toddler with bad habits or latch?

[Terabith]

I am nursing a 2 year old who is fairly obsessed with milk. I also have very large breasts with minimal sensation, almost none except on the nipple per se and limited sensation on it. It makes it difficult for me to detect issues at the early stages. She has recently started doing SOMETHING while nursing that is causing me a fair amount of nipple pain. (She also only nurses on the left side.) I'm not sure if it is a bad latch, or if she is biting or if she is sort of pulling away with the nipple in her mouth. But it hurts, and I can't figure out what it is so I don't know how to fix it. Any advice? Do lactation consultants help mamas who are nursing toddlers? Everyone IRL I've tried talking with has just been like "wean her," but that isn't really an option. Besides my committment to CLW, she is totally addicted.

[timneh_mom]

Hello!

I'm sorry about the latch trouble! I found that my son's latch would always be off when he was teething, and as soon as the tooth came through and he got used to it, it was better again. Also, does your daughter use a pacifier alot? Sometimes that can make it be a bit off as well.

I would hope that any LC would be willing to help you with a nursing toddler, but I know that a LLL Leader would for sure.

Have you tried asking her to unlatch, and having her open her mouth wider? Maybe one of her teeth is rubbing too close to your nipple - that happens with us sometimes.

[boobybunny]

My two and a half year old has gotten VERY lazy in his latch. He sinks his teeth... not biting, just sort of holding my nipple only with his incisors. I also have large breasts, and HUGE areolas. I usually tell him he has to "mind his latch" and he then pulls off... opens his mouth HUGE/WIDE and latches himself. Surprise surprise... no more pain.

I will often show him the teeth marks on his beloved chi chi's and tell him that his being lazy is hurting momma..... and if the chi chis are in pain... he does not get chi chi.

Sometimes he tries to kiss the pain away, and then latches.

[Terabith]

Awwww......That is soooo sweet!

[BonMaman]

I'm tandem nursing my lads, ages 2 years and 3 months. My 2yo's latch has deteriorated so much. Sometimes it makes me crazy. I think he's working on some molars, though, so maybe that has something to do with it. :