Showing interest in nursing a year after weaning

[Babina's Mommy]

I'm not sure exactly what forum this belongs in, so mods feel free to move it if this is not right!

Actually it's been probably a little more than a year. I became pregnant when my DD was 13 months old. She nursed until she was about 18-19 months and slowly weaned as my milk disappeared. She is now a little over two years seven months and all of a sudden asking for "boobie" all the time. Around the time she weaned, when I was pregnant, nursing started feeling horrible, I had that inward urge to push her away and couldn't stand it anymore. When baby was born I offered to choice of nursing again, she was just over 22 months. She said no, and was laughing and ran away. Now all of a sudden she's asking for it again? My son is 9.5 months old, she is 2 yrs 7 mos...so it's weird she is asking again after we've gone all these months.

And I never wanted to deny the boob from my child but I don't want her to nurse. I let her have it other day and she didn't actually nurse, she just sat there, I think she forgot how, but her even being on the nipple makes my skin crawl.

Tonight I distracted her and offered her milk in a bottle while I held her and she said yes so that's what we did....maybe it wasn't the best choice, but I just feel like I would flip out if I had to nurse her. For some reason this time around, I don't even want people touching me when I'm nursing my son. Even her. And lately she wants to hold hands when I'm nursing and has been extra super in my face. But she's being silly about it, she's not really that serious...like she's teasing almost...and she'll come really close to my face and laugh...I feel terrible saying these things and not wanting to nurse...but can anyone figure out why she might all of a sudden want to nurse again, has anyone else experienced this?

[sioleabha]

This sounds to me like it's not about breastfeeding (at least for her), it's about attention. She may be going through a phase or something, and she wants some of the attention that your nursing baby is getting. I think if you find some way to give her some special one-on-one attention, she will stop being interested in nursing.

[Babina's Mommy]

good thinking...she likes to read and do art projects, maybe I should find a way to do more of those things...

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by sioleabha

This sounds to me like it's not about breastfeeding (at least for her), it's about attention. She may be going through a phase or something, and she wants some of the attention that your nursing baby is getting. I think if you find some way to give her some special one-on-one attention, she will stop being interested in nursing.

I, personally, think nursing a 2.5 year old is GREAT, but it really, really sounds like you are not up to it. And, honestly, it doesn't sound like DD is looking for the nursing so much as the closeness and attention she sees your little one getting. I would consider getting some special items and snacks that are *only* for while you are nursing DS. Then I would really try to be matter of fact about it. "Oh, you want to nurse? That's fine, I did have some _____ if you wanted a snack while DS nursed though. Whatever you'd prefer" type thing. "Oooo, I was hoping we could string these beads while DS was nursing, but whatever you want." (DD was 2.5 when DS was born and she was given a bead kit with multicolored silky string and lots of different colored beads ONLY for her so she was really into that. It was great because it was pretty labor intensive but she had to sit to do it!). You could also think about ways your DD could touch you while you nurse that will not feel so invasive to you. Like could she lean against your leg, or back?

Good luck!

[Katie T]

My Ds did this about a year after he quit nursing, he would latch on (how he remembered how I'm not sure ) but he only did it for a week or two and I really think he just wanted to know it was ok for him to still do it. His sister is still nursing and I think that is what caused it.

I would just try to give her extra cuddles since you don't want to nurse her and she may quit asking. It's hard with a newborn and a toddler.