Thank you ladies so much for all your support and advice so far with my nursing questions and putting up with so many questions I have posted. Like I wrote before Mandy is my first I have had success with breastfeeding so your advice is golden.

Mandy is 19 months and I wrote in a prior post how she has really picked up on nursing, like everytime I sit down type of thing now. I am no longer sore thank goodness. Now if I refuse her she says "nurse" will cry and thrash around very upset. I have tried to ignore it or distract her but she will not stop until I give in (this has been a week now). I haven't let her cry for more than 15 minutes though because her brothers are easily upset by her loud cries as is hubby/daddy. Who beg me to just feed her.

Okay finally my question. Have you refused your baby from breastfeeding at what age? Did you let them cry? For how long? Why do they sometimes do this if you know from experience? I just can't figure out why she is doing this now when before I could distract her and she was fine to drink from a cup or read a book or eat etc, now nothing is working to distract her. I mean I can't sit at all because she flops on my lap as soon as I do.

Thanks for reading, hoping to figure out what my next step should be. Here I thought she would be weaning soon, nope doesn't appear that way at all.

I don't think I have any advice for you, Renee. I've not had one nurse that long, yet. Mine have all started weaning around 1 yr..just those less frequent nursings and such.
I guess maybe your dd has a renewed interest ?? Maybe she's teething, growing, not feeling quite up to par? Has the home routine changed any recently?
As for trying to sneak out of a nursing..could you go for a walk? Or maybe you could do like homeschooling moms of preschoolers do with their special 'activity boxes' Only instead of those boxes being reserved for big kid school time..when dd wants to nurse and she really doesn't *need* to, perhaps you could lead her to this 'special box' of goodies to play for a bit ?? I dunno, really.
All I have to go on is my weaning around 15 months. If they wanted to nurse and my answer was no...it was "no" and walk away from them. And we would go on walks when they were younger..like, the first 2 kids maybe...after that..heck..weird how ya forget isn't it? LOL
I just don't recall it ever being an issue, as I said, mine were all beginning to wean a little after a year. THEY were coming to me less frequently already.

So sorry I couldn't be of more help.

The only other thing I can say is talk to her. At that age she *can* understand a bit. Just tell her she can't nurse so often, mommy has things to do. If it's not a good time, you'll just have to go play (or take a cup or whatever *other* you have) until mommy says it's ok. And if you get ugly about momma saying no, then you'll get in trouble. She's old enough to be understanding disobedience. And if you say no and she begs yes, that's disrespect and disobedience, in my book, yes, even at that age. So, I think maybe I'd try that route. Talk to her, have an alternative, if she fusses, have a consequence.

And one more thing ;) Enjoy the moments you ARE nursing her. Even if she's not showing signs of weaning at this moment, it *is* coming soon. It can sneak up on ya hehe I know you already know this, I just wanted to remind you even during this trying time. And again...good for you for nursing your baby this far (I'm jealous!)!!

Tara, you are just a sweetie! You're always there for so many of my posts. Well I should just enjoy this time with her for goodness sakes your right, and I know how lucky I am. Its just sometimes it is draining on the body. I will try some of your suggestions and see how they go. As soon as my husbands work eases up he has offered his help, but that's in a few weeks, but I am taking him up on his offer.

The only thing that has changed, don't want to be TMI here, but my AF for the first time has just returned this week, hmm maybe some affect on my milk supply lessening and she noticed. Other than that no real big change in the home. Just always so busy I sometimes think that is her way of bonding. But you know all to well with 5 and homeschooling just how crazy the house can sometimes become.

Thanks again Tara. You are such a blessing.

Hi, I am new here. I have 2 boys (27 months and 8 months.) I am still nursing them both. I nursed while pregnant too :roll: My oldest only 'nips' when he is frustrated, high strung or hurt. It's like a 'Red Bull' to him! (LOL). Don't get me wrong, I do not nurse him all night and day. He nurses right before nap and bed time...then 'boobies' are asleep.

I really believe in Natural Weaning. I am an Attachment Parenting advocate 100%. You do what feels right for you! Just always remember to parent from the heart.

I stopped nursing both of mine a lot sooner then that... but at her age she should be able to understand that no is... no. and obviously you are offering her alternatives.... amazing how stubborn those little ones can be eh?! :D I would just make sure that you give her some good cuddling time when she has her milk or afterwards so that she is still getting the affection.

Renee..oh yes...AF return, that very well could be a, if not the, culprit.

And yeah, the busyness of the place/dd needing some extra snuggles...yup, my 9 month old has those times as well. I get up, change him then get started on breakfast and kitchen tidy and all that..then he's fussing at my feet. I'm just thinking..would you give me *5* minutes here!?! We just got out of bed. Then I realize..oh, he didn't nurse immediately before we got out of bed..2 hours ago hehehe so, it could have easily been 3 or 4 hours since he last nursed..my bad :oops:
Then there are the other times where it just feels busy to him...it really HASN'T been 3 or 4 hours this time LOL He just wants/needs more momma time. The poor 'babies' of a big family eh? ;)

Yes, it is draining. That's why I haven't made it as far as you have. Around 1 my kids start slowing down on their nursing, just as I'm getting 'frustrated' with the demands. Though my frustrations rarely decline along with their demands. I'm still up on *this* level of frustration (and exhaustion). So, they show signs and I gently encourage. I'm working on that part ;) As I really would like to nurse this one to 2 yr.

Anywho...good luck *hugs*
Pay attention to how/if this changes once AF is gone. I'm thinking this *could* play a major part. I didn't think of that before as your dd is 19 months, I just assumed you'd already btdt. I don't start again until a year or later, and with no regularity until baby is weaned, but anymore I hear of 'everyone' starting well before that. That I'm the 'oddball'. Nice to meet a fellow 'oddball' teehee ;)