Help! If you are nursing a 17+ month old...

Osgirl

My DD is 17 months  and has always loved to nurse. For the past few days she has been refusing to nurse. Prior to the last few days she would pull at my shirt to let me know she wanted to nurse anywhere from 2-6 times a day. Her favorite time was before naps and before bedtime. Now she won't nurse before bedtime. Tonight she pulled at my shirt before bed and then she wouldn't latch on. She flat out refused. I'm not going to force her to nurse if she doesn't want to. Nothing has changed except we've been away at my parents' cabin since last Friday, but she was nursing for the first couple days. She has nursed plenty of times up here before.

Could she be weaning? I'm not ready! She could very well be my last baby and I don't want to stop yet, BUT if she really wants to wean then I won't force her to keep nursing. If she's not weaning (nursing strike?) could she eventually want to nurse again? What about my supply? I would imagine this is really affecting it. I don't have my pump nor do I really care to get it out and start pumping again.

Should I offer for a few more days and see what happens? We are going home tomorrow so it will be interesting to see if she wants to start nursing again.

C-Charm

Osgirl:

My DD is 17 months  and has always loved to nurse. For the past few days she has been refusing to nurse. Prior to the last few days she would pull at my shirt to let me know she wanted to nurse anywhere from 2-6 times a day. Her favorite time was before naps and before bedtime. Now she won't nurse before bedtime. Tonight she pulled at my shirt before bed and then she wouldn't latch on. She flat out refused. I'm not going to force her to nurse if she doesn't want to. Nothing has changed except we've been away at my parents' cabin since last Friday, but she was nursing for the first couple days. She has nursed plenty of times up here before.

Could she be weaning? I'm not ready! She could very well be my last baby and I don't want to stop yet, BUT if she really wants to wean then I won't force her to keep nursing. If she's not weaning (nursing strike?) could she eventually want to nurse again? What about my supply? I would imagine this is really affecting it. I don't have my pump nor do I really care to get it out and start pumping again.

Should I offer for a few more days and see what happens? We are going home tomorrow so it will be interesting to see if she wants to start nursing again.

I know you're concerned, but I admit that I had to giggle at the idea of "forcing" your LO to nurse.  Girl, you know that you cannot "make" a kiddo nurse...especially a toddler.  The good part is that you can't overfeed kiddos (like with a bottle) the bad part is that you have to deal with things like nursing strikes.

Kellymom says that weaning doesn't normally happen abruptly & that this is most likely a nursing strike:  https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html#strike

My guess would be to casually offer her opportunities to nurse & act nonchalant if she doesn't want to.  She'll be back to normal soon enough.  The change in routine has probably thrown her off.  Also, I'm sure your milk supply is WELL established by now.  If anything, you'll have a small dip, but your supply will return to normal when your LO returns to normal.

Lotte134

C-Charm said pretty much everything I was going to say so I'll just add {{hugs}}.

beau2ful

my LO did the same thing for about a week I kept offering and she  came back to wanting to nurse.

cathom7

My sister's oldest just woke up one morning and flat OUT REFUSED to nurse.  Ever again.  At 9mos.  My sister was heartbroken, but it was his choice...  My son was 2 years 3 mos before he just kind of forgot for a couple days, and so I went with it.  I was ready.  Of course NOW, if he sees me getting dressed, he asks to nurse, but I have told him that he's a big boy and there's no more milk in there....  It makes me sad, but he's fine;0)

aspade

Any chance she has a sore throat or something?

If not, just go with it!  It's still within the realm of normal for her to be deciding she's done.

If you get uncomfortable, just hand express until you feel the discomfort go away.  You don't want plugged ducts! 

Soon2BMrsN

My DS self-weaned at just over 16 months.  He cut back over a weekend, and then basically started refusing to nurse in the middle of the following week.  I kept offering for a couple of days, but he'd run away.  So I took his cue and it was over.

MrsJJC

DS is 15 months and has really been changing his nursing routine - I'm also fearful of him weaning abruptly so this post makes me sad! However, I went to an LLL toddler meeting today and had a few moms with nursing toddlers (2+) say that they have had similar experiences.  It is especially common with the pregnant moms - but even they said that after baby #2 was born, baby #1 started nursing again more regularly so if you're open to it - I'd say just make it available in case he takes interest again. Good luck!