Starting to nurse 21 month old - again?

Re: Starting to nurse 21 month old - again?

• surpriseaddition member

  November 2014

  I am currently nursing my 18.5 month old, so it doesn't seem strange to me to nurse a 21 month old. However, I think what is probably going on is your older one is mostly curious about it, and also may be a little jealous of the intimate snuggling you do with the younger baby. If you want to try nursing her, she'll probably realize it's a lot of work to not really get anything, and won't want to keep doing it....but I could be wrong. For those LOs who've extended BF, they are efficient nursers so they can the milk, and realize it's more like a treat for them versus a real feeding. I would try to add in some extra snuggle time with your older one where you put her on your lap, wrap her in your arms and read a book, or something similar. You can call it your special time, or make a big deal out of it, so she knows she's getting her intimate time with mommy too. My oldest LO was 28 months when I had my second, and she used to like to sit and nurse her baby dolls when I nursed the baby. That was special for us too, because we were both nursing....so she had something in common with Mommy that we did together. She did that on her own, I didn't encourage it, but maybe that is another option. GL with whatever you decide.

  
  **DD1 - 7/9/98**

  **DS - 11/9/00**

  **DD2 - 4/30/13**
  

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• mommatotwo2 member

  November 2014

  I am also nursing an older baby, she's 17.5 months, so nursing a 21 month old seems totally normal to me. That said- I would think that by 21 months, having not nursed in 13 months, her latch will probably be bad and could hurt.  You could let her try, so the novelty wears off- but I have a feeling she's probably just jealous of the attention the new baby is getting. I like PP's ideas of offering pumped milk in a sippy, she may not even like it and also the idea of finding another special activity that you two do together. It can be hard, balancing the emotional needs of an older child, I experience that with my now six year old (she was 4 years, 11 months when my youngest was born). She has even asked to nurse a couple of times, and she was only breastfed about six weeks, so it has nothing to do with nostolgia, but just wanting to have that same closeness that she sees her baby sister having. I did give her an ounce in a cup and she thought it was gross, lol. 
  

  

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• Bigboneded member

  November 2014

  FTM, lurking***
  I was 4 1 / 2 years old when my sister arrived, long weaned- and my mom says I asked to nurse, too. I guess she let me, I'm sure I didnt want to do it too much... I dont remember it. I hear a lot of toddlers asking when little sib comes along. So not unusual.Probably not affect your supply in the short term. GL :-)

  

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• mattanda2011 member

  November 2014

  Thanks ladies, I have actually been giving her pumped breast milk in a sippy for about 4 months. She gets maybe one sippy cup a day of breastmilk because I wanted her to be getting all the good antibodies.
  Most of the time that she seems interested is on the nights that DH isn't home to do her bedtime routine and I'm juggling both kids bedtimes. I guess maybe on those nights I will let her stay up a little later to have extra snuggles with mom. Thanks for the suggestions ladies!

  Married to DH 10.29.11
  

  DD born 1.26.13
  DS born 6.12.14
  #3 due 12.6.16
  
  

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• surpriseaddition member

  November 2014 edited November 2014

  @mattanda2011 Since you are already giving her pumped BM and she likes it, I don't think letting her nurse directly would really have any impact on your supply then. I would just try the nursing in place of pumping for her that day. The main thing I would suggest is to tell her it is more like drinking from a straw versus "eating" so she would be less likely to bite.

  
  **DD1 - 7/9/98**

  **DS - 11/9/00**

  **DD2 - 4/30/13**
  

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