The Dangerous Art of Breastfeeding a Toddler

Before I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. Obviously breastmilk is nutritionally the best food for baby, but the bonding was also very important to me. The first six weeks (as chronicled in earlier blog entries) was hellacious, but I was determined and we soldiered through it.

The next few months were quite blissful as we found our groove and perfected the best nursing positions (including a mastery of nursing while lying down - YAY!) That nursing position even required my La Leche League leader to lie in the floor to demonstrate the method. When I returned to work at 9 weeks postpartum I became "attached" to my breastpump, which I continued to use at least twice a day to ensure Laurel had my milk even while we were separated.

As Laurel went through growth spurts, mastered new skills, sprouted new teeth and reached lots of other milestones, our nursing relationship matured. We learned how to discreetly nurse in public (something that took me a long time to be comfortable with).

Now that Laurel is gradually moving closer to two years of age, nursing has given us a new set of challenges. Some people who were vocally supportive of breastfeeding for the first months now seem a little reticent to voice their opinions. Luckily I've not experienced any open hostility, but I am a little more reserved about public nursing nowadays.

Gymnastics are also quite a barrier to peaceful nursing. I often come away from a breastfeeding session with messed up hair, scratches on my face and an appearance of general dishevelment. However, nursing is still a great bonding time for us, and I love when I get home from work and Laurel runs up to me asking for "nomies." Though there are definitely some days when I feel touched out by her asking to nurse five times in a one hour period. And Laurel still nurses to sleep each night and often rolls over to me during the night for some milk.

I've tried not to set any kind of predetermined weaning schedule (not even night weaning, though some mornings it looks VERY appealing!) Honestly though, the fact that Laurel is very rarely sick is a huge reason for me to stick with it at least through this winter's cold/flu season. For now we are just takings things one day at a time until 2 (and beyond).