Diaper Swappers

ltlmrs · 06-08-2011, 10:58 PM

Ladybug was weaned when I was two months pregnant and she was 26 (or was it 27

) months old. She was *not* ready, but I was!

Since then she has continually asked to nurse about once every two weeks or so. She sucks on her thumb or the paci and when things get really tough she asks to nurse again (one time she was extremely tired and somewhat stressed and started opening my shirt in public, this was completely unexpected because she hadn't even done that when we nursed and it was obvious she was in distress and needed me a great deal. It took all I could do to firmly but lovingly say "no" and I've had some serious guilt issues since then.)

I'm trying to figure out how to handle it once the baby comes. I know that she'll ask to nurse. She's been getting more and more clingy as the due date approaches, constantly asking about the baby nursing and saying things like "Ladybug will eat Mama's milk too" (her grammar is pretty good for a two year old).

She will be 35 months when her sister is born. I'm not completely opposed to her starting to nurse again then, but honestly I'd rather avoid it if at all possible for many different reasons.

Thoughts? Experiences? Please share them!

theprofessionalbaby · 06-08-2011, 11:02 PM

My toddler asked to nurse too once my baby came. She had been weaned for 4.5 months. I did as the books suggested, and let her try. It was pretty funny! She had no idea how to nurse anymore. She didn't know how to get milk out, suck or anything. She would ask often too. Sometimes a few times a week, for a few months. Each time I said, "Okay."

She would come in, giggle, touch my nipple with her tongue or lip, then exclaim that she had mommy's milk! So, if it has been a while, she probably will have forgotten how to suck to get milk out, and no big deal.

Good luck!

thtr4me · 06-09-2011, 05:44 PM

My DS is 5, and I have let him have tastes of mama milk. He no longer knows how to latch on, but will gladly take drops of leaking milk. When he asks, just getting a drop of milk is enough to make him happy and content.

Michelle_M · 06-09-2011, 10:36 PM

DS1 did this when DS2 was a baby. He asked to nurse. I said "Ok." and pulled down the nursing bra. He put his mouth on my nipple, and then looked up at me like "Ok, turn on the faucet." LOL He pulled back, looked at it, then did the same thing." That was it, he figured out that he couldn't nurse anymore.

DS2 has done it a few times also. Except he was more persistent. Where DS1 only took that one time, DS2 tried it 4 or 5 before I finally said "No baby, you tried. Remember, you can't do it anymore?" and then he said "Oh yeah." And after 2 or 3 times of me reminding him that it didn't work for him anymore, he just stopped asking.

If you let her try, chances are she has forgotten how to actually do it. And it'll only take a few times of her trying to realize that.

Good luck mama.
God bless!

COgle3 · 06-10-2011, 09:34 AM

Lol my son wanted to when dd was born. I offered and he would put his mouth close and then back off. He did it a few times then just started to laugh. He calls milk tea and tells me "hoohoo's (calls dd that) tea" when pointing at my boobs

sorry, I'm bound to have mistakes, I'll just blame it on my iPhone

ltlmrs · 06-10-2011, 06:42 PM

Thanks for all these responses! They are so reassuring!

06-08-2011, 10:58 PM	#1
ltlmrs Registered Users Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,152 Ratings: 42 Feedback: 100%	Weaned toddler asking to nurse again. Experiences? Ladybug was weaned when I was two months pregnant and she was 26 (or was it 27 ) months old. She was not ready, but I was! Since then she has continually asked to nurse about once every two weeks or so. She sucks on her thumb or the paci and when things get really tough she asks to nurse again (one time she was extremely tired and somewhat stressed and started opening my shirt in public, this was completely unexpected because she hadn't even done that when we nursed and it was obvious she was in distress and needed me a great deal. It took all I could do to firmly but lovingly say "no" and I've had some serious guilt issues since then.) I'm trying to figure out how to handle it once the baby comes. I know that she'll ask to nurse. She's been getting more and more clingy as the due date approaches, constantly asking about the baby nursing and saying things like "Ladybug will eat Mama's milk too" (her grammar is pretty good for a two year old). She will be 35 months when her sister is born. I'm not completely opposed to her starting to nurse again then, but honestly I'd rather avoid it if at all possible for many different reasons. Thoughts? Experiences? Please share them!

06-08-2011, 11:02 PM	#2
theprofessionalbaby Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 157	Re: Weaned toddler asking to nurse again. Experiences? My toddler asked to nurse too once my baby came. She had been weaned for 4.5 months. I did as the books suggested, and let her try. It was pretty funny! She had no idea how to nurse anymore. She didn't know how to get milk out, suck or anything. She would ask often too. Sometimes a few times a week, for a few months. Each time I said, "Okay." She would come in, giggle, touch my nipple with her tongue or lip, then exclaim that she had mommy's milk! So, if it has been a while, she probably will have forgotten how to suck to get milk out, and no big deal. Good luck! __________________ Proud and babywearing, , attachment parenting, cloth diapering mother to Lyra, 2 and Isabella, 9 months. www.theprofessionalbaby.com

06-09-2011, 05:44 PM	#3
thtr4me Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,049 Ratings: 36 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Weaned toddler asking to nurse again. Experiences? My DS is 5, and I have let him have tastes of mama milk. He no longer knows how to latch on, but will gladly take drops of leaking milk. When he asks, just getting a drop of milk is enough to make him happy and content.

06-09-2011, 10:36 PM	#4
Michelle_M Registered Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Arlington, Tx Posts: 15,858 Ratings: 81 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Weaned toddler asking to nurse again. Experiences? DS1 did this when DS2 was a baby. He asked to nurse. I said "Ok." and pulled down the nursing bra. He put his mouth on my nipple, and then looked up at me like "Ok, turn on the faucet." LOL He pulled back, looked at it, then did the same thing." That was it, he figured out that he couldn't nurse anymore. DS2 has done it a few times also. Except he was more persistent. Where DS1 only took that one time, DS2 tried it 4 or 5 before I finally said "No baby, you tried. Remember, you can't do it anymore?" and then he said "Oh yeah." And after 2 or 3 times of me reminding him that it didn't work for him anymore, he just stopped asking. If you let her try, chances are she has forgotten how to actually do it. And it'll only take a few times of her trying to realize that. Good luck mama. God bless! __________________ Christian wife to my hubby, mamma to three little men and a little lady! Send a custom greeting card from Just Because Stationery!Because you don't need a reason to show you care. Caring is reason enough!!!

06-10-2011, 06:42 PM	#6
ltlmrs Registered Users Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,152 Ratings: 42 Feedback: 100%	Re: Weaned toddler asking to nurse again. Experiences? Thanks for all these responses! They are so reassuring! __________________ Catholic housewife and mama to - Ladybug (4), - Itzy Bitzy (1), and PPD? Read this.