Breastfeeding Round-up: Breastfeeding toddlers

Photo credit: Luca Elvira, Shutterstock

Welcome to BritMums’ 7^th round-up of insightful breastfeeding blogs.

I have no doubt that you’ll enjoy reading these blogs, especially if you’re breastfeeding or ‘planning’ to breastfeed a toddler, during pregnancy, or tandem nurse.

After struggling so hard to make breastfeeding work, I especially find it surprising when different people ask when I plan to stop breastfeeding. Why should I stop? Humour is a calm tool to get through these uncomfortable conversations. Even then, the questioning of my choice to breastfeed my toddler gets frustrating after a while; thankfully not enough to interfere with my desire for a child-led / natural ending to my breastfeeding journey.

Adele from Beautiful Tribe honestly discusses her pre-pregnancy initial views about breastfeeding toddlers and her eventual choice to do so, as she discovered her natural mothering inclinations. Many who choose baby-led or natural-term breastfeeding will identify with the shifting of her breastfeeding goal from 3 months to 6 months, then a year, and eventually until her daughter was ready. It’s interesting to read about the role that breastfeeding education and mum to mum support played in her decision. I also like how she tackled the anti–toddler breastfeeding arguments she came across.

Áine’s guest blog on Dispelling Breastfeeding Myths about breastfeeding beyond the first month, caught my attention for a number of reasons. Surviving breastfeeding beyond the first hour of a difficult birth was challenging enough, never mind beyond a month; but she did … she more than survived … she thrived. Through her breastfeeding, and new mum ups and downs, she nurtured her mothering confidence and got to know her son closely. On achieving her breastfeeding goal of 6 months, stopping after overcoming so many difficulties was out of the question. Why fix what wasn’t broken, hey. Her husband’s incredible support, as well as breastfeeding literature and group (through the La Leche League) affirmed her mothering instincts. Ultimately, when to pause her breastfeeding journey became irrelevant. Isn’t it wonderful when perseverance pays of, and anxious novelty gives way to enjoyable familiarity? Stories like this resonate with me and will resonate with lots of mums.

O my word, what a lovely, honest, down to earth, and matter-of-factly post from Luschka about breastfeeding beyond 2 years; I am so pleased I found it. She has breastfeed through pregnancy and was tandem nursing when she wrote this blog. Many breastfeeding mums will find her toddler breastfeeding tips very helpful.

What I appreciate most about Luschka’s post is her perspective – summed up in her last paragraph:

“Some days are hard. I won’t lie to you. But when I was a project manager for a living, there were hard days, despite how much I loved it. While I love teaching baby massage, there are days I don’t want to do it. Some days, doing what we set out to do is simply… challenging. Parenting, motherhood and breastfeeding are no exceptions.

The rewards, however, are worth every moment of determined perseverance.”

This is one blog, you’ve got to read.

Karen from Boobie Milk shared her 7 months tandem nursing experience, starting from when her son was 2.5 years old. She discussed how she got through pregnancy breastfeeding pain, as well as what worked and didn’t for them during the tandem breastfeeding months. It’s helpful to know that there are others whose toddler only feeds from one boob, and it’s definitely useful to read about how tandem nursing can help with nursing a newborn, as well as coping with the early months of being a 2^nd time mum. And oh, she got me thinking about tandem nursing in public … hmmm.

Laura at My Thoughts on Things noted the difficulty she had in finding out accurate information about the potential obstacles one might face beyond the first month of breastfeeding. Accurate breastfeeding information however didn’t nullify the challenges she faced on her journey, the most impacting of which was being diagnosed with insufficient glandular tissue. However, she persisted and adjusted with her daughter, as they faced each issue. So, despite the tongue tie, pain, inability to produce enough breast milk, bites, and distractions, she found the right support to carry on. I discovered Laura’s breastfeeding blogs last year during ‘Keep Britain Breastfeeding’; it’s always a delight hanging out with her words and reading about her experiences.

Louise at My Gorgeous Boys found the first month of breastfeeding to be the hardest, or at least one of the hardest period on her motherhood journey. Thankfully, she found breastfeeding easier afterwards; even when her baby’s teeth became part of the equation. I’m glad she found her way through.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this round-up. Please add your breastfeeding blogs, old or new, below; for some blog love.

Thanks for reading and commenting; and indeed sharing on your networks.

About Mo

Mo @aNoviceMum is a first-time mother, a full-time teacher, a glass-half-full dreamer, and an eager ideas manufacturer. She blogs at Adventures of a Novice Mum to express herself, and record snippets of her life, thoughts, and times for child. She also desires to encourage and inspire others on their life's journey. Blogging is one of the gifts motherhood gave Mo and an eye for photography is one of the many blogging treats she enjoys. Mo is always trying to find enough time to do everything on her non-existent and very long to-do list. She finds all of motherhood very fascinating, and can't get her head around how so many mothers have more than one child. Breastfeeding is one of her mothering past times, one that has taken more hours of her life than she can believe.

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