how much should a 14mos old be nursing?

[cassiemommy]

I have a question for all of you experienced mamas! I'm still nursing my 14mos old and am wondering whether I am nursing her enough. She doesn't seem to really want to nurse unless she wants to sleep or nap, or when she first wakes up. She eats solids very well (even with only 3 teeth!), but we haven't really given her any cow's milk because she gets this transient rash around her chin and cheek area that starts about 15-30min after she has the milk and lasts about that long as well. She tolerates yogurt and cheeses well with no rash. When I'm at work, she takes about 250ml to 300ml of EBM usually. Is DD getting enough milk (for calcium and other nutrients)?

TIA for any advice/experience you gurus can share with me!

[Embee]

At 14 months, I would think your daughter is fine to nurse as often as or as little as she wishes. Around this same time, I adopted a 'don't offer, don't refuse' basis with DS... naptime and bedtime were always "gimmes" though.

As for the issue of calcium, cow's milk (contrary to many mainstream doc's opinions), is not a requirement for adequate calcium. My son still won't touch the stuff. As long as she takes other sources well (cheese, yogurt, etc.), then that's great.

14 months is a real wonderous time for young toddlers. I know mine at this age backed off quite a bit as well--so much to see, no time to nurse, ma!. Of course, it's all relative... at two years, he still nurses about 4 or 5 times per day.

[DaryLLL]

It depends on if you want to wean soon. If she is sensitive to cow's milk, and you want to continue to nurse for another year or more, you could lessen the amt of table foods she gets and offer more EBF or nursing when you are home. Studies have shown, breastmilk, ideally, should be the main source of nutrition until the third b-day!

Some toddlers like their table foods a lot, but then end up weaning before it is good for them to do so. Children are actually meant to receive breastmilk for 3-6 years. Age 6 is when theri secnd molars come in and their own immune systme is fully developed.

The cow's milk products she can tolerate do have some nutrients, but too much of others, such as sodium and potassium, and of course, no immune factors.

So, weigh the evidence, and make your own choice.