Putting some limits on nursing for 15 month old.

[flower01]

With both of my kids I've just nursed on demand basically. No schedules no limits. But, I'm really feeling like I need to put some limits on my son. He is 15 months old and he is just nursing constantly.  I try to distract him with food, with play, but he won't give up.  And the worst part is that he likes to switch back and forth a lot.  The worst part is when we are out. It seems he uses nursing when he doesn't like something...like he always wants to nurse when we are at Costco.

I would like some tips or a recommendation for some good articles or books.  I want to still nurse him to 2 years at least, but I don't want my life to be controlled by his constant demands for "nursies."

[akind1]

Recently (in the last week) I have been limiting nursing to first thing in the morning, and right before bed. in between he gets solids and OJ or water. It has helped that we have had some very busy days so he has been distracted. I have started carrying snacks and sippy cups with us while we are out so if he gets the munchies then, I am prepared. (I know, really, it is so much easier sometimes to just sit some where and nurse, but I am feeling pretty close to done and hope that limiting the sessions will help me feel better about continuing to nurse).

He has not yet refused an alternate food and demanded to nurse. I will say, if he did, I absolutely would nurse him - but he hasn't seemed at all bothered by the lack of daytime nursing.

I haven't any books, and while I have not looked there for this topic, kellymom's website is a wealth of all breastfeeding related info.

[D_McG]

that was the age that I cut my DD down to overnight (including morning in bed), naptime and bedtime.  I didn't make a big deal out of it, very matter of fact.  I knew it was either that or wean fully.  She wasn't happy about it initially but like most kids she adjusted quickly.  I dealt with her protests like I do any other.  Distraction, comfort.  And I was just very straight up about it "We'll nurse at naptime" and then that was it.

I never allowed switching, twiddling or nursing in grocery stores lol.  So that was long gone at that age.

[Auroara Bobcat]

I know exactly what you are talking about. My DD is now 16 months old and about 3 weeks ago I got to the point where I couldn't just let her nurse when ever she wanted. I was very conflicted about it. She also likes to switch A LOT and twiddle the other nipple while she nurses and she can go on and on and on without stopping. When we are out and about she doesn't want to nurse very much but it is when we are home and we are home a lot, so I had to set some limits.

I stated that I will nurse her right away in the morning, to nap, to sleep at night and throughout the night as she needs. I stuck very close to this plan. She doesn't it like it. She will cry and pull at my shirt or follow me around and I am sorry she is so upset about it but I really need to do this for me. Some days I will give her a little more throughout the day but if I do that to much she expects me to do it all of the time.

I think that if you set a firm plan for yourself on how you want to limit his nursing than you will feel a lot better about it. Good luck. It can be so hard to say no but sometimes you just have to. :)