Anyone tandem nursing??

[juleslane]

How is it going for you? Who often are you nursing your toddler?

My story....I was nursing my now 21 month old only at nap time and few times at night for the past 7 months. I had really very little milk as the hormones dried me up. She did it mainly for comfort, and REFUSED to even attempt to nurse during the day. Only nursed when laying down and sleepy. Well, since coming home and having milk come back, that's all she wants to do. I can't nurse the newborn without my toddler begging to join. While it is so sweet to nurse them at the same time, nighttime is hard like that. It's manageable cause dh is off work, but he returns soon and works second shift so I have bedtimes alone with 2 co-sleeping babies who nurse!!

So how has your toddler been with nursing? Any tips on how to manage? I am really worried about when I go out in public and my toddler starts begging. I am a huge fan of public nursing, but I can't find a modest position with 2 of them, won't have a pillow, and have no desire to nurse them both in public.

[Mama2Bean]

I'm waiting on my LO to be born, but my 3yo DD is still nursing occasionally, so I'll be watching this thread. Thanks for starting it! She was nursing about every other day for a lot of the pregnancy, but lately has started asking for it a LOT.

I will stay tuned!

[Shannie77]

My DD just turned 3 and was not nursing much until my milk came in. Now she is obsessed!! Whenever she sees me nursing her sister she has to join in. I did nightwean her a couple months ago so I am trying my best to keep that up. Other than my husband who thinks DD1 nursing is the root of all our problems, I am really enjoying it. It is the only time I get some peace and quiet.

Do any of you do anything special in terms of who gets what side etc? I just let my DD1 do what she wants. I have a lot of milk so DD2 always has some and is gaining fine. One of my midwives had given me advice about how to tandem but in the end I haven't really worried about who goes when and on what boob.

[sweet_tart_vt]

My 16moth old DS nursed throughout my pregnancy, but I ended up losing most of my supply and he had self weaned to just nursing in the mornings when he woke up. I think it is mostly a comfort thing as I really didnt have much left at all. Our newest dd was born 5/31 and my milk came in today (owie!!!). She is a very sleepy baby and I have to constantly get after her to nurse. she happily takes a few pulls, and by the time let-down comes she's snoring! lol My ds is quite happy about the return of the milk, but hasnt increased his feedings at all. I was almost hoping he would because I have an over-abundance and dont want to pump (dont even have one). Im hoping dd gets over her "sleepy stage" ASAP and starts eating more soon. I dont want to lose supply from lack of demand.

[attached2ethan]

I am still nursing my 4yo occasionally- since turning 4 he has gone down to once per day (at bedtime). But now that there is an abundance of milk, he's asking a lot during the day. I have obliged as much as I can stand it but am trying not to increase too much, because to be honest I'm over it. I would like for him to wean, but I did want the tandem nursing experience because I did not do it with his brother when he was born. I had a *really* hard time with my last baby because I did NOT tandem, and this time it has made a huge difference in the jealousy factor- I hardly have any jealousy at all so it's definitely worth it.

I also don't have any rhyme or reason to who gets what side- usually he asks to nurse when the baby is nursing so he gets the available side, LOL!

I will also add that my nipples hurt tremendously during nursing through my whole pregnancy, and oddly, have continued to hurt only when older DS nurses. The baby's latch is great and no pain at all, but something about 4yo nursing KILLS my nipples and makes me want to just push him off me- so I doin't foresee us continuing much longer- I am so ready for him to be done!

[kaspirant]

I'm nursing 3. (oh.my.goodness. I never dreamed I'd say that) DS1 is 4 and still nurses at bedtime and now that there is milk again has started asking at other times (when he's hurt, tired, hungry...etc) I can usually distract him but it did come in handy today when I had a huge let down and both DS2 (2 weeks old) and DD (2 years old) were sleeping. DD is a nursing fiend again. She'd nurse all.day.long. if I'd let her. I don't though, I distract her with drinks, snacks and cuddles. DS2 loves nursing when he's awake...but he's a sleepy baby.

We're doing quite well. DH had to go back to work when DS2 was 2 days old because he's in training and is not allowed time off for any.reason.at.all. during training. So we're managing.

Bedtime is tiring for me. I don't often stay awake through it. I nurse one down, roll over, nurse another one down, roll over, nurse the first back down, try to get up and get the third down with a stop back in to nurse down one or two again. (DS1 is not so hard except for him waking his siblings, he'll nurse for a 10 count and normally roll over and fall asleep on his own. )