What is nursing a one year old/18mo/2yo like?

[sky_and_lavender]

My baby is about 6.5 months old, and we're slowly offering her food. I give her a mashed up chunk of food (squash, sweet potatoes, from our stews) once a day. So far she loves everything. I want to bf her for at least two years and I feel really nervous about "losing my supply" as I introduce solids.

I don't know what quantity of food a baby needs to eat on a daily basis by one year old, and I also don't know how often a one year old nurses. I know it varies a lot--some babies don't eat much solid food by one year, while others quite a bit.

I'm just having a hard time envisioning the process and then helping it happen.

Anyone have any tips or experiences to share?
Thank you so much!

[stormborn]

IME you don't really have to do anything. Both of mine didn't really show interest until about 10 mos but we just offer whatever we eat or whatever an older toddler asks for/grabs from the fridge. Both have eaten TONS of food and still nursed for years. It varies widely of course but the 20 month old still nurses at least 10 times a day + at night while eating pretty much constantly! Maybe if you're worried about it esp for a younger babyjust nurse her before you offer solids...they really are for fun rather than nutrition at 6 mos.

One of the best things about nursing for 2+ years to me is that I know whatever nutrition they lack in food they'll make up in milk.

[ps4624]

My DD is 13 m.o., and still nurses as much as she did before we introduced solids but on a different timetable. She eats 3 full meals plus at least 2 snacks a day. She is still completely devoted to nursing. Here's a typical day:

* We eat breakfast, do dishes and what not and sit down for some num-num's before we really start the day,

* Run errands in the a.m., come back for lunch and then have a nursing session.

* If the stars are aligned correctly and I can get her to take a nap at home, she's nursed to sleep.

* We do some afternoon activities until about 4:00 and then nurse before dinner (between 3-6 is a hard time for her, so we may nurse 2-3 times).

* We take a bath together and she nurses in the tub.

* About 7:00, she's nursed to sleep.

* I join her in bed around 10:00 and then the fun begins! This kid nurses all.night.long. I'm talking anywhere between 8-12 times a night.

* Also, add in any "I've hurt myself", "I'm scared" or "I just need a boob!" misc nursing sessions.

If you add them all up, they pretty much equal the amount she nursed before we introduced solids. I think most toddlers are too busy to nurse during the day, especially when they are out doing things. If we are inside all day for whatever reason, I might as well just keep my top off because she's going to be on there all day!

[strawberryprincess]

You're right: it totally varies and depends on the baby, and the mother too. neither of my older kids were interested in solids til well after their 1st birthdays. They both went through times when they nursed as often as newborns, and were pretty disinterested in nursing at other times. They both nursed til about 2.5years old. Just let it happen...your baby knows how much she needs to eat. I have heard that once solids are strong part of your baby's diet, their calorie intake remains constant, which means they are getting less breastmilk. As another poster said, offer the breast before solids, and continue to nurse on demand, and your milk supply should stay up.

[averlee]

My sister formula fed, and both her babies were 100% solids by 1 year. A good friend of mine breastfed both her sons, and apart from a few experimental disasters, wasn't giving the younger much solids yet by 1 year. So there is a broad range of what is normal and healthy. I let my daughter start solids early, because she was intent on grabbing and eating food. I gave her a lot of avocado, bananas, and cooked yams. Honestly, it never affected my milk supply and if anything, my daughter nursed MORE rather than less. I think that makes sense because she was more hungry!

[kriket]

DS is almost 11m, that's pretty close to a year.

There are goods to it, he can latch himself. Both good and bad. I don't have to do much when we nurse at night, but sometimes BAM baby on boob. : he has started smacking me in the face when I don't pay attention to him and then frantically signing "milk" and laughing. He pops off and smacks his lips when he's done nursing which is cute.

There are "bad" too. I do occasionally get bit. When he gets tired or angry or riled up his latch suffers and I get teeth marks on my nipple.

Nursing an almost yearling is overall a very good experience.

nak

[sky_and_lavender]

Thanks to each of you for your very helpful responses. I feel a little less in alien territory now, more laid back about the whole thing, thanks to your input and some reading at kellymom and Dr. Jack Newman.

I so appreciate my sisters at MDC.