Is my toddler drinking to much breastmilk?

[tnmom66]

I have a 19 month old daughter I"m pretty much still nursing "on demand" and she's incredibly intelligent and healthy and seeems to be as happy and well adjusted as I could ever hope for.

However, she doesn't seem to eat solids very well. Maybe once a day she'll eat what I think is a "good" meal. She seems to know what she's "in the mood for" and doesn't always want to eat what I put before her. She does eat a good variety, but it is getting kind of frustrating for me.

She often refuses everything and asks for "book" (which is how she says "milk").

I haven't talked to the pediatrician. I know my eldest child is/was a picky eater. I don't want to get into power struggles, and I also don't want her to go hungry. I am glad she's getting lots of breastmilk when she is turning up her nose at other stuff, and I don't feel like I can refuse her. It isn't like she's asking for a coke and a donut and I'm indulging her. But how long can she "live" or "thrive" on breastmilk? I really think at this age, she should be eating more solid foods than she is, and the stuff I have read says she should be getting most of her nutrition from solids..

She is cutting some teeth, but I don't think that is the issue. She'll eat well when she's "in the mood" and I happen to guess what she's wanting. She is good about pushing food away or saying no, and if I try to force her to taste, she is very good at sending food flying. She's not so good at requesting.

[Baby_Cakes]

Honestly, this is why I'm thankful that I'm still nursing. Toddlers are SUCH picky eaters, mine included, that I really don't need to *worry* about her nutrition as much as I would if I were giving her cows milk or soy milk. Breastmilk is packed with nutrition, and since your DD is nursing a ton, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Of course, keep offering food, keep making the move towards a diet of solids -- but don't worry that she isn't getting enough to thrive. Kellymom even says that at 18 mo, 50% of a toddlers calories should be from bm.

[pbjmama]

I don't think I believe there is such as thing as getting too much breast milk. I'm guessing that the books you are looking at expect a child to be weaned by one and yes, if they are weaned the usually eat more. She will listen to her body and when breast milk isn't enough, she will eat more. Instead of refusing you could put some limits in place. They won't be well received at first but that is developmentally appropriate. I know it can be frustrating and I think you can find with some modification you can both be happy.