Extended Breastfeeding Presentation

[jaidymama]

I am giving an extended breastfeeding presentation to a group at LLL for their enrichment meeting. I have a lot of books and the mothering magazine article from last October to use as resources. However, when it comes right down to it, there is a lot of information and I'm wondering in what ways to keep it informative but not overly academic.

And above all, I wanted to ask the lovely ladies here at the message boards what's the one thing they would tell another mom about extended breastfeeding... it could be anything either personal or research or an experience or a benefit... I'd like to use any suggestions in my presentation.

[momtoS]

I would love it if you included something cute my dd said. I am currently tandem nursing a 3 year 4 month old and a 9 month old. I was talking to the older one about milkies and asked why she liked it so much. She said it is because it *tastes like love*. Then we read Maggies Weaning and Michele the Nursing Toddler. dd loves Michele pointing to her nursing when shes older, but told me we didn't have to read Maggies Weaning again because she is too little to talk to about weaning. I asked if someday she wanted a weaning party and she said no, I will have a birthday party instead!
Also at night when dd1 and dd2 nurse to sleep....they hold hands. Too sweet.

[mama24-7]

naking...

first thing that comes to mind is that it's not extended...it's normal. i think i read (it was about 5 yrs ago) in Mothering Your Nursing Toddler that BF beyond a year was common until artificial baby milk. that sold it for me!

good luck!

sus

[siobhang]

I think explaining to new moms that nursing a toddler (or even an 8 month old) is nothing like nursing a newborn can be really helpful.

Nursing an older child can be a lot easier - you can put more limits on where and when and how long if needed, you can night wean if needed, etc.

I think a lot of new moms freak that they are going to nurse for years, and they are thinking of the intense newborn period where all they do is nurse.

[amandaleigh37]

I would urge them not to set limits for the future, to just take it one day at a time. A mom of a newborn may think "I'm stopping at 1 year, I'll never nurse a toddler." But it may be helpful for her to hear that it's ok to just take each day as it comes & meet your child's needs as you can, as time goes by...

[Soxfan Mom]

Along with the fact that it still soothes my child (3 years and four months), I take comfort in that it gets him past some ailments that would otherwise wipe him out.

Last year, our family was dealing with a vicious stomach flu, vomiting that lasted 48 hours and beyond. His 5-year-old sister had to go to the ER for an IV. He was only 2 and as sick as her, but having his "mimi" got him through it with no ER visit required. The doctor was so happy he was still nursing.

Just last week, he had strep throat. Once again, the mimi got him back on his feet quickly and once again, the doctor said "great" when he heard the little guy was still nursing.

Hope that helps. I think hearing how breastmilk beats the heck out of Pedialyte is a winning argument.

[jessjgh1]

It's an opportunity for communication and negotiation... a rare opportunity for a child that is so young to gain control (as many toddlers when overstimulated may stop and nurse, alowwing them to settle themselves)

Jessica nak

[jaidymama]

THank you all! This was great, that helped me figure out what to focus on. While there isn't specific information about nursing a 3 or 4 or 5 year old I think in general there was a lot to consider and discuss. As a matter of fact I think I had too much.

[Firemom]

I did a presentation a few years back. I probably still have my outline somewhere.

For me it was a nice way to end the day. Mine nursed until almost 6 years old and her only nursing for a long time was that before bed nursing. It made us both sleepy and restful for the night

[mommyddeville]

I know your presentation is over, but the thing that has struck me the most is that you don't wake up and suddenly start nursing a toddler or a small child. You nurse your same child every single day. It's the same newborn, infant, and toddler that you fell in love with. They don't suddenly grow into a huge person one day. They're just one day older and one day bigger. . . and still need that connection and nutrition.

[marfmom]

[QUOTE=mommyddeville;10359031]I know your presentation is over, but the thing that has struck me the most is that you don't wake up and suddenly start nursing a toddler or a small child. You nurse your same child every single day. It's the same newborn, infant, and toddler that you fell in love with. They don't suddenly grow into a huge person one day. They're just one day older and one day bigger. . . and still need that connection and nutrition.[/QUOTE]

Oh! That's lovely. You've brought tears to my eyes. Thanks you so much!

[Turkish Kate]

My reason for nursing a toddler: Imagine that you're in the throes of a full-on toddler tantrum and there's a pill you can give that will stop it almost immediately with no side effects to your little one or to you. Wouldn't you give it? You have that pill already.

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by mommyddeville

I know your presentation is over, but the thing that has struck me the most is that you don't wake up and suddenly start nursing a toddler or a small child. You nurse your same child every single day. It's the same newborn, infant, and toddler that you fell in love with. They don't suddenly grow into a huge person one day. They're just one day older and one day bigger. . . and still need that connection and nutrition.

omg that is beautiful! I only have a 5 month old but thinking about what you said makes so much sense! It may seem weird to some to think of nursing a random toddler, but when it's your own baby that you've nursed every day it just totally makes sense!

[velcromom]

Sweet and true!

I always say that nursing is nature's reset button for toddlers. At a time in their life when they are just beginning to learn to deal with frustrations and emotions, it is a necessary way for them to stop, calm down and start over. It takes a lifetime to learn those things, how awesome is it that there's a built-in way to help those who haven't developed any of those skills yet!!

[mama24-7]

naking again...

i used to call it baby centering when you'd nurse them mid-tantrum/frustration & then they're done & they toddle off happy!

Sus