 Nursing a Toddler and Still Very Much in Love With Him!
Taylor is 21 months old and chooses to nurse throughout the day and night (he's slept in our bed since he was born). I'd say he nurses around 10 - 12 times a day, but usually for only 5 - 10 minutes at the most, and usually for
only 2 or 3 minutes. He is quite independent, entertains himself
easily, loves to be around older kids, and his speech is becoming more and more understandable everyday. I haven't felt it in me to even consider "weaning" him and have come to believe that Taylor and every other child will "graduate" when he's ready, whenever that might be.
I absolutely love nursing him because it continues to be the one true connection between us -- our own way of communicating to each other that we continue to be tied to each other, independant people but very much interested in keeping this unfallible love bond. Taylor calls it "Na Na". It's so precious to see this little toddler busy in play and becoming a "kid", come over to me a ask for Na-Nas. His little mouth still opens and he starts to pant sometimes like he did as a little guy. My husband couldn't be more thrilled to see Taylor developing so well, and to know he still has a great connection to us. The other night as Taylor was lying between us nursing and falling to sleep, my husband commented that there's probably no better place a little guy could be than between his parents and nursing to sleep. I had no idea I would nurse this "long", but the benefits are great for all of us. I have just now gotten my first period since Taylor's birth (21 months). Tandem nursing would be fine with me if Taylor wants to continue to nurse. Oh, I did invest in a couple nursing tops and dresses once Taylor was 18 months old, because I wanted to remain as discreet as possible when we're with friends or in public. I feel like breastfeeding is really a gift from God in so many ways. I feel that it helps me to hold and cuddle my little toddler several times a day -- it keeps *my* perspective and level of patience in balance while my little boy continues to do all the normal toddler stuff (investigating the house, pulling stuff apart, etc!) Also, I've found that any questions I get about "still nursing?" are really not bad at all and often give me the chance to inform people of the many benefits. And usually they respect what I have to say, or at least respect the love I have for my child. I think I was more concerned about what people thought when Taylor was around 12 months. Now that he's nearly two, I think I've become more confidant that this is our family's decision and a very loving one at that. Taylor will always be welcome to receive affirmation and comfort from my loving touch as long as he wants. Why should I limit him from this now? I think that I would be offering him less than my best if I forced him to live with less.
Copyright 1999 by author
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