Breastfeeding positions for older babies

[JacqueslePeacock]

I usually feed my 9 mo DS in the basic cradle hold, but he is getting big and heavy! I have seen pictures of mothers feeding older babies sitting up, but I can't seem to make it work - if he sits on my knee his head is so much higher than my breast. Does anyone have any good tips for positions? Thanks!

Could you recline him slightly? There aren't any set positions really, it's just trial and error to figure out a way that suits you best. Is there a breastfeeding group near you where you could see other mums breastfeeding older babies? Or you could try a google image search for inspiration.

I fed until 22months and would just do cradle hold or sitting up (mostly in the day).
It's hard to describe how, I just worked around it. Perhaps drop your leg straight out instead of bent to allow dc to sit lower and access boob? Also sit up very straight and (within reason) cup your breast up for him to latch.
Not sure there are any secret holds! If your finding him heavy a feeding cushion (I have a widgey) or thick pillow/2 cushions takes all the weight which is useful for at home.
Maybe just think of it as a bit of weights training?! My arms are certainly much stronger than they were pre-baby :)

I tandem feed my DTs in an upright postion kind of like this woman www.intrepidmurmurings.com/. They are only 7 months old but I think I will be able to use this postion for a long time as it really doesn't need any holding by me at all, they just rest on me.

My DD is 14mo. I only feed in bed nowadays, sitting fairly upright with 2 pillows behind my back. If she feeds on my left breast, then her bum is on my right hip. Her legs is usually curled up on the bed. I only support her head with my arm. I think this is sort of a half cradle hold isn't it?

Basically most of her weight is on the bed, instead of my arms.

I used to let DS sit on my lap facing me when he was that age.

Lying in bed with DC next you or sitting on bed o on the sofa so legs can stick out and eventually take mor and more weight.

You can just feed an 18 month old across your knee on a plastic school chair, but it takes some doing.

Arm chairs become impossible, not so small DC suddenly straighten their legs while still feeding. Given by this age they have teeth this is bad

Sorry not so small DD and DH are getting in my brain as I type.

Today I sat on the floor and DS stood next to me and fed.

Thanks for all the advice! Lying in bed with him next to me I can do, no problem there, thank goodness. I'm a bit nervous about half cradle hold where the sofa/bed takes his weight, because as Bunting said about the arm chairs, if he suddenly pushes up/out with his legs then my nipple goes with him! I tried the dropping my leg down abit with him astride it but his mouth still ended up nowhere near the right level (either he or I is obviously an unusual shape!). Next up to try is the reclining position as in the tandem nursing picture - thanks ceeveebee.

If it's been a bad day you might find me lying on couch while DS feeds standing up twisting to watch ceebeeies :)

I still bf with DD2 or DD3 on my lap - DD2 is 4y 6m and is 111cm tall still works for us. Or they bf with us lying tummy to tummy (one at a time obviously ).

Ceeveebee thanks for that link btw, I am off to tour the carnival of weaning next, it's very much on my mind.

OP I can't help you, sorry, dd is small and I have continued to feed in the traditional way all the way to toddlerhood.

Dd's bum is on my opposite knee and head in elbow. She sort of angles away from me - not wrapped around me newborn style iyswim? Leaning back is a must!