For Moms Who Nursed past One Year, Did Your Child Demand Milk All the Time?

Sounds like you need to put a little more effort into having him eat and drink table foods more frequently during the day.
I nursed my youngest until he was 2, but it was just that first wake up in the morning closeness and the soother before a nap or bedtime for probably about the last 6 mos.
Don't be afraid to tell him "after you eat and drink this first Mommy will give you some mommy milk "(or whatever your term is for it). In most cases once they've finished up some other foods as a distraction, the need for nursing on mom will slowly begin to vanish. You might have to get pretty creative with his meals since he's finicky, but he's only finicky because food is still pretty new to him.
He's one and a half, old enough to listen to you reason with him a bit and learn a new schedule that you set in place. If you cave to the whines and cries that's his payoff and you won't get anywhere.
It's hard to quit tho, I'm sure you enjoy it and it wont be simple or easy for either of you.....watching and wanting our kids to grow up is very bitter sweet.

Yes. My daughter was exactly like that. However, she was a champion eater of "real" food. She wanted to nurse for the comfort and bonding.

I worked out of the home, and she nursed every morning when she woke up, when we got home for daycare, and after dinner/before bed. She also got up in the night to nurse sometimes.

She also wanted to nurse in "new" situations where she felt apprehensive- for example - if we went to someone's house she would want to nurse.

Normally - I nursed her for a few minutes and then she went on her way. A couple minutes was normally enough for her to get calmed down and ready to tackle the new experience.

As far as, "Is this normal?" I think the answer is yes. As far as, "How do I pull the reigns on the rabid nurser?" No idea. I really think its just a bonding thing - your baby wants to be independent and be on his own, but then also needs to check back in with mommy to make sure everything is ok. I guess my advice would be to go with it for a few more months and see what happens. It could be just a phase. :)

I didnt see anything wrong with letting her nurse that often - 18 months is still a baby and if you can help your child feel calm and happy, why not?

my daughter would have if i allowed her. they're still babies in a sense. he wants to cuddle with you. He doesnt have the option with others, so it's easier to play...he sees you and want to be snuggles up. I didn't allow my daughter to nurse unless she got hurt pretty badly, or for before nap time or bedtime around this age. If she asked in public (she would J. say milk) I would simply hand her a drink of milk and tell her thats only for nap time.
I think it's common for kids who were allowed to bnurse on demand...you never put your foot down, and now you have to. Make up whatever rules you want and stick to them. Make them clear and easy rules and eventually he'll get it.

I nursed my son until about 19 months. The last few months I was nursing him only during the night. I thought the same too - since he was drinking whole milk during the day, eating table foods the nursing would gradually decrease and he would sleep through the night. But just the opposite happened. Earlier he would wake up 1 or 2 times in the night to nurse, but later he would want to nurse all the time. He was constantly hungry, he just wouldn't let M. sleep,. It got so bad that I decided to stop nursing for a night and see what happens. And that night he slept very well. He didn't ask to nurse after that and that's how we stopped. He really didn't need my milk since he was drinking whole milk well and eating well, so I am not sure why he kept nursing constantly all night. Maybe it was just for comfort since I was working and away from him during the day. I am guessing your child is doing the same too. Maybe you should try to wean him off during the day, divert his attention with toys etc or offer him whole milk in sippy cup. And slowly wean off the night time feedings. Hope this helps!

I nursed both of my kid until about 2 but only at bedtime / naptime. Otherwise they were on a bottle or a sippy cup. I would transition your child now beofre you end up with a preschooler trying to unbutton your shirt. Pump in the morning and give him a bottle with breast milk. As the days go by gradually transition it to all milk. Eventually transition the bottle to a sippy cup. he may reallly just want the closeness to you - so when you transition to the bottle make sure he gets nurturing time with you.

I nursed my son until past 2 1/2 but at 18 months it was only before bed and when he was sick. At about 18 months is when I got rid of the wake up nursing as well. He is definetly to the point there nursing on demand is going to be a hinderance to him. It turns out my son had some oral sensory issues, which is why he nursed so much in the first year and would not take a bottle or a paci. He was also a picky eater due to temperature and texture. This played a role in his speech delay. I think you just need to be firm at this point and redirect him as much as possible. I would just also be on the lookout for any other oral sensory issues your son might have.

I ended up stopping at a year,

Didn' have time to read all the other responses, Can you help him discover another soothing method to replace the nursing? a lovey or soemthign like that. Just to break that comfort assocaition with you and project it elsewhere.

is he teething?

I guess first you have to decide if it's a problem for you personally, or if you just *think* it should be a problem, according to what other people are doing. If it is a problem, you can always try to consolidate his feedings and see how it goes. I nursed mine til age two, and can't remember exactly how I did it--I think I distracted with toys, etc. until I was ready to feed. I decided which feedings I wanted to eliminate (or the reverse, which "times" I wanted to nurse) and then worked from there. If he wanted to nurse at 11 and I wanted to hold him off until noon, I would distract. If he really fussed, and/or I thought there was something else going on, like teething or sickness, I backed off. Just give yourselves a little time and space. Good luck.

even younger ones don't necessarily act like this. when i tapered my younger off the breast, he only nursed before bedtime and knew not to demand it at other times. i didn't beat him or anything, i just didn't let him nurse.
why is a 17-month old allowed to demand and command to this degree?
khairete
S.

I nursed 3 kids well into toddlerhood and my 4th is almost 14 months and still nursing. Do you work outside the home? I do and when I am around, he only wants "milky." He takes a bottle when I am gone and eats regular food but when I walk in the door - Mommy. When we are out on weekends - Mommy. What worked for me with the other kids was distraction, distraction, distraction, so I am trying it with him too. Foods, toys, tickling... Also, if I sit down, I am dead meat :) He comes after me like a shark. So sometimes I do my best not to sit down. I have daddy hold him or one of the other kids. Sometimes it is more work NOT nursing him, than nursing him... but hang in there because it will taper off, little by little... we kept the bedtime nursing the longest with the others and I didn't mind it once the constant daily sessions were done. Hope this helps.