Scheduling after a year?

[MamaLump]

We will hit the year mark in a week and a half. DS is not a great nurser. I'm offering all the time when I'm with him (he goes to DC during the week). Do you think it would be ok I put him on a 4 hr schedule during the day in addition to meals, in hopes that he will nurse more than 45 seconds at a time? Or do you think 3hrs? He doesn't ever demand because I offer so much I guess. But even today when there was (by the day getting away from me) a four hour gap he didn't demand. He nurses for maybe 3 minutes on one side and 30-45 seconds on the other. Thoughts?

[mibarra]

I guess it depends. Is he a good eater of 'solids'? Are you trying to maintain the nursing relationship, or are you ok with letting it go? Sounds like he might just wean if you don't offer some. If you want to maintain nursing, I would offer every 3 hours. If not, then maybe more like every 4 with slowly increasing the time between. If that makes sense.

[MamaLump]

No, he is not a good eater of solids either. He's a middle of the night nurser. Somedays it seems as if he is thriving on a diet of air. I do want to maintain the nursing relationship, just don't want to fight so hard to make it happen.

[tibeca]

3 Minutes seems about average for the 1 year and up crowd. They are REALLY efficient at this point. Only you can decide whether a real "schedule" is the answer. But if you are wanting to maintain what you have, then try creating a routine and not a schedule. DD2 knows that we always nurse first thing in the morning, before and after naps and at bedtime. If she wants more than that, she can ask. And I assure you, she does ask when she wants it. I got tired of offering and being refused. DD2 is 17 months now. By 1 year of age, I stopped offering to DD1. She was so good at asking, that I figured she would let me know. She wanted to nurse every 2 hours or so and I followed her lead.

It is 100% okay at this point for little ones to go 4 or more hours without nursing if they are happy with the situation. Watch your baby and see what they are ready for. If they are okay with not nursing every hour, every two hours (whatever length of time) then follow their lead.

[MamaLump]

Thanks. This is helpful. I was unclear though, I was counting the 3 minutes as a good session. Normal sessions are 30-45 seconds. Today we got through an entire Garth Brooks song. I'm counting that as an excellent nursing session! LOL.

[devynstarr]

this is great info! my LO just turned 1 and we are battling almost the same situation. she doesnt nurse for very long and doesnt eat many solids either but wants to nurse all night long. good to know that short sessions are normal, i always worry she's not getting enough!

[tibeca]

Babies at this age are FAST and busy. From birth, my babies never nursed more than 10-15 minutes, with most sessions lasting 5 minutes. By a year, a minute or two was plenty to top them off and set them back moving. BUT, as I said, it is okay to say, "you just nursed 5 minute ago, why don't we play with this toy?" Trust your baby.