I don't like tandem nursing!

[Lady Love]

Hi there,

I need help! I nursed my two year old DS through my pregnancy, which was NOT easy for me. I thought it was the best thing for him, but now I don't think it was. My newborn is 6 weeks old and I just don't think I can nurse my son another day. He's almost three now and can understand almost anything I tell him. So I'm wondering if any of you have dealt with a similar situation of have any thoughts to share. I don't know weather to go about it in a subtle way or just try any explain to him what's going on. Most of all, I don't want him to end up blaming it all on the baby and resenting her for it. I will add that although he just nurses about once a day now he LOVES to nurse and begs me all the time...sigh Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[woodchick]

I found tandem nursing a bit overwhelming at first and found myself hoping that DD1 would start to wean herself. I set a couple of boundaries, one of which was "one girl at a time, baby goes first" which seemed to go over okay.

Maybe if you had one designated time and place to nurse your elder son you could remind him of it when he asks any other time. My DD1 still nurses but it is only ever just before bed, in my bed or hers.  At this point she rarely asks at any other time.

[Juvysen]

I hated it, and got some icky "GET OFF ME!" feelings, but DD was only 18 months old when DS1 was born, so I kept up with it.  Things got better when DS1 was about 3 months old.  I mostly would just count down when DD was nursing when I got to the point where I couldn't do it anymore.  "ok, mommy's all done, I'm going to count to 3 and you'll be done... one... two... three..."  Usually DD would stop within that timeframe... sometimes it took some distraction, but she was much younger than your older nursling...

[lookatreestar]

i would stagger nursing sessions- it made it seem like i was nursing 24/7 but it was better than tandem nursing all the time.