Any mums who've practised extended breastfeeding?

Question

I'd love some advice.

My son is 20 months old and still addicted to breastfeeding. We're ttc #2 and having no luck and I'm convinced the BF is affecting this (even though my period has returned).

I had thought he'd wean himself off but he's showing no signs of doing so, in fact he's breastfeeding more and more at the moment - he's had about 6 feeds today! He tugs on my top and screams and cries if I deny him a feed and usually after about 10 mins of screaming I have to give in as my nerves are raw.

I've tried offering him formula or cows milk (sometimes with milkshake powder) but he doesn't want it.

He co-sleeps with us and does sometimes night-feed when he wakes up. He doesn't eat his solids very well either, which often leaves him hungry for breastmilk.

Any advice on what I should do? Oh and I don't want opinions like "Breastfeeding at 20 mos is disgusting" or "He shouldn't co-sleep with you", these are our lifestyle choices, thanks.

Answer 1

I really don't know how to answer this one because i am in the exact same position.

My daughter is 2 1/2 and i planned on breastfeeding her for 1 year, however she has continued to breastfeed and co-sleeps with us each night.

I do not see it as disgusting, however i really don't want my daughter breastfeeding past 3.

My daughter has eventually learnt that when mummy says no she can't have 'boobie' and I'm hoping il be able to carry this through to evening times soon.

I also have periods and have done since she was born, plenty of women have tandem fed their children, having a baby then breastfeeding then falling pregnant and breastfeeding the next child also.

I understand exactly how you feel about your child screaming for it, its so difficult to find the will power to say No once the have turned bright red from tears.

I'm sorry i couldn't give you any advice, but i thought i'd let you know your not alone in this. I shall be checking back up on this question soon for answers.

good luck!

EDIT KATE BABY BOY

SHE WAS ASKING A QUESTION, WHY DID YOU EVEN CLICK ON IT WHEN YOU CLEARLY DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT BREASTFEEDING.

CO-SLEEPING DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN BED, IT JUST MEANS THE FAMILY SLEEP IN THE SAME BED TOGETHER, ITS A LOVING THING TO DO, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL ALL 6 OF US SLEPT IN THE SAME BED IF IT WERE THUNDERING AND LIGHTENING OUTSIDE.

AND QUITE FRANKLY I THINK YOUR SICK FOR ASKING HER IF SHE'S SLEEPING WITH HER HUSBAND WHILST THE BABYS IN THEIR BED! THER ARE OTHER PLACES YOU CAN MAKE LOVE YOU KNOW BESIDES THE BEDROOM.

ITS QUITE CLEAR THAT YOU ARE A BOTTLE FEEDER, THAT ENJOYS POPPING OUT ONE BABY AFTER THE NEXT. SOME OF US LIKE TO CHERISH THE MIRACLE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, THEY ARE ONLY YOUNG ONCE.

Answer 2

I would keep offering him other things to drink. Have you tried Nuby cups. they are really good for breastfed babies...the top is all silicone and feels good on their face (almost like mommy I think). Can he drink from a straw yet? once my son was able to drink from a Nuby cup and a straw it was easier to tell him "no..how about a juice box instead" or "how about some strawberry milk". I also keep water bottles with a sport top on them around the house...he drinks from those too. try telling him that he has to eat a certain amount before he can nurse( finish you sandwich, then you can nurse) and stick to it.

The heck with all those who say extended feeding is gross or wrong. My son is 33 months old and climbing on me to nurse just this afternoon. I am going to get down and dirty about weaning him after the big kids go back to school. I actually had him almost weaned in June, but he regressed after his speech got better. He has only stopped nursing at night for a few months...he still climbs into bed to snuggle though. Sometimes he will literally LOOK down my shirt and take a deep breath ( like we would when we walked into a bakery or something) then run off to play. He had a rough couple of winters. About 2-3 times each winter he has gotten a nasty tummy bug and stopped eating for like 10 days. the last time he got sick he could not hold down water or gingerale, but he did not throw up breastmilk. The doctor said that it was great...not only did he get fluids, but he got protein and all the nutrients that gatorade and IV hydration do not have (and comfort)

Answer 3

Sorry but you have caused this problem yourself.  If you don't want to feed him any more then don't.  Wear a top that he can't pull up and let him scream.  You will have to put up with the noise if you want to break his habit.  At the moment all he has to do is keep up his screaming for 10 minutes as he knows you will give in.

Answer 4

mix breast milk w/ normal milk and over time add more milk milk and less breast milk.

Answer 5

hi He obviously loves the comfort!

I would and did, gradually change all day time feeds to a bottle or let him cry, as her has to realise that there is no breast in the day! It may be hard work at first, but put him on cows milk and in a bottle and hopefully that will work! But don't give in, perhaps you could do this and let your husband babysit, so he can't get hold of you! When he has stopped all his day time breast feeds, eventually you can wean he off at night too! Good luck, i know how hard it is! I breast fed my 4th and he had breast only till he was one then i mostly just did breast at night and bottles in the day!  

Answer 6

He is using you as a pacifier.  A child that is almost 2 does not need breastmilk (they can eat pretty much what adults eat).  Find him another outlet.

Answer 7

I also breast feed my daughter for a long period of time and found it difficult to wean her off

Try expressing the breast milk into the bottle and getting your husband to introduce it to him

I found my daughter wouldn't take the bottle from me while I was still breast feeding her but found would take the bottle from her dad so long as I wasn't around. At first she would only take a little

Once we got her use to taking the bottle from her dad we then introduced SMA gold liquid form and alternated between the expressed and the SMA but I also restricted breastfeeding too 1st thing in the morning and bed time and increased her solid food in take which in turn reduced her dependency on milk.

Experiment with his solid food to see what he likes, finger food is great at this age

If you are still not getting a result try talking to your health visitor she's there to help

Good luck

Answer 8

QUOTE: Any advice on what I should do? Oh and I don't want opinions like "Breastfeeding at 20 mos is disgusting" or "He shouldn't co-sleep with you", these are our lifestyle choices, thanks.

If you dont want people's opinions you shouldn't be asking questions on here then and if you didn't think the above info was relevant to why he wont eat properly etc then you shouldn't of passed this info onto us

Are you having s*x while he is in the bed with you's if he is co-sleeping???

You put your foot down, stop breastfeeding, stop co-sleeping and then maybe he will stop being so clingy and trying to get his way all the time, he is 20 months boundaries need to be set, you need your own space and so does he, babies should be in their own rooms after 6/8 months, you might also find not having a toddler in the same room that your ttc in you might actually succeed and women who breastfeed find it harder to get pregnant than those who dont!

This is my opinion, you did ask

Answer 9

Unfortunately, breastfeeding could be what's keeping you and hubby from conceiving #2.

And I absolutely don't think it's sick to breastfeed your baby at 20 months-- my grandmother breastfed my dad's youngest brother until he was 3 yrs.  It depends on your culture largely (my grandmother is Native American).  Many doctors have said that a Western baby is considered lucky if he's able to breastfeed past 1 year.  In many societies, babies are breastfed until they are 4 or 5 years old.

It may not hurt to ask your doctor for his or her opinion.  But I've always heard that breastfeeding can be a fairly-reliable birth control option.