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Nursing
Older Babies and Toddlers
Tired of hearing
"You're still nursing?!?"
Despite some
stigma, there is no age limit for breastfeeding. The American Academy
of Pediatrics encourages women to breastfeed for as long as it is
mutually enjoyable for mother and child.
Breastfeeding provides many benefits for toddlers. First and foremost
it's nutritious, which can give you peace of mind when your picky
eater is barely touching fruits and vegetables. It also provides some
immunity from stomach upsets, ear infections, and other medical problems.
Finally, toddlers get great comfort from breastfeeding, and there's
no reason to stop soothing your child in this way, especially at the
beginning or end of a long day.
Don't give in
to pressure to wean. It's obviously no one's business that you're
breastfeeding, and in your heart you know you're doing the right thing.
If someone gives you a hard time, one good comeback is to say, "I
do it for medical reasons." Since breast milk is a healthy immunity-booster,
it's technically true!
If you and your
toddler are still enjoying breastfeeding, then by all means keep it
up. Some children seem to want to stop nursing around age 2, others
will go to age 3 or longer if you let them. Ultimately it's up to
you and your baby. Try not to let outside influences sway you one
way or another.
7 Common Dilemmas
Despite the benefits of continuing to breastfeed, there are some difficulties
that come with nursing an older baby or toddler:
1. Baby has teeth--and
bites! Some babies do this at the end of a meal--not to hurt you,
but just out of curiosity or playfulness, or because they're trying
to soothe teething pain. The first nip will probably take you by surprise
(and your distressed reaction may keep baby from ever trying again).
Just to be safe, next time, have your index finger ready as the end
of the meal approaches. If baby bites, use your finger to break seal
and say (using a serious voice) "no biting!" Baby will get
your drift.
2. Baby is highly
distractible. As early as about 4 months, your baby may stop nursing
to turn and stare at you if you laugh, or try to look around the room
if he hears someone talking. Nursing somewhere quiet is your best
bet if you need baby to concentrate on the task at hand. Toddlers
are fidgety in other ways--as they nurse they might play with your
hair or reach under your clothes. Try gently guiding your toddler's
hands away from you, or hold onto his hands during breastfeeding.
If he protests, end the nursing session so he knows you mean business.
3. Forget asking--baby
just pulls your shirt aside. When he's around age 1, you can begin
to teach baby a code word for wanting to nurse. He might just ask
"Mama?" or say "nummies" or some such phrase.
Be careful to not teach anything that you wouldn't want him to shout
out in public! And reward him with praise when he asks nicely and
without trying to literally pounce on you.
4. You want to
get pregnant again, but are nursing. If you're not nursing around
the clock, you can still get pregnant. And women can nurse during
pregnancy (in fact, some then nurse their newborn and toddler simultaneously).
But it does take some caution. If you're at risk for preterm labor,
you don't want to breastfeed past the first half of your pregnancy,
because the hormones it stimulates are associated with triggering
labor. And as you come toward the end of your pregnancy, your milk
is likely to change, which might frustrate your toddler.
5. Expect ups
and downs in the cycle of nursing a toddler. Your little one may seem
relatively disinterested for a few days, then suddenly want to breastfeed
a lot again. This is normal.
6. Nursing in
public may grow tricky. Toddlers are squirmy and it's harder to be
discreet. On the plus side, at this age you can make it clear to your
child that you have to wait until you get in the car/woman's lounge/restaurant
booth to nurse.
7. "You're
still nursing?" There are a million ways to respond to breastfeeding
critics, but the simplest answer may be, "Nursing is really good
for my child." If someone wants to pry further, it could be a
good opportunity for you to educate him or her on the benefits of
breastfeeding. But if you'd rather not get into it, you can just say
so.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
