Nursing a toddler. Please help?

Question

She (15 months) tries to lift my shirt when we're in public lol. How can I show her it's not "eating" time now?
She always starts to cry..

She has a sippy cup, eats table foods and all.

Answer 1

Bring along a sippie cup and when you are out, that is what she will use. A gentle, "No nurse now" and a cup. You could try to offer her a snack as well.

I wish we could dispell the ignorance- Babies should be breastfed for as long as mom and baby are comfy breastfeeding. This country has a long way to go on that and it's just sad.

Answer 2

Are you uncomfortable with feeding her in public, or is it that she is flashing your chest to the world? My son went through the shirt lifting at that age, but it only lasted a couple of weeks. I just gently moved his hand and put my shirt down and explained that nobody else need to see everything.
I can't suggest how to show her that it's not eating time, as I would (and still do) nurse him when he asks. If you are not willing to nurse her in public, perhaps pumped BM in a sippy cup would be a better option for you when you are out. She probably won't understand why she can't be at the breast though if she is looking for comfort, rather than nourishment. Either way, just be sure that you talk to her and explain what you are doing and why, rather than just saying no or pushing her away. They understand a lot more than they are given credit for, and respond (like anyone) better when treated with respect. Fortunately, the shirt lifting is a very short phase. Good luck, and good for you for still nursing your daughter.

Answer 3

Since she is on sippy cups and table foods now, bring along a healthy snack for her. If you know when she will be hungry, offer her the snack & cup before she decides to go to the breast. You can also bring along a light receiving blanket to cover up if you are uncomfortable but she wants to nurse anyway. For her, the nursing may be a security thing when she's not at home - if this is the case, you can try bringing along a doll or toy that she likes. Good luck, and congrats on nursing past 1 year :)

Answer 4

I breastfed my daughter until she was 20 mths. The last few months it was mainly for comfort and to help her get to sleep. I had no problem breastfeeding beyond 1 yr but felt at that age she didn't need to do it in public anymore. I usually brought her plenty of snacks and sippies while out in public and would distract her when she would try to lift my shirt and want to nurse.

Answer 5

First of all. Congratulations on the continued breastfeeding. My son was 12 months old before he gave it up (on his own) and I did receive some flack from other moms for nursing him so long. He also did the shirt pulling and cleavage diving that you mentioned your daughter is doing. It's completely normal. You would expect any 15 month old to dive for a sippy cup if she associated cup with milk.
You can either distract her ( and I know how hard that is) or cave and give her a cup when she asks for breast. Also you could just completely ignore her. I know that is impossible sometimes.
I threw out all my tank tops that were made for breastfeeding because if Jack saw cleavage or a hint of cleavage he was elbow deep in my shirt. I started wearing higher collars on my shirt which at least kept me from being embarrassed when Jackson pulled on my shirt. (nobody saw the goods!)
So, keep your chin up. She will figure it out eventually.

And by the way, naysayers,

The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.." * The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two years.

Answer 6

I dont agree that you have to stop breastfeeding altogether. I personally only plan to continue nursing until my son is 1, but if it still something that you and your daughter both enjoy, there is nothing wrong with it. As far as getting her to not do it in public, I would just try to start a routine, and get her used to it. Maybe only breastfeed in the morning when you wake up and again before she goes to bed. The first few days it might be hard, but after a while she will get it. The rest of the day you could try giving her a sippy. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Ive been through this and know how you feel, My youngest was very reluctant to give up breastfeeding and it took me actually cutting him off cold turkey. Whenever we were out in public he learned that nursing was not an option pretty early on as soon as he would try to go for it I would head him off with a sippy cup or a snack and it didn't take long for him to figure it out. (even though he wasn't happy he learned quickly).
Since cutting him off he has found a new comfort and that is he rubs my jaw and actually holds onto it when he feels tired so I guess that is easier to deal with than the shirt being lifted. Good luck and just keep up with redirecting her to something else that she likes and you should be OK.
by the way my son was 22 months when he finished nursing and my husband whom I thought was going to have a fit about him nursing for so long was our sons biggest cheerleader, he told me over and over to let him be a baby for as long as he wanted to. So dont let other people tell you when to quit nursing, if you and your child are fine with it and it works for you go for it.

Answer 8

i fed my 5 year old til she was 3 and there is such a stigma with it,the world health organisation recommends feeding your child until at least 3 and not many people do ,i had the same problem with my daughter,she would lift up my t shirt so i decided to express milk into a beaker and take it with me,i kept it in a cooler bag,i found it was more the taste of it she liked rather than the feeding,
well done for feeding your child for so long and shame about the stigma that goes with it

Answer 9

Don't listen to the people telling you to wean her and that she doesn't need your breastmilk, it is still the most nutritious thing she consumes.

If it's making you uncomfortable to feed in public then the suggestion to express some beforehand is a good one. If you are consistent and firm, she should soon learn that breast feeding is only for home. I still breastfed mine in public though as long as they wanted so I wouldn't know really.

Answer 10

be glad that your 15 month still wants the breast milk. Like someone else said remind her that not everyone needs to see your chest.