Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Constantly BF-ing and tantruming 18m old - Help!

6 replies

PatronSaintOfDucks · 05/08/2012 22:00

Oh wise mumsnetters, please share your experiences, I don't know what to do.

DS has just turned 18 months and he just looooves boob. Up until just under 17 months, he loved it, but not quite so much as now. He would feed in the morning, two-three times during the day, and then before dinner. Then we went on a long holiday, saw lots of relatives, moved around, etc., and during this time (probably due to stress) he started asking for milk a lot more often. Now we have been home for over two weeks, but things are not getting better. When we are together for the whole day at weekends (otherwise, I work full-time and have done since he was 8m), he is asking for milk nearly every hour or more. If something upsets him he asks for boob. If he is bored he asks for boob. If I refuse, a massive tantrum follows. If I try to distract, it often works for 15 minutes max and then the tantrum continues. Sometimes distractions do work, but rarely. Lemon juice on boobs does not always stop the tantrum.

Does anyone have experience with this sort of behaviour? I was planning to wean by the time he was 2, but now thinking about it now as I am getting fed up. I love the cuddles and don't want to give it up, but its getting too much.

OP posts:
AngelDog · 05/08/2012 22:13

18-21 months - mother of all developmental transitions" according to one developmental psychologist. You can try stopping, but if that's the cause, you'll have to deal with as many demands & tantrums, just over a different issue.

You can read more by clicking on the '18-22 month' section of the website. Its particular focus is on sleep issues, but developmental leaps affect everything.

It does get better, honestly. :)

AngelDog · 05/08/2012 22:14

"The mother of all developmental transitions", of course. Blush

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 05/08/2012 22:27

"Lemon juice on boobs"! Love it! Just wanted you to know my DS is just 18 months and exactly the same, has suddenly become a milk monster and has horrific tantrums if I say no. I thought it was the colostrum as I'm 30 weeks pregnant but maybe it's just a development thing - will read up on it. Lemon wouldn't work for us, DS loves it! Hope things get better soon, I'm just trying to go with the flow a little thinking it's just a phase. Easier said than done though eh? Sometimes wish I could detach boobs and let him get on with it!

PatronSaintOfDucks · 06/08/2012 07:51

Thanks for the very useful responses, AngelDog and NiceCupofTea! DS is now spared from weaning. The article about the developmental leap is fascinating. I have to agree. DS has made huge leaps in the last month, his cognition is clearly changed.

OP posts:
DuelingFanjo · 06/08/2012 11:46

Ah - I was about to start my own thread. DS is almost 20 months and still feeding like crazy including at night.
I was thinking about trying to wean him off the breast as he doesn't eat very well but this has convinced me to wait a little longer.

Napdamnyou · 06/08/2012 19:36

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1522633-My-19mo-is-BF-obsessed-and-I-am-getting-a-bit-sick-of-it-long

Ha, snap! DS is now 20 months and calming down a bit. I am rolling with it as figure he will only fuss more if I try to stop, and touch wood, he is less demanding...it's gradual, but getting better.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page