nursing on demand for young toddler?

[mrskatiekuj]

My 16mo old would pretty much be content to nurse on demand, all day long. If I'm sitting on the floor, she wants to nurse, if I'm standing she wants to nurse, if she's happy she wants to nurse, if she's sad - she wants to nurse...anyways...

I'm wondering how often your young toddler nurses?
Do you allow them to nurse on demand, whenever they request it?
If not - what do you say to them to let them know nursing is not an option at the moment? do they accept it? (Ruby does not)

I sometimes worry that she is not learning to cope with being upset/bored/frustrated by any other method but going to the breast. Or is this okay, and something I shouldn't be worried about?

thanks in advance for any insight!
 

[NoahsMamaLlama]

I'm having a very similar experience with my 17 month old son! He nurses constantly!  I feel like I nurse him a dozen times in any 24 hour period. He nurses when he's sad, happy, hungry, tired, not feeling well, excited, etc.  I try to tell him that he can't have them, but he doesn't have any part of that.  I'm trying to wean him, but have NO idea where to start weaning a comfort nurser. We started cosleeping a while ago because he was literally up 6 times a night just to nurse him back to sleep. He refuses a pacifier and had no other "lovey" to be attached to.

[NoahsMamaLlama]

I just read another post called " I need some help. No judgment please." It's a few down from your post and they have some ideas that I think might help us! GL!

[Anna Phor]

My 17 mo nurses 8-10 x per day on days when I'm at work and probably about 10-12 x on weekend days when I'm with him all day.

If I don't want him to nurse, telling him doesn't really help. I have to give him something else to do as a distraction. "Hey, a firetruck" is a much better solution than "no, you can nurse in ten minutes."

:)

[D_McG]

I nursed my son on demand at that age (I think?) but not my DD. The 'on demand' thing became too much and I do feel that it stood in the way of both of us learning other ways to relate. Limits came with some tantrums but ultimately it was a much happier home when nursing was a predictable thing. Around 12 -15 mos was when I made the transition with my second and I will probably do the same thing with my third.

[mrskatiekuj]

Originally Posted by D_McG 

I nursed my son on demand at that age (I think?) but not my DD. The 'on demand' thing became too much and I do feel that it stood in the way of both of us learning other ways to relate. Limits came with some tantrums but ultimately it was a much happier home when nursing was a predictable thing. Around 12 -15 mos was when I made the transition with my second and I will probably do the same thing with my third.

How did you make the transition? Was there a phrase you used to let her know that nursing was not going to happen right now?

[Marissamom]

at about 15 months I had to limit DD because the pregnancy sore nipples were killing me. we did get her to take a binky, and "let's have binky and read a book" or "how about binky and snuggles with dada" worked for us. 

[D_McG]

Originally Posted by mrskatiekuj 

How did you make the transition? Was there a phrase you used to let her know that nursing was not going to happen right now?

I was very direct. "Not now but we'll nurse _____. Now we can _____ (eat/play/whatever)".

I wouldn't limit 'just because'. I just did it because I knew from my son that I don't really like toddler nursing so it was wise to get it under control.