Holy cow we made it to a year......now what

[angela67j]

I did not grow up around moms who BF so when I decided to BF my little one I really didn't know what to expect I just knew I was determined! So when I claimed before I had my little one that I would BF for 6 months i didn't realize a few things....one 6 months came fast, two it just started to get really easy, three I loved to BF. So then I said I will BF for one year and here we are one year of BF and again I didn't realize how we are not even close to being done. So my question to you fellow mamas.....how is BF a toddler different and what are some unexpected circumstances/challenges have you run in to. What s the second year of BF like for you....so on. So far for me it has been wonderful to have a time of quite moments with my dd, she can go longer between sessions (which was really hard on me at first), ppl are starting to wonder how long am I going to BF....gasp!! I've had a few bites but nothing to throw in the towel at.

[ElliesMomma]

to answer some of your questions, it gets better b/c your little one communicates more about it and tells you how much he or she truly enjoys it. as to what to say to other people who question you, you don't owe them an exact answer, especially as you don't even know yourself "how much longer." when i am asked that question, i simply reply, "we're going to keep going for awhile."

Edited by ElliesMomma - 5/28/11 at 11:09pm

[woodchick]

Exactly everything that Elliesmomma said :)   My favorite age for nursing is 12-24mos.  It's just so easy!

[gingerandpickles]

Way to go. The above is really great.

[mrskingred]

I would also add to all the above great advice - don't be surprised if around age 2, you feel like your lo is nursing as frequently as a newborn. This really threw me at the time, until I talked with other mamas and found out its quite common.

[Quinalla]

First of all, congratulations! I'm no expert, but I am nursing a 16 month old. Some things I've run into...

-Realizing it is ok and I think a good thing to set some nursing limits. She (my DD here) doesn't need to nurse immediately every time anymore if I need a minute to finish something and I can limit our NIP to places I am comfortable with.

-She can communicate so much more clearly using signs, words and pointing what she wants. When she signs for milk and brings me the nursing pillow, it's pretty clear what she wants The downside to that is sometimes she will try pulling up/off my shirt to show me, but that goes back to setting limits for me anyway.

-She still nurses a lot, even with me hardly ever offering and even more when she is teething or sick.

-I've had mixed reactions on continuing to nurse, but mostly positive which is nice. Around here, nearly everyone is ok with 18months (not that most people make it anywhere close to that), but most think you probably should be done by 2 at the latest. My pediatrician says her personal cutoff is when they go to college I'm not sure how long I want to go myself, but so far things are going well and I was especially happy to still be nursing when she had a nasty stomach flu/diarrhea week long bug that was going around at her daycare.

-Nursing is just so easy now while I do totally understand why people stop early, man, it's just so easy and smooth now, it just seems like why would I stop now?

[Ava's Mama]

Congrats Mama!  I am still nursing my Dd who is 2 (almost 26 months!).  I remember being in a similar position - saying ok, my goal is a year, then it was two years, and now here we are!  We live in a very liberal community and I have never been questioned when nursing my DD, I feel so lucky.  Although, I need to make a better effort and giving other mama's pats on the back for nursing, especially in public!  Nursing into the toddler years has been mostly positive for me.  Yes, there are times that she will nurse like a newborn, but normally there is a reason for that.  It is really great when she is sick and won't eat anything else, so I know she is getting something.  And of course the communicated only gets better.  Now I can say "Mommy is making dinner, we can nurse after we eat" etc which is reall nice.  Obvisouly if she really needs it right then I will drop everything, but for the most part she understands and can have a snack instead!  Good luck mama, you are doing a great job!

[MamaofLiam]

Just want to say congrats! You made it :) I just totally agree with all of the above.