My DS is 11 mo old, and my goal is to nurse him until he quits, and I'd really like to go at least until he's two. He's never been very into nursing, he just eats and is done. Has never been a comfort nurser, since birth. I WOHM, and in the last five weeks or so, he's really lost interest in nursing in the day on the weekends. In fact, he seems to be losing interest overall. I offer frequently, and he climbs off my lap! He will fairly consistently nurse before bed, then once or twice in the night. He was also a very good morning nurser, but now I need to distract him with Little People or other toys to keep him nursing in the morning. Once he gets a letdown, which takes about 30 seconds of consistent nursing, he nurses, and takes both sides. It just sometimes takes 5 or more minutes of playing and cajoling him to get that let down. I feel like I am somehow forcing this on him, since I am fairly persistent with playing with him on my lap until he nurses, since I know he will, eventually. If he cries and bats at the breast, I let him go, of course.
I know that ecologically breastfed kids aren't supposed to wean before 2-3yrs, but I've been pumping for over 9 mo at work, so its not like he has had the most natural nursing experience in the world.
I am certainly planning and willing to continue nursing him in the night until he absolutely refuses those feedings. This is very stressful for me, though! I am afraid he'll quit in the next few months, no matter what I try. Call it a strike or whatever, if he eventually won't nurse, he won't nurse.
I read all these posts about toddlers who nurse upteen times a day, and I just wish it was us! I don't see how I could make that happen, though.
Did anyone else's kids have a period where they had very low interest in nursing, later to have it rebound?
Many of my friends don't get it, they just think I should be happy that we'll have a weaning without his tears. If its soon, though, there will be plenty of my tears.
I know that ecologically breastfed kids aren't supposed to wean before 2-3yrs, but I've been pumping for over 9 mo at work, so its not like he has had the most natural nursing experience in the world.
I am certainly planning and willing to continue nursing him in the night until he absolutely refuses those feedings. This is very stressful for me, though! I am afraid he'll quit in the next few months, no matter what I try. Call it a strike or whatever, if he eventually won't nurse, he won't nurse.
I read all these posts about toddlers who nurse upteen times a day, and I just wish it was us! I don't see how I could make that happen, though.
Did anyone else's kids have a period where they had very low interest in nursing, later to have it rebound?
Many of my friends don't get it, they just think I should be happy that we'll have a weaning without his tears. If its soon, though, there will be plenty of my tears.
Carolyn
