6 months break, now 2 yrs old

[Whipple]

I had no choice but to stop breastfeeding about 6 months ago due to a forced separation. My daughter was about 18 months at the time. She was nursing about 3 times a day at the time, and now none, obviously. She is going to be 2 soon, and I would love to try to get her to nurse again.

Is this possible with a 2 year old? Should I start pumping to see if I even have a bit of milk to offer, I doubt she would nurse for nothing.

[tinybutterfly]

I am going to move this to Breastfeeding Challenges.



tinybutterfly

[ewe+lamb]

Yes you can start pumping and see if you have some milk - it may not happen the first pumping session or even the 3rd or 4th but sure go ahead - it can't hurt and the only way you'll find out is by trying.

Honestly, you can try but you have to be prepared that she may not want to or she can't remember how to suck - which is different from sucking on a bottle or dummy, all that said you can still pump and give her breastmilk which she can have in her every day life you can use breastmilk for cooking with, put in her cereal etc if you're looking for the wonderful protection that bm provides our children with, and you never know you may have a huge amount of luck and she remembers how to nurse and wants to and all will be well and you must let us know if it works out or not!!

However all is not lost if she doesn't choose to nurse again and if you're looking for the closeness etc of breastfeeding, take the time to also read stories together, have lots of hugs and snuggles, there's a wonderful article about Spa Night in Mothering Magazine which I have started doing with our dd etc which you may enjoy - I guess what I am trying to say very gently is that there are lots of ways to bond together as well as nursing!

Good luck good luck - I really hope that this works out for you

[Whipple]

Thank you very much. The only reason I want to try to restart breastfeeding is because I simply do not respond well to pumping, or hand expression. So it wouldn't be all the easy to pump and give it to her in a cup or whatever.

She hasn't had a bottle, or soother. So I'm hoping this works out.

Again, thanks for the responses.

[Vegan Princess]

I recently read an article in an old Mothering issue called "when your toddler wants to nurse again"...it was about unweaning a toddler about 6 months after weaning. This was different bc the mom had a new baby and thus had plenty of milk. But the little girl did remember how to nurse and went on to nurse for another year or so. Sorry, I don't know when the issue was from.

Best of luck!

Cindy