My DD just turned 3. She is still nursing, which, in theory, I am fine with.
Actually, I am fine with the fact that she is nursing.
What I am not fine with is how demanding she is. She will often - usually - nurse longer than DD2, who is 7 months old. Even that I can handle.
My problem is, I need to have some sort of control over her nursing. I mean, clearly it is my body. But if I tell her it is time to put nummies away, or if she wants to nurse at a given time and I tell her no, it's a nightmare
She screams and cries and throws a huge fit.
I realize some may view this as more of a behavior problem rather than a nursing problem. But, in any case, it's still a problem. And it is different than normal discipline issues, because it is about her nummies, which she still needs so desperately.
Right now, my main tactic is that I tell her I will count to five, then put nummies away. At five, she says one more, so I tell her I will count to three. At three, we put the nummies away.
Most of the time this works. Sometimes, it doesn't.
Also, when she wants to nurse and I won't let her, due to being unable to, she will sometimes throw a fit that she carries on for over an hour. If I make her wait until I finish what I'm doing, she'll tantrum until I'm done, at which point I giver her the nummies, which is why she stops.
Other times, if I can't just finish up and give them to her (like I'm leaving for work or something), she will sometimes tantrum for over an hour.
When I do tell her she can't have her nummies right now for whatever reason, I do try distraction - I suggest we sing a song together, I offer to rub her back, I offer to read her a book, whatever. Occassionally this works, usually it doesn't.
Help! I feel horrible that she is so hurt by not getting her nummies - like, I don't want this do damage our relationship - but, I also know that she is old enough to have limits and I need to stand my ground on setting limits.
I am looking for helpful suggestions and stories from experience, along with perhaps some support of those who have BTDT and know what nursing a three-year-old can be like (which I have done before with DS, but he was much less demanding and more easy-going about things).
Please no criticism of how I have handled things to date. Just helpful ways to try to change as we move forward and do things a bit better.
Actually, I am fine with the fact that she is nursing.
What I am not fine with is how demanding she is. She will often - usually - nurse longer than DD2, who is 7 months old. Even that I can handle.
My problem is, I need to have some sort of control over her nursing. I mean, clearly it is my body. But if I tell her it is time to put nummies away, or if she wants to nurse at a given time and I tell her no, it's a nightmare
She screams and cries and throws a huge fit.I realize some may view this as more of a behavior problem rather than a nursing problem. But, in any case, it's still a problem. And it is different than normal discipline issues, because it is about her nummies, which she still needs so desperately.
Right now, my main tactic is that I tell her I will count to five, then put nummies away. At five, she says one more, so I tell her I will count to three. At three, we put the nummies away.
Most of the time this works. Sometimes, it doesn't.
Also, when she wants to nurse and I won't let her, due to being unable to, she will sometimes throw a fit that she carries on for over an hour. If I make her wait until I finish what I'm doing, she'll tantrum until I'm done, at which point I giver her the nummies, which is why she stops.
Other times, if I can't just finish up and give them to her (like I'm leaving for work or something), she will sometimes tantrum for over an hour.
When I do tell her she can't have her nummies right now for whatever reason, I do try distraction - I suggest we sing a song together, I offer to rub her back, I offer to read her a book, whatever. Occassionally this works, usually it doesn't.
Help! I feel horrible that she is so hurt by not getting her nummies - like, I don't want this do damage our relationship - but, I also know that she is old enough to have limits and I need to stand my ground on setting limits.
I am looking for helpful suggestions and stories from experience, along with perhaps some support of those who have BTDT and know what nursing a three-year-old can be like (which I have done before with DS, but he was much less demanding and more easy-going about things).
Please no criticism of how I have handled things to date. Just helpful ways to try to change as we move forward and do things a bit better.
but they still happen. It's good practice for the future!
