People still BFing toddlers (or older) - some questions

[Skang]

Do you still BF on demand? If not when did you stop?

My DD is 16 months and demands every single second of the day if we're at home! I wouldn't mind if it was a couple of times a day, but I literally can't sit down without her asking. She doesn't do it when we're out, too distracted. Is this 'normal'? Her twiddling is getting a lot more brutal suddenly. If I don't give in she tantrums and I don't get to have five minutes sitting down.

I don't know what to do for the best. I recently tried cutting back to morning, nap time and bedtime but it's made her ask more and she is more clingy.

[schmee]

I had the same thing and made sure I was out of the house as much as possible to try and break the habit. I'm not sure if that is practical for you, but it worked for us and we now feed morning, naptime and bedtime with some nightfeeds. If we are out for naptime and she sleeps in the car she will demand a feed at teatime though, so I think she is not ready to go to less than three feeds a day.

[Skang]

Thanks. Yes that is a good idea. I

[DiscoTent]

DS2 is still feeding aged 2, we just do morning, evening, naptime and night feeds (rare these days, can usually just cuddle him back to sleep at night). I can't remember when this became routine but we definitely still did more until 18 months (ish). I would try keeping up the distraction as much as possible, even if this means being out and about a lot, to try and make the habit of feeding less stick.

[EauRouge]

If feeding on cue isn't working then it's fine to change things I still feed DD2 (almost 2yo) on cue but she doesn't ask much. I don't feed 4yo DD1 on cue because I'd be on the sofa all sodding day. Distraction or offering a favourite snack are usually effective. Good luck in finding a compromise that works for you both.

[Iggly]

I don't feed on cue - but dd has t started teething properly which could be a part of it?

Also dd likes to hold something in her free hand to fiddle with - can you give your dd something (mine is 14 months).

[Oodsigma]

Doing a lot of distraction got dd3 down to sleep/upset times.

[TheCountessOlenska]

I never managed to cut down DD's feeds when we were at home - we stopped feeding when we were out, but she would have happily been on the boob all day at home.

I quit breastfeeding cold turkey style when she was 2.3 because of this (and also the fact that she never ate, or slept longer than an hour without a boob in!) A shame because I loved feeding her, but I couldn't go on in the end. I am planning to lay down some ground rules earlier on with number 2!!