[bluets]

I'm not sure where to post this. It's sort of a nursing in toddlerhood question but it's also a working mama question because most of us here must stick to morning routines to get to work.

My ds is 18 months old and still loves to nurse though it seems like he uses it to delay doing things he doesn't want to do.

Our morning routine had been:

nurse/wake up
family shower
get dressed
eat breakfast
race out the door

About 3 weeks ago, we started having morning battles about EVERYTHING.

ds used to wake us up but lately has been an unreliable alarm clock, sleeping an hour longer than usual (even after going to bed earlier).

Now ds regularly wants to squeeze in an extra nursing or two but totally refuses breakfast. At the same time, I think he is nursing less through the night (though I sleep through night-nursings, so who knows how often this is happening).

He doesn't want to shower anymore - in fact, it is a battle to get him into the shower (and one that I only fight if he's really stinky in the morning). He will shower if I let him latch on and nurse. Heck, he'll even let us wash his hair while he's nursing in the shower.

Getting into the car is a huge battle. Distraction worked for a little while but no longer... Or at least I need new ideas for distraction.

This morning he wanted to nurse when we dropped him off at daycare (this is totally new) - and the drop-offs are worse now than ever before.

Is this just typical toddler behavior?

 

[Ravin]

Our routine has always involved me creeping out of bed while DD slept (or nursing, but I like some morning time to myself), getting myself ready and coffee into me, then if she wasn't already, getting DD up, dressed, breakfasted, and THEN we'd sit down for a nurse and cuddle before leaving, OR, we'd nurse on the way when we rode the bus.

Going a little earlier so you can take the time to nurse at drop-off might help him.

 

[lauren]

Where is he with teething? My 19 mo. old has wanted to nurse more and she is getting the canine teeth on the top and bottom (don't know the 'real' name of those teeth). Sometimes she will accept a chewy item instead of nursing if we are in a hurry. It is frustrating to be on 'toddler time' and still try to get out the door!!

 

[bluets]

i'd actually rather try to squeeze in the nursing at home than at daycare at dropoff - they don't really have a good place for us to nurse in the chaos of drop-off time. we always nurse at pick-up time because he's usually the last to leave so there are fewer distractions.

the worst was this morning when we battled to get into the car AND he was frantically making the nurse sign...

he's got all but his 2-yr molars - hard to say if they're starting the movement or not.

 

[tangozulu]

Just thought I'd post that I have been going through a very similar stage with my ds. I WAH/SAH so I don't have the pressure of the morning rush each day, but when we are trying to get somewhere, it is tough to get him out the door if he doesn't feel like going, or sees something else he wants to do on the way out (like his tricycle on the porch). And, it seems, the more important I be on time, the more difficult he is..

One thing I do to get him in the car is I put a small toy that he loves in my pocket, like a ball or those little plastic animals or something that he hasn't seen lately, then I plop him in the seat and before he can protest being strapped in, I whip out the special toy(s). Before he knows it I have him strapped in, door shut, and I'm in the driver's seat - at which point he is fine, usually. I have kids' CDs in my car, which he likes (especially "Toddler Tunes" type things like "Wheels on the Bus"), or even the radio - he is pretty good in the car.

Nursing - my ds can be like this, too, and it is tough as I have a lowered supply due to pregnancy, plus am very sensitive. Before we go to bed I fill a sippy cup with water and put it beside the bed or the door to his room if he is sleeping in there. Then I offer him that when I am burned out on the nursing. In your case while he drinks the water, you could run out and brush your teeth, start to get ready, and then nurse more if necessary. I have just found that my ds has been getting very thirsty lately, especially in the morning.

Regarding bathing, my ds has had an aversion to baths/showers lately, too. Taking him in with me doesn't help (unless, like you, I nurse through it - which makes it take way too long). So instead of doing that, I just bathe him the quickest way I can. Maybe you should try that, too. He is just little, and if he stands in the bathtub (because he WILL NOT sit in there lately, just wants out), I can basically have him in, washed, and out in 2 minutes (I am also a mother of 3, though, and have been bathing kids for 13 years..). If he cries the whole time - so be it - he has to be washed! I do talk to him the whole time, and sing to him like "This is the way we wash the baby, wash the baby..", etc. And I say, would you like me to get your teddy bear towel? Where is baby's soap? Where is Mommy's soap? Etc - some of this distracts him and he'll forget to whine about being the in tub. If he is not too fussy we practice dumping the water from one cup to another, etc., but lately he just wants OUT. He used to LOVE the tub, it was my lifesaver many times!

Anyway - sorry this is sooooo long - I just want you to know that IMO you are going through TOTALLY TYPICAL toddler stuff here, and share some of my ways of coping. I love babyhood...and preschool age...but toddlers are TOUGH!

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