Nursing 18 Month Old...

We went through this too at around 18-19 mos. I think it was a growth and development stage. My son wanted to nurse all the time, day and night, like a newborn for about a month. It was driving me CRAZY! I tried to deny him, but he would just throw fits. I tried all sorts of things, I was at wits end!

Once I realized he "needed" to nurse, for whatever reason, his little body just needed that, it got better! No kidding! Once I relaxed about it and calmed down and stopped worrying that he would NEVER stop nursing and just decided in my mind to enjoy the time we had together, it was easier for me to deal with. And that made all the difference for him too.

I went back to welcoming him in my arms when he asked for "Boobie Time," and stroking his hair and singing to him like I always had when he nursed. He began nursing less frequently and for shorter durations. I think he just wanted to know it was there when he needed it (as it always had been, only I had begun to pull back), and when it wasn't a struggle, he was OK again.

Around 22 mos my son began sleeping through the night on his own, without any "working on it" from me. He slept 8-9 hrs and hadn't done that but a couple of times since birth! He just stopped the middle of the night nursings and started sleeping until morning!

I know every story is different, but maybe the part about relaxing yourself and not fighting it will help! Good luck!

Hi C.. I had a similar problem with my 4 year old. He nursed until he was about 16 months old. I know this sounds crazy, but I got him to stop by putting cod liver oil on my nipples. He didn't like the taste. I did that for about a week and he quit nursing. Unfortunately, the bed part took a little bit longer. I had my little girl in August and both of my boys slept in the same room with me until she was 2 months old. I had a day bed/trundle bed for my 4 year old and myself. My 18 month old slept in a crib. After a couple of months of knowing that mommy was still going to be there, I was finally able to sleep in my own bed. You might try a night light or maybe even have him sleep with something that has your scent on it.

I'm going through this with my 20mo old girl, exactly lol. I asked the question a while ago. I found a bood called the no cry sleep solution for toddelers & preschoolers...it's had some good ideas. What I have been trying is not making it as easy for her to nurse at night. Instead of being tummy to tummy, I lay on my back...she has to climb up to get it, and gets tired eventually & just rolls over (with my help) & falls asleep...it's a start, she's not waking up as many times already...I just got the book four days ago...good luck. Hang in there, this time goes by so fast.

Here's how I weaned from nursing and this was pediatrician's advice. I had tried weaning slowly with no luck, the doc said to go cold turkey and that worked. During the day my son took a bottle easily (I started with breastmilk then moved to formula). At night he was waking every few hours wanting to be nursed and I wanted to sleep too. So I simply refused to feed him and at 9 months he didn't need to eat, it was just for comfort to get back to sleep. He had a fit of course and cried and cried. I stayed with him all night comforting him as best as I could. He would tire and fall back asleep and then wake again in an hour two wanting to be fed. Again I just stayed with him all night. They were long nights with neither of us getting much sleep but it was worth it because after about 3-4 days he got the message and no longer asked to be fed at night. I hope this helps you. I think if you just cut your son off "cold turkey" from eating at night, he'll get the message. Did you want to breastfeed longer just during the day? It might help if you quit breastfeeding altogether.

Hi!
i have found your problem very like ours. My boy is 15 month , sleeps in our bed and wakes up several times a night to eat. During the day he is hanging on me numerious times and cant go to sleep during the day without nursing.
So several day ago, i said it was enough, i stopped nursing him completely, it was very stresfull first day but he was sleeping better during the night, it is third day today and he is much better, eats solid food, drinks milk but fuzzy from time to time.
i decided to do so when i came home and he was sleeping, so i asked myself a question if he CAN go to sleep by himself why with me it is hours of nursing up before he is going in deep sleep, otherwise i am pulled back every time he feels i am leaving.
anyway, i am feeling much better, still have plenty of milk and in case he would be very cranky i would go back. But believe it was right choice, otherwise he would become smarter and it would be harder.
i heard some women leave house for couple of days and it is easy for kids to quit after it, i had no chance to do it.
make your choice and good luck.
katya

I actually had the same problem. My daughter felt the need to nurse constantly, but slowly but surely I finally weaned her. I had to do it gradually, because your'e not only weaning him, your'e weaning yourself as well. Try dropping the feedings times, like one a day, or more gradual if you'd like. If you try to wean altogether you'll get engorged, and you know how painful that can be. But once you lessen the amounts of feeding a day, your son will realize he doesn't need it as often, or at all, and your body will slowly stop producing milk in the process. So it works great for the both of you..