Question about nursing toddler after change in supply

[t2009]

Hello! I recently stopped pumping while I'm away from DS during the day (4 days, soon to be 5 days, per week). He's 13 mos. & still nurses often when we're together, A LOT the past few days though other days he doesn't even ask before or after a nap. When we nurse he's been asking to switch sides, which he never did before, and I'm assuming this means that because I'm no longer pumping my supply is down significantly.

Because of this, when I am home I feel like I need to supplement with other milk (we do mostly cow's, some soy) in between nursing. I'm not confident that he's getting enough & his nursing pattern has been erratic, but I wonder if I'm just being paranoid. It feels weird because I never gave him a bottle when I was pumping... If I was with him, he nursed.

I want to encourage him to keep nursing as long as he wants (we're doing CLW), so I don't want to push it on him if it isn't necessary. But whenever I offer it to him, he sucks it down like he's so thirsty.

How have you dealt with nursing a toddler when you're fairly certain you have a low (or low-ish) supply? I'm not willing to start pumping again.

Thanks!

[pbjmama]

You are still operating on supply and demand so I would just nurse often when you are together. At that age I would suggest offering before and after a nap. It is hard to estimate but if he is nursing as often as he wants...maybe more than 5 times a day, I would guess you don't need an alternative milk. Offer if you want to, I also don't think it will encourage him to wean to have small amounts but I don't see it as a need.