Thanks for all of the thoughts! I'm glad to know that most people don't give their toddlers anything else but water either (I'm surrounded by mainstream parents who all are in shock that I don't give her cow's milk or juice. Which is probably why I'm feeling the need for another beverage--I've lost a lot of weight because of digestive problems over the past year, but everyone in my family is convinced my weight loss is due to breastfeeding. And, of course, it partially is, though I definitely don't think that's the main reason I've had these problems.) I suppose we'll get a juicer and try making whole foods juices. I don't know if she'll like goat's milk -- I love goat's milk yogurt, but plain goat's milk tastes gross to me. Though it was canned goat milk (all that was available at the time.) We will try it again when we can find fresh goat's milk.
Physically nursing isn't what I want to cut back on, it's the amount of calories I'm using to make milk. I'm trying to gain weight. So pumping wouldn't be helpful.
She does eat solids, but when I'm around, she eats a lot less than when I'm at work. Well, maybe. She nurses a lot at night, so maybe she still gets the same amount of calories from milk eventually, whether I'm home during the day or not. I've been trying to encourage her to eat or drink water instead of nursing when she asks to do so during the day.
