Question about my two year old.....?

Question

Ok... I nursed him until he was 16 months old... then only stopped because I was 8 months pregnant and could not fit him on me because my stomach was too big with the baby (seriously..LOL It was kinda funny) Now, that was in Jaunuary, baby was born in February, and all the sudden (the last 2 weeks) my two year old has been wanting to nurse. He puts his hand down my shirt saying "I eat" Now, obviously I stop him, tell him no no and don't nurse him, but does anyone know why after 10 months of him not nursing, AND him watching his brother nurse for nearly 8 months with no problems he would all the sudden want to nurse again? I thought we were going to have this problem when the baby was born, not almost 8 months later... Thanks!

LOL He didnt fit on my lap when I was 8 months pregnant.. .ofcourse he would now, I just don't feel its right to start nursing him again... Its his brothers turn now...

Answer 1

I would try spending a little more one on one time with him emphasizing big boy behavior.

Answer 2

It might just be a stage that he is going through.

Hopefully whenever your second child is old enough to be weaned off the breast then he will understand that it isn't just him, his sibling is going to have to stop nursing also. You might explain to him that he is the big brother and he has to set an example for his little brother by being a big boy and drinking out of a sippee or cup so that whenever he quits nursing he'll know how to do it too. Positive reinforcement that he can do it is probably very important. He may just want to feel like the baby again and this is the only way he knows that he is different from his brother.

Answer 3

That does seem like it should have happened earlier........

Maybe the novelty of being the "big boy" big brother was there for a while, and has worn off? It was cool at first to be eating and drinking like a big boy, but now it's lost its appeal....

My grandmother has always told me that she had to get my mom and her sister to take a cup at the same time. My mom was 13 months old when my aunt was born, and my grandmother nursed my aunt for a while. Then, when my mom was about 18 months old, and Aunt Robin was 5 months old, she weaned the baby to a bottle, which my mother (who had been using a cup for the last five months) kept stealing from the baby. It ended up with my aunt being moved to a cup when she was 6 months old.

Have you tried letting him know that if he wants to go back to nursing like the baby, that means that there won't be anymore of the big boy food? That worked with my son (he was 20 months old when my younger child was born). He wanted to try the milk like the baby, and I let him, but then reminded him that if he went back to that milk, there wouldn't be anymore cereal, bananas, cookies, apple juice, or chocolate milk, and he wouldn't get his bob-the-builder sippy cup anymore. Thankfully, he made the right decision on his own (I honestly don't know what I would have done had he decided the baby milk was worth it).

Answer 4

It is possible that he is seeing the closeness between you and the new baby and he thinks this is one way to get you 'back'. I definetly think it is a phase he is in and it will stop. Try nursing out of his sight (if possible) and perhaps if you feed him 'his' food the same time baby eats he won't want to nurse. As to why it is happening now and not before, I don't know but my guess is he didn't see baby as a threat and now he is realizing baby is here to stay and so he may be feeling threatened.

Answer 5

I think a lot of kids "revert" when siblings come along. In my opinion, I think your son is probably able to associate nursing with close bonding now (at the age of 2) and perhaps not 8 months ago. My 2-year-old daughter asked to nurse when she saw my sister-in-law nursing my niece.

I think it's perfectly normal and, contrary to the other answerer's opinion on the downside of long-term nursing, shows how special breastfeeding is to a child. I nursed my children until they were old enough to walk -- which I think is also old enough to remember how wonderful it is.

Just give your little boy a little snuggle time and tell him that it's his brother's turn to eat like that. I told my daughter that I am proud that she is able to eat grown-up food like a big girl. It seemed to do the trick. ;) Good luck!

Answer 6

I think he is just curious and might remember nursing. I think you are right in telling him no. Do explain that he can eat and get milk from a cup, but the baby still needs some mommy milk to help him grow into a big boy just like him. If you give in to quiet him you may end up nursing 2. And it's so hard to wean- you don't want to do it all over with a toddler.lI had 3 and nursed them all with questions too. I simply told them babies need mommy milk to help them grow into big boys, and now you are a big boy so you don't need mommy milk any more.

Answer 7

It is interesting that he waited a while before showing interest in nursing again. however you have told him no and maybe he needs more quality time w/ you. explain that he's not that baby and you only have enough milk for the new baby and how he is a big boy and has his cup. good luck.

BTW... nursing your child until they are 16 months is not too long, it's healthy. what did they do before bottles and formula?

Answer 8

Kids are so unpredictable! It sounds as though he wants your attention and sees that this is how his little brother gets your attention. He must still have fond memories of being held and nursed by you. Try cuddling him and telling him what you like about him being a big boy. You have your hands full but try and give him one on one time as much as possible such as holding him in your lap and reading a book together.

Answer 9

He is needing the bonding and special mommy time. Read a book with him and only him.

Also this is good to note that although nursing for as long as you can has many benifits the long term issues are more of a pain. This is a good example cause he can remember being nursed-where if he would of been weaned at 6 months he wouldn't be acting this way.

Answer 10

The 8 month gap is probably because the new of the baby has wore off and he is now missing the closenest of his mother spend a little more one on one time with just him .

Answer 11

My wife and I were just discussing your issue and the best we can come up with is either your 2 yr old feels he isnt getting enough attention or this may actually be a moderate case of seperation anxiety. Spend a couple extra minutes with the little guy to help ease what ails him/make his eat time a little more special to comfort him and put him at ease.