So if you've decided to breastfeed until 2 or beyond...

[Mmmango]

... what would make you change your mind? Dc2 is 1.5 and driving me nuts. Somehow she's developed this habit of trying to burrow her little hand into the armpit opposite the side she's feeding from. Apart from letting me know exactly when we need to cut her nails, it's just annoying. I pull her hand away, she puts it back, I pull it away again, she puts it back again, I tell her to stop, she thinks it's funny I'm just not enjoying it at the moment.

I've just come back from 5 nights away for work. She was fine apparently, seemed to understand that I wasn't there so she couldn't have milk but let dp comfort her (she's always refused bottles, whatever we put in them). Since I've been back though she's been very clear that she's not ready to stop, feeding a lot and 'asking' to change sides every 2 minutes, which I think is to get my supply up again (I pumped for comfort while away, but not enough to maintain supply). Which is quite clever, actually, but also... annoying.

I know everyone's going to say just stop, then, but I don't want to stop, I want to carry on feeding her without being annoyed about it.

Not sure what I'm asking really, just having a bit of a rant I suppose.

Don't stop, there's no need to stop.

I fed dd for 21 months, the reason I stopped then was because I wanted to try for another and since I was already 38 I didn't want anything slowing it down, I know you can get pregnant whilst feeding but I didn't feel I had time to find out. Anyway, I became pregnant within just a month of trying. I had no regrets about having stopped feeding because the early stages of pregnancy are tiring enough.

I would just continue feeding her, I remember being at dd's 18 months check up and the nurse asking what's the problem? why am I still feeding her? I just thought that was ridiculous, it is the most natural thing in the world and you'll know when you are both ready to stop.

DD was a twiddler. She would automatically reach out for the other nipple and twiddle (serves a specific person as it stimulates supply) but it became habit. She didn't seem to notice. Remove her hand and it would creep straight back. So I got tough. Stopped it every time before it happened, got a feeding necklace, held her hand, stroked it etc. And she learnt.

You can introduce nursing etiquette.

We fed till 3.4yrs so it was possible to get past the annoyance of the twiddling.

DD1 was a twiddler but I persevered with just moving her hand and distracting her with a toy or book or by holding her hand and she rarely twiddles now. Still feeding her now at 2.6 yo. I think 1.5 is a tricky age, they are not a baby and not really a toddler either. It does get easier!

DD is 2.4yrs and still feeds maybe 3-4 times a day (but I don't really keep count). I sort of knew that I would carry on until 2yrs as I did with her brother. However the experience is a bit different as DS was only having a brief morning feed in bed from 18 months. This time round I do sometimes have days where it annoys me, fiddling doesn't help! But there are a lot of great things about bf a toddler too, and they help me keep going. When she sits on my lap and asks for 'nulk please mummy', pops off and chats to me and says 'that was nice' etc... :) And when she pretending to bf her Lofty the Crane toy the other morning (because he has a mouth mummy) it did make me chuckle.

I find that MN is great for talking to other longer-term bfers, I am something of an oddity in RL.

It's a phase they go through at this age. Mine included.

The changing side things happens at this age too, so maybe related to upping your supply, or maybe not.. On, off, on, off, not sitting still, twiddling, fiddling, on, off, on, you get the picture.

It passes, honest!!

My dd does the armpit burrowing thing too. She is three though,so if it gets uncomfortable I ask her to stop and she does.

Not sure if DD could be described as breastfed. When I am around she is trying to get to me constantly and especially at night and first thing inthe mornng and anytime she sees me after a break . Irritates me because of the side swapping and the constant nibbling but don't want to stop her either - she is 22 months and everyone thinks I am weird. I have always thoguht that she can't be getting much out and just does it for comfort.

I fed until 3 /2 ish. Both were terrible fiddlers but in the end it was the nightmare fidgeting that finally made be stop with DS2. It just drove me mad.

Hmm, it seems to be a phase for some of you but not others - I will not still be breastfeeding at 2.4 if she hasn't cut out the burrowing Perhaps I just have toddler fatigue, I'm getting irritated with everything at the moment. Do feeding necklaces really work? I can't imagine being organised enough to actually be wearing it when she wanted milk, unless I just put it on as soon as I get home and keep it on...

Have you tried taking her off when she does it? My DS2 grabs my face (and puts his finger up my nose ) and sometimes holding his hand works but other times he will just keep snatching it away, laugh and keep grabbing me. I will ask him not to do it, warn him that if he does it he won't get milk and then if he keeps doing it I take him off. He knows I'm serious then and he'll behave for the rest of the feed. :) he's 2.