Should I give him limits??

[mamafever]

My 22 month old is crazy addicted to breastfeeding. I sometimes thinks he just likes to have his mouth on my nipple and isn't even actually getting milk....well he likes the milk too, but it is driving me crazy! I feel like we cant get anything done somedays. I have never said no, except for a few times when we are not home I tell him that he needs to wait a few minutes until we get home. He usually just starts acting up and sometimes throws a tandrum if he doesnt get to nurse right away. I try to offer a drink or a snack and he says no. Is he to the age where I need to start putting limits? I thought I would let him self wean so I dont want to push things to much, but I have heard that after they are two it is nearly impossible to wean them. I know it is a whole different question, but he nurses a ton at night too. We co-sleep and I love it, but I am tired of waking to him saying "nurse, nurse!" and if he dosen't get it then he starts screaming. Should I start setting limits? If so...HOw do I do that?

[PGTlatte]

I would go with your gut. If you feel it is time for limits, then it is time for limits. If you don't like the dynamic of him screaming and throwing a fit to nurse, and you feel that nursing when he does this is reinforcing that behavior, then perhaps you can start to teach him that he has to ask nicely and that sometimes you will need to say no. Another way to handle it would be to explain that you are limiting nursing to only specific points of each 24 hours cycle, and stick to only those times very consistently.

[mamafever]

perfect thanks! I decided that I am going to only nurse him up in his bed...so being how on the go he is I think that going upstaris out of sight of everything he will start to nurse less. I also decided that I would start trying to make him try to fall asleep during the night by himself with out nursing. THat did not go over well last night!!! He was kicking and screaming for an hour straight! THen he got up an wandered the house for a while and kept coming back to me asking to nurse. I just acted like I was asleep and he eventually layed next to me and fell asleep after light another hour. The nighttime nursing was getting out of hand so I am starting ot limit him there too. I just want him to understand that he can fall asleep with out nursing and he doesnt need it all day long! I dont want to wean him completely, just limit him for it has gotten way out of hand. THanks for your encouragement, yes I think consistency ill be the key.

[PGTlatte]

Originally Posted by mamafever

perfect thanks! I decided that I am going to only nurse him up in his bed...so being how on the go he is I think that going upstaris out of sight of everything he will start to nurse less. I also decided that I would start trying to make him try to fall asleep during the night by himself with out nursing. THat did not go over well last night!!! He was kicking and screaming for an hour straight! THen he got up an wandered the house for a while and kept coming back to me asking to nurse. I just acted like I was asleep and he eventually layed next to me and fell asleep after light another hour. The nighttime nursing was getting out of hand so I am starting ot limit him there too. I just want him to understand that he can fall asleep with out nursing and he doesnt need it all day long! I dont want to wean him completely, just limit him for it has gotten way out of hand. THanks for your encouragement, yes I think consistency ill be the key.

If he is upset, you can offer him another way to comfort himself. Our first son switched over to sleeping with his daddy and that was enough for him. Our second son transitioned to a special sippy cup in his favorite color and sticking his hand down my shirt