Would a 20 month old forget how to latch on if away from me for two weeks?

[Gincognito]

Carried over from my chat thread - I didn't realise this might be an issue. Would it? Neither of us are ready to stop yet :)

linky

I think it may have an impact - would you have to pump as well?

Have you looked at Kelly Mom - very useful resource plus if you're on Facebook, look for analytical armadillo or the leaky boob for great advice - you can post questions on their pages

I feed my 2.5 year old - instinctively I would say a 2 week separation would lead to weaning therefore a need to re-lactate

An not an expert, it's just what I imagine would happen

I suspect so. My 2.5 year old has forgotten now - after not having any for a couple of weeks (I'm feeding his 6 month old sister and he kept having "sips", but had been distracted). He tried one day and declared "it didn't work"

DD2 had 2 one week separations at around 2 1/2y (I was in hospital when she was 2y 4m and 2y 7m) and she refused to even look at me the one time she visited me let alone ask to bf.

DD2 is 'still' bfing at 4y 6m so it didn't harm her bfing BUT I was expressing 12 times a day for DD3 (6m & 9m at the time of hospital stays), DD3 was bfing once or twice a day in hospital and DD3 continued bfing on my return from hospital (well she did strike for a few days but she's also 'still' bfing at 2y 7m) so she had someone to remind her to bf IYSWIM.

I wouldn't have planned to be apart from them as much as I was and I would have loved it if DD2 had bf while I was an in-patient but I wasn't going to force her to or force her visit if it distressed her so much.

Basically, what I am saying is if it's avoidable (and it does sound like it's not an obligatory parting) then I wouldn't but if you do know other nursing toddlers who may help him to remember/prompt him to continue to nurse or have been apart and he has resumed nursing on your return it might be doable. Equally though it could well be the end of bfing which is sounds like neither of you want.

I don't think so - I had a fair number of weeks away from ds, and he always launched himself at me when I got back. TBH, he's never forgotten how to latch on and nurse, even when it was a year since he'd last tried

I think it's possible yes. I would think it varies from baby to baby. I weaned my ds at 17 months and it was about 2 or 3 weeks till he seemed to have forgotten to try to look for it iyswm. Personally if you want to carry in bf I would not risk it, otoh if you are happy to stop or carry on then it's a different matter.