with her baby brother, that they both nurse. no jealously. granted, he gets unfettered access, whilest her nursing has some restrictions and limits. (i can only stretch myself so far.) she still gets to nurse. when i ask her what was the best part of her day, "getting to nurse" is often mentioned.

[07Mommy]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

It's great nutritionally. I don't have to worry about any gaps in her nutrition when she goes through phases of not wanting to eat or wanting to eat only one thing for a few days.

The number one thing I usually say, though, is just, "It works for us."

Ditto!

[leaveit2beeker]

I like to keep nursing in my mommy arsenal. When ds took a tumble down the porch steps a while back, he and I both appreciated nursing for comfort.

I figured when he's ready, I still won't be. I'm not going to rush it!

[spirit4ever]

There's no better comfort when they are sick!! Every time the thought of weaning pops into my head my lo gets sick and I always thank the stars that I can still nurse cause I know she is atleast getting some nutrition!! And oh those days that she eats nothing, I can take comfort in knowing she can still get mommas milk!!

And the immediate fix for meltdowns/falls/the world just not going their way, all seem so worth it!!

[Birdie B.]

I love the comfort it provides (for me, as much as for her!). The way she feels all cuddled up against me, and how sweet she looks. How much she loves it! And the peace of mind I have when she's sick, knowing that she'll still get her fluids and nutrition. Aw, now I'm tearing up just thinking about it!

[gkb2215]

Thanks for starting this thread...I had plenty of encouragement to breastfeed when my daughter was an infant, but now that she's a toddler I get a lot of nosy and condescending questions about when I'll wean her. I'm honestly baffled that people think it's their business to "educate" me on why it is right to wean at the precise age they weaned their children, or their moms weaned them, or whatever. Definitely going to start using the simple & perfect "It works for us" response from the previous post!

I WOH, too, and my nursing relationship with my daughter is what has made being away from her 50 hours/week emotionally manageable for us both. I am so drained when I get home from work, and she is often getting tired and cranky by then, so we both just savor the 15 minutes that we spend cuddling, nursing, calming down, and enjoying silence. The antibodies are a major plus, too.