Breast feeding & nap routine

[clarejane]

DS is 13mos and (finally) pretty much night weaned. He has a BF before bed at 7ish and usually sleeps through until at least 6. He has another BF on waking then 3 solid meals and snacks throughout the day. However, I still need to BF him down for both his AM and PM naps. If I don't he cries hysterically, stands up in his cot etc. If I try to just hold him and rock him etc. he arches and screams and claws at me. I know he can nap without a BF because he will when he's with DH or my mum. I feel pretty crap that the only way I can comfort or soothe him is with the boob. How can I create a nap routine that doesn't include BF'ing? I'm not against cc'ing for 5/10mins but not sure. If it works for naps. Thanks for any suggestions.

It's he's fine and will seatal with other's then why are you worried about feeding him to sleep for his naps?

It's quit normal baby behavior and he will grow out of it on his own at some point.

Have to say, Mig asks a good question :)

What's wrong with what you are doing?

He's obviously a healthy, happy boy and eats well and sleeps well at night, and is confident to nap without a bf if you are not around. However, when you are around, you have a lovely, calming snuggly way of helping him drop off.

What's not to like? :)

Has someone been criticising you for this?

Thanks Mig and tiktok. Now that you put it like that I guess maybe I'm worrying about nothing. No, no-one has criticised me but I was starting to feel like just a walking pair of boobs after 13mos of b/feeding. Also a bit inadequate for not being able to soothe him any other way. I imagined that by now we'd be down to just one BF before bed. I think perhaps my concern around this is part of a bigger issue to do with thinking about how long I want to BF him for. I don't want to take it away from him but I also don't think I want to be BF'ing an older toddler. I'd also quite like my body (and my period and my sex drive) back. Hmmm. Can of worms, sorry! And thank you for your first kind replies :)

Neither of mine have been down to just one feed a day at this age. But we're gone down the route of very much feed on demand even after intorducing solids.

Of course your able to soothe him the best way a mum knows how by feeding. It's so much more then just food is comfort and reasuraces a loving conection with you. It's your own special way.

I've yet to meet anyone who's fed a toddle who actualy planned on feeding that long to start with (at lest with your first). DD was almost 3years old when she stopped but I'd only inteneted to feed her for a year.