those with 3+y.o. nurslings, where are you? - Page 4

[EviesMom]

NYC here, nursing a 3 1/2 year old. I know at least a dozen people nursing 3 and up year olds. And most of them nurse in public, whereas dd's cut back to just a few times a day, so we just nurse at home and at LLL and API meetings.

[zmom]

DD just turned 3 in August and we're still nursing. We're in Central Texas...

[lara1828]

I'm in St. Paul, MN, tandem nursing 3.5 and 1.5 yo. I'm not even the outlier - I have a friend who nursed (and NIP) her daughter until age 5.

I don't NIP much with the older one, but often when I do someone comes up and tells me they nursed a child til age 2 or older. So, yeah, I think extended nursing happens more than is obvious to the casual observer.

ETA: Around here it is not unusual to see someone nursing a toddler. Nursing a preschooler is when you become "unusual".

[Cadence]

Hi everyone! We're here in the lovely California central coast- San Luis Obispo- nursing an almost 4 yo and a 3 mo old! It's great to "see" so many of you! I know of one other person nursing a 3.5 year old- most stop before 2.

Nurse on everyone!

Candace

[MomToKandE]

Northern Virginia nursing my 3.5 year old. He's pretty much down to just night nursing though so it's been a long time since he's NIP.

[oceanbaby]

No. Cal.

Ds2 is turned 3 in July, and is still nursing. Not a whole lot - mainly when he gets tired in the afternoon, or when he gets really hurt. He nurses briefly at night, but then just rolls over, drinks some water and goes to sleep. He asks to nurse a lot more, but I offer hugs or something to drink instead, and most of the time he is fine with that.

[EviesMom]

I wanted to just share my favorite extended nursing story. DD and I went to the Met Museum when she was, I think, about 18 months old, and she wanted to nurse, of course, when we got to the room of Mary Cassatt and similar paintings of babies nursing, etc. So I found a decently comfortable chair and started nursing. A little girl about 4 came up and watched us very intently. Then she sat down next to us, still watching closely with an odd expression, but not saying a word. I was really getting a little nervous, b/c I was somehow sure that the mother was going to come over and tell me I shouldn't be doing *that* in front of her daughter though dd and I were pretty discrete. Low and behold, finally the mother comes over, smiles at me and her dd, and says "Do you miss nursing?" to her dd! Then tells me that her daughter weaned recently but she's totally fascinated by nursing. That was the best.

I want to be that Mama, but I can't see my dd ever sitting silently watching a nursing mother. She'd probably shout "LOOK MAMA! NURSIES!" joyously.

[Lilcrunchie]

I live near Beanma (she posted on the first page). We're in the Triangle area of NC. I know a handful of other moms that are nursing 3+ year olds. DS is 3 years, 7 months and nursing mostly morning and bedtime (and I'm nursing a 9 month old as well).

[Quaniliaz]

Hi - I'm still nursing my daughter - she'll be 5 in Nov. I'm in East Central MN. I don't know anyone else IRL nursing an almost 5 year old. Although one of my aunts did CLW with all 4 of her kids - so I grew up seeing 3 & 4 year olds nurse.

[girlmama28]

Still nursing my son who was 3 in July in Wisconsin.

[aran]

Nursing 3 yo and 4 month old, and we live about halfway between Boston and Worcester, MA. I don't know anyone IRL that is currently nursing a child over 3.

[momcnl]

I am nursing a 3.75 year old and a 16 month old

Hi,
You are definitely not by yourself
Belinda

[lovemyT]

I'm in Ohio, nursing a 3.75 yr old. Definitely not the norm around here!

[NatureMama3]

Currently in central Idaho. But I've also lived in north Idaho, SE Missouri and east Idaho. I've not run into anyone IRL who has nursed beyond 2-3.

[cheenya]

I'm in Central MN, Tandem nursing, a 4.5 yo and a 20 month old.
I know two other mama's still nursing children about the same age as my DD, although now that I think of it, one of them may have recently weaned, I haven't asked lately, even though we see them at least weekly Its definitely not common around here though.

[annethcz]

I'm in MN. My current nursling is almost 4. I guess I'm lucky, I've known a fair number of people who nurse older children or do CLW... Although it's not common, it's not uncommon in the circles I travel in.

[Kristy555]

I am in Florida. My son just turned three today and we are still nursing about 6 or more times a day. I know two other moms in my AP group that are nursing a 4 and 5 year old. It is so encouraging to hear about other moms nursing their older children. Thanks to all of you for inspiring me to keep on keeping on.

Kristy
Mom to Rebecca (13) and David (3)

[MoMommy]

I'm in the Kansas City area and am nursing my dd, who is 3 years and 8 mos, and my six month old. I know of at least five other kids IRL who are over 3 and are still nursing.

[ChinaDoll]

In Georgia, just east of the Atlanta metro area. My DD self-weaned at 3.5 years; my DS is 3.5 years old and still nursing 2-4 times a day

[Soxfan Mom]

Connecticut. However, other than my immediate family, I don't think anyone knows I'm still nursing him (he turned 3 two weeks ago). It just doesn't come up in conversation anymore, and he pretty much only asks for it when I'm sitting down somewhere at home , before bed and in the morning. It's like his version of coffee.

I've got to say I would feel really uncomfortable NIP now. He's a really big boy -- 95th percentile height and weight. I don't think I could handle the withering looks at this point, which might make me a bad lactivist, I know. But I can be honest with y'all.