How often does your toddler nurse?

[smeta]

Whenever I read anything about toddler nursing, it seems like they only nurse in the morning, at naptime and at bedtime. Dd is 18 mos. and still nurses very frequently (too many to count!).

I am curious if there are many others like her or if they are all like the books say!

[ladylee]

At 27 months it's 2-4 times in 24 hours, but I remember at 18 months she nursed heavily also . Practically on the hour!

[Mallory]

I am nursing a 14 mo and a 2 1/2. The younger 8-10 times on a slow day and even the almost 3 year old nurses a lot more than 3 times maybe 6-8 most days.

[mommybritt]

My 15 month old dd nurses at least 5 times a day, usually more like 8-10. She seems to be needing to nurse more over the past few weeks. I've also noticed during that time that her stranger anxiety/seperation anxiety/whatever you call it has increased. I'm assuming they're related. I do know that I've read lots and spoken to many women who've said that the middle part of the second year their babes nursed like newborns

[TiredX2]

DD definately nursed more than that at 18 months. If pushed to guess I would think 14-18/ 24 hours. Around 24 months she was still going 12-14 times at which time we drastically reduced to 8ish times a day (pg & mono), then 5 times, then three. Lately (3.5 next week) she has nursed 2x daily.

HTH,
Kay

[momma2mingbu]

I'm guessing here......m

I don't keep count, but I'm guessing that my almost 16 mos old nurses around 8 times per day. If we are really busy and out and about it would probably be less as she would be distracted. When my DS was the same age I think he nursed about 6 times per day.

[onehipmomma]

my 17 mos old nurses frequently, however, some of those are only "two second, yup, it's still there" kinda nurses. I work fulltime and allow him to nurse whenever he wants when I am around.

[Embee]

Yep, frequent nurser here too. DS will be 18 months on the 4th and he nurses (on average) about 4-6 per day and usually once or twice during the night. Just depends upon the activities, outtings and if he's just feeling snuggly...

At 12 months he started nursing frequently again--he had just started walking which stands to reason. Just needing to grab a few more "pick-me-ups" from mom during the day to keep the exploration efforts going. Seems to me that in the last month or two, he's toned it down a bit... of course now he's teething those last four molars so...

I was reading in Mothering your Nursing Toddler that during the first half of the second year, it's extremely common for toddler's to begin nursing more frequently--coinciding of course with all that newly found independence. I had thought as much but it was reassuring to read this just the same.

[merpk]

Before DS#2 was born, DD nursed maybe two or three times a day, some days only once, plus first thing in the morning and last thing at night. She really wasn't too interested unless we were in bed.

Since the baby showed up, she nurses ... a lot. Uncountably a lot. Constantly. Baby's 3mo & DD is 2 1/2 and they nurse about the same amount at this point.

- Amy

[lenswyf]

Ds nursed every two hours during the day until he was 14-15 months of age (night weaned himself at 8 months). When he turned two, he was nursing 4-5 times a day. Now, as he turns 3, he nurses at naptime and bedtime. He can go to sleep without it, but wants it when he wakes up if he didn't get it.

[MSings]

Well, it is 2:30 PM and my 17 month old ds has already nursed 10 times today if you count the 2:15 and 3 AM feedings so I guess I fall under too numerous to count. I also read with wonder about 1 year olds that nurse upon rising, before nap and at bed. The biggest change for me is that since 15 months he will on occasion go 4 hours during the day between nursings. He has periods every day, however, where he asks to nurse every hour or more frequently. He also asks to nurse when he is stressed, scared, hurt, tired or wants my attention. I never refuse although in public I do delay until a convenient place/time is found. He is not a snuggler so it is the only time I get to hold him.

[Solange]

25 months here and still nursing 4 x a day and whenever at night since we co-sleep -it is pretty much self serve during the night hours...lol..so I am not sure how many time to be honest

[Kimlee]

My 2 y.o. nurses approx. 8-10 times a day, some of which are "just checking in" . Its pretty much an on demand thing. Especially when she is upset, scared or hurt. It had been a little less, but has increased since I started watching a friends 1 y.o.

Lee

[sixkids35]

My toddler is 32 months old and I tandem nurse his 3 months old sister. I use the "don't ask, don't refuse" approach. Usually he nurses morning, nap and bedtimes. His sister nurses on demand whenever she wants I will nurse till Joseph is ready to wean.
mom to Wes, Brittany, Danielle, Dillon, Joseph and Breanna.

[willibug]

M ds is 16 months old, and nurses (both night and day) too many times to count! Nursing sessions are variable in length, and also vary wildly as to whether or not he is teething, etc.

[Jenny G]

My ds is 11 months, technically not yet a toddler, but this makes me feel better! He nurses at least 6 times a day, more when he's teething and waking up a lot at night. I plan on letting him wean himself when he's ready (doesn't look like anytime soon- but I'm enjoying it!).

Question: are you guys taking a multivitamin, pre-natal vitamin or none? My hair is still falling out, and I'm thinking I need a pre-natal vitamin...thanks!

[Kimlee]

I'm still taking pre-natal vitamins. My doctor suggested that I do so. I was told that nursing may deplete your vitamins if you don't take them. Whether or not you need them can also depend on how well you eat. Hope that is helpful. Lee

[simonee]

DD will be 3 in 6 weeks, I voted "more than 10" but I don't count. Sometimes she'll go without for 4 hours, those are the extreme days. Otherwise, she goes day and night, for about 6 good feedings and a "whole lot of tiny snackies" as she calls it.

So, when somebody asks, "What's your favorite food?" (for some reason, a lot of people ask that), she'll say, "snacky mama's titty"

[lestouffer]

I am glad to see that I am not alone. I am new here and was worrying about my long term nurser (I only nursed my first DD 11 1/2 months by pseudo bilateral agreement, she didn't ask I didn't offer) but my 22 month DD still nurses at least 2x a day. We were down to one, but more lately. She has also been co sleeping recently (she got adamant about being in her crib at 16 months or so) and she has been up 4 or 5 times a night and getting a bottle seemed to pacify her until lately. Now its being in our bed, not necessarily nursing (she did that in fact for the first time last night)...any ideas or suggestions? Thanks (me super tired)

[DaisysMommaNZ]

Glad to see we are not alone. Too many to count too. I draw a blank when people ask me how many times she nurses in a day. Feel like a bit of a freak sometimes but then the LLL meetings roll around and I feel normal again.