Information to give my mom on extended nursing

Our sweet Miriam turned one in November. She still nurses at least 4 times a day and 1-2 times at night. I want her to be able to wean herself, so I am not really worried about how much or how little she nurses throughout the day.

The other night my mom asked me if I was going to start weaning her. When I told her that I was going to let Miriam make that choice, my mom was confused, and said, "Well, isn't that hard on YOU?" Actually, I don't think it is hard at all. I really enjoy it, and I love the cuddle time I get with my baby. I was a little bit frustrated with my mom, and got a little bit annoyed. But then I thought, you know, she only breastfed me 3 months, and she probably just doesn't know all the benefits of it! I thought maybe instead of getting annoyed I could try and educate her. Does anyone have a good article about extended breastfeeding, or letting a baby wean themselves that would help my mom understand a little better?

Thanks!

 

There are some great resources out there. I'm on my phone but off the top of my head, the WHO (World Health Organization) recommends ALL children nurse until age 2.

 

Something like this? Although, I think just sharing your personal story with her would be great! tell her how much you BOTH enjoy it, and why YOU feel its important. You cant go wrong there

 

i'm pretty sure kellymom.com has some good articles on it. also, i believe my ped told me the american pediatric society is now reco'g 2 years.

best of luck!

~~jl (who just stopped nursing this past week--you can tell her that!)

 

Yes, my mom formula fed us because back in her day, there was no way you could nurse twins. My mom was somewhat supportive of me nursing until they were the age that she quit with my brothers. (8 months) I nursed until they were 26 months old. Even my husband had quit asking at that point! haha!

Good for you for nursing this long! That is awesome! I never ever thought of it as a burden. Yes, it was hard having to be the one getting up in the middle of the night but I enjoyed the 1:1 cuddle time. Enjoy it while you can. My last one quit at 13 months... I had no choice.

 

stay strong, the others have given good resources, but in the end... it's your business. my mom/dad would make comments like that too! close to 23 months the kids were very distracted and I was getting "over it"... my dh was so funny... 'you gotta keep nursing until 2 yrs old'... like it was a big milestone and "been there done that"!! anyway, in the end it was so great that I let them wean themselves... at 3 yrs and almost 6 months.

At 12 months, I would keep doing what you're doing, enjoying what you want. if you get tired of night nursing, then you could assist with stopping that... but if you enjoy, then do what are doing. I think my kids both have definitely benefited from extended nursing.

Let alone... don't forget that nursing for YOU is a benefit too, reducing breast cancer... anyway, that's just an "extra" reason to nurse, of course the main reason is for your child.

you're doing great!

 

It's so wonderful to nurse a toddler! Spencer is just now deciding he's about done. It's been 3 days, so maybe it's over. I'm a little sad, especially since I know he's our last. He's gone a day or two and then he'll want to nurse more for a couple days. For me it's not just about the physical benefits. It's great for healing owies, calming tantrums in a little one who's upset and doesn't really know why or how to chill on their own quite yet. It gives a little extra snuggle time when they're getting to be more independent. And at this age, it doesn't take long, usually 5-7 minutes (unless they fall asleep) so it's not like it's a huge time constraint. I nursed my twins until about 33 mo. Spencer is 31. I would say that after 2 is just kind of icing on the cake, but from 12 to 18 months old it seemed to have the most emotional benefits and at that point it's pretty easy especially compared to those first months.