Can I breastfeed my 22months old and a newborn, anyone has an experience?

Answer 1

I don't see why not - I haven't personally but people with twins feed multiply! I found this excerpt it may help::

Nothing wrong with feeding your 22 mth old either. They deserve the best start and as long as it doesn't drain you too much (keep up your calcium and iron) and the bub is first priority keep doing it as long as you and the kids feel comfortable.

Here's the info I found

People often asked if I nursed the girls together. I did when they were tiny, but I never got really good at it and preferred to nurse them separately. Even as they got older it was still hard for one to wait while the other was nursing. If possible, my husband or one of the older girls tried to distract them. I had the babies alternate sides for the first year. After that, I found it easier just to nurse Rachel on the left and Grace on the right. Surprisingly, my milk supply adjusted to each baby's nursing. I wish I would have done that earlier—it was easier to remember.

Drinking enough fluids was very difficult. With a family of six, it was easy to get busy and forget to drink. On the other hand, I didn't have any problem eating constantly!

Nighttime was the toughest part of nursing twins. For the first eight months I woke the second one when the first was finished. Then I realized that Rachel would sleep longer if she didn't have to nurse on Grace's schedule. So, Rachel would wake up only once or twice while Grace would wake a minimum of three times. Their waking times rarely coincided, so my sleep was very interrupted.

Holding them both was tricky. As tiny babies I could hold them together, but Rachel liked to bounce and Grace liked to sway. They also didn't like it when their feet and hands got tangled up together. Around two, I began to think about weaning the girls. Rachel was mostly amenable to the idea, but Grace protested. Rachel would have weaned much sooner but when she saw Grace breastfeeding, she demanded nursing justice! As time went by, Grace became more accepting of weaning, but nursing was still very important to her. She would tell me, "Mama me tired (or sick). Me need chow." (Chow is our word for nursing.) Then, after nursing, she would look up at me and say, "Chow helps, Mama." Once we got down to one nursing in 24 hours, usually early evening, Grace would tug on me saying, "Long day, Mama, need chow." How could I argue with that? Many days I wished I had something like chow to ease a long, tiring day.

Now that nursing is over, people still ask, "Wasn't it hard nursing twins?" I answer, "Well, just having twins was difficult." Would I do it differently if I could? No way. Chow helps, especially when you're a twin.

Answer 2

This is Tandem Nursing, and its totally fine. Both children will get the nutrients that they need because you will produce the milk according to how much the babies nurse, so its not true that the newborn will be left without. And dont listen to those saying a 22 month old is too old to be breastfeeding. The longer you breastfeed, the better benefits the child gets. The recommended time is 24 months, but the true average age for the world that a child gets weaned is 3 to 4 years of age. I have read these facts of some baby sites, such as babycenter.com, etc...Good Luck

Answer 3

To answer this question, I'd have to know:

1. Have you been breast feeding your 22month old since his/her birth? (If not, it's a little odd to reintroduce it now, you would be promoting regression behaivor in the child)

2. Is your milk supply good?

If the answer to both is Yes then it's probably okay. The key things to consider are this:

Feed the newborn first.
The older child has other options.
Feed the older child for shorter periods of time.
Clean the breast between children. No sense making the newborn sick.

If your newborn is not gaining weight appropriately you should stop breast feeding the older child.

Your newborn will have frequent checkups. Tell the pediatrician what you are doing. As long as the baby is gaining weight appropriately it's probably okay.

After all, the recommended time to breast feed any child is 24 months.

Answer 4

It's called Tandem nursing, and of course you can nurse your 22 month old and a newborn
the World Health Organization reccomends babies to be breastfed at least 2 years.
There is NOTHING better than breastmilk for a babe.
Contact a La leche league in your area or a lactation consultant

Answer 5

Yes you can and congratulations on your new baby!

I have a 22-month-old and a 3.5-month-old. I breastfed my daughter through pregnancy and am tandem nursing them now.

How it works: Your body produces milk tailored to the needs of your newborn. This milk won't hurt your toddler in any way -- in fact, they'll get an immune boost from the extra antibodies you're producing, making them much less likely to get sick or get your newborn sick.

Tips for tandem nursing: Nurse your newborn, then the next time your toddler wants to nurse, nurse on the same side your newborn finished on. This ensures your newborn gets the full amount of fore- and hindmilk needed for optimal growth. It also helps balance you out so both sides are getting emptied equally over the course of a day.

If you have a plugged duct or get engorged, let your toddler nurse first for a few minutes. Having an "expert" on hand will really help relieve any discomfort when your milk comes in. This also makes the nipple less flat so it will be easier for your newborn to latch on. I splashed my nipple with plain water and let it air dry before my newborn nursed for the first few weeks when my toddler went first, but then realized it isn't necessary -- the Montgomery glands on your areola produce antibodies *at the surface of your nipple* in response to any germs in your child's mouth. It's a pretty cool system and adds an extra kick to the antibodies already present in your milk.

Taking care of you and keeping up your supply: Drink plenty of water throughout the day and continue to take your prenatal vitamins. As long as you're hydrated, your body will produce enough milk to meet the demands of both babies, and it will adjust through growth spurts and strikes, just like it would with only one nursling.

I found that tandem nursing was an amazing help with my daughter adjusting to having a new baby in the house. In choosing not to wean her when I got pregnant, I didn't take anything away from her or force her through a huge transition when there was already a big transition taking place. We did talk about it before he was born, so she was prepared to share "her milk" with him. In return, he gave her a present as well -- more milk! *lol*

Answer 6

I don't see a problem at all however at that age I would pump and bottle/cup feed. I have an 11 month old who wouldn't latch on so I pumped and bottled for 5 months.

I liked this, it worked well for us. hoping to be pregers again soon and hoping/planning on supplying older child with my milk again only after my milk is in good, the newborn is getting plenty. Not for full diet of course but maybe a cup or two a day...antibodies, does a body good!!

Answer 7

Wean the toddler already...even if you have enough milk.

Other mammals that don't have alternative options for their toothless young would have moved the toddler on to bigger and better (chewable) things.

Follow the lead and do not let yourself feel guilty. Get your 2 year old off the breast asap.

Answer 8

Of course you can!! Do NOT listen to those people who say 22 months is too old, it's not. You are giving your children a wonderful gift that only you can give them!
I recommend that you go to a local La Leche League meeting and they can certainly help you.
Congratulations! I think what you ae doing is wonderful and your children will reap the benefits their entire lives!!

Answer 9

Yes you can. Your breasts will have to produce more but they're definitely able to, breast milk works on supply and demand. Of course your 22 month old doesn't rely on milk for all his nutrition anyway. Talk to your lacatation nurse and the La Leche League for guidance.

I have a friend who's nursing two around those ages. It works for her. Good luck.

Answer 10

22months is way to old to be breastfeeding. Your newborn will need all of your nutrience from your milk not the little tacker that is running around asking for your boob! I think its totally off to see mothers letting their kid ask for a drink from their nipples at that age. Think of your newborn. If you dont get your big kid of the boob now then he will be jealous when hes told not to when the baby arrives. then your in for trouble. Get him off now before its too late.