really, I think he's done nursing...

[JillyD]

So, my son is 14 months and I basically have to "force" him to nurse. I have to catch him right after he wakes up from a nap in order for him to be the least bit interested. Most of the time, he pushes me away and would rather go play or eat something. DD was so different (she would have nursed 24/7 if she had the choice!).

I find myself faced with a tough decision. Do I keep on forcing the issue or do I just let it go? He isn't the type of kid who will nurse to sleep either (is that not strange???) - he'd rather be held or walked. I don't get it! Why doesn't he like it? I have low supply issues so that could be part of the problem (he gets bottles of cow milk or formula to supplement). I think he lacks the patience to wait for the milk. IT feels strange (maybe even wrong?) to not be following his cues on this but really, how can he be done nursing?

So, then, if I do let it go and stop nursing, what should I supplement with? Right now he gets cow's milk but I wonder if I should be giving him formula too or instead of the cow's milk (which he has had in the past but I switched to cow's milk at 12 months thinking he was eating enough different foods to balance things out).

Any mama's out there have any advice?

[pumpkingirl71]

I would let it go. When it is a non-issue, he may change his mind. 14 months of nursing is a great gift I wouldn't worry about any kind of supplimenting besided good nutrition.

[mbm]

We let it go around 14 months too. We were down to just morning and night anyway, and for three days and nights DD bit me very deliberately instead of latching on. She had been nursing to sleep, but from that day on she was happy with a bedtime cuddle.

I was sad for a week or so. But I figured 14 months was a good run!

[Mal85]

My daughter is the same way and has been since she was about 11 months old. I let it go to an extent at that age. She only nursed before naps and before bed, it was the only thing that would make her be still long enough to fall asleep.

She started fighting it at naps even harder after she turned a year old. Now, at 14.5 months, she's down to bedtime. That was going strong until the last week or so. Now, she'll nurse for just a minute on each side, then scream until DH or I takes her to her bed. I'm holding on to this last nursing session as long as I can, I'm sentimental about it. She won't sleep with us anymore, she's very independent. Letting her be done with nursing is like the end of her babyhood to me.

[LadyCatherine185]

I say just let it go. If you want to give some kind of milk, I would go with goat's milk, or coconut milk before cow's milk. DS is dairy intolerant anyway, and we use coconut milk.

[Louisep]

Same thing happened to us at 14 months! I let it go, sad as I was.

There is no nutritional need to supplement breastmilk after 12 months as long as he is eating a balanced diet and getting calcium and good fat from other sources (surprisingly broccoli has lots of calcium!). We give a little organic soy milk each day and organic rice milk.

[weliveintheforest]

I don't know what I would do in your shoes, but if you can, it would be good to keep giving him your milk for as long as possible. Even if it's just a little bit, it is more than just nutrition, and if he should get sick or anything, it is so nice to have breastmilk available. The few times my kids had the flu as nursing toddlers I was so thankful I could give them breastmilk.

[sapphire_chan]

At 14 months, I'd try pumping to keep the supply going and get him still having breastmilk even from a cup. I wouldn't do it if it were annoying or anything, but it'd definitely be worth a bit of effort to have milk available in case of illness.

[handsandfeet]

I am facing a similar issue, though DS will nurse to sleep at night (not for naps). Unfortunately, my supply is next to nothing now. I considered pumping, but it is too challenging to find time to pump while chasing around a very active 14 month old. I have decided to just let it go. DS drinks about 8 oz of cow's milk a day, plus lots of broccoli, cheese, yogurt, etc. I tried goat and rice milk but he wouldn't drink it. I hate letting go of the wonderful tool of BM when he's sick, but it's not really feasible to keep it up at this point since he doesn't want it (also bites). I wouldn't force the issue. In our case it makes it worse.

[nukuspot]

I'm happy to know we are not alone. DD is 13.5 months and we are going through the same thing here. It makes me sad and I've cried about it. Especially since she's not much of a solids eater mostly either so I worry about what she is living off of! But I'm forcing it until the last moment. So far I take those times when she just wakes up and is sleepy to stick the nipple in her mouth and she gets a few sucks there. Plus she will rarely nurse to sleep now but will nurse BEFORE sleep so I can get her to drink some then too. I think the main thing that is saving my supply now is that we cosleep and she nurses at least once during the night, and once in the early am right before she gets up. I just want to keep it going as long as possible.

And I also agonized over replacing my BM with other milk and decided not to. I give her dairy to eat but not to drink. There was something strange to me about her not wanting my milk so then offering cow milk...But I don't think anything is wrong with doing so, it just didn't feel right to me. I do offer her water all day long, as much as she will drink, and I have sippy cups laying on the floor in case she is thirsty. It's hard, I know! But at least you are not alone...