Feeding a toddler is so much nicer than feeding a baby

[squidkid]

Just thought I'd say that and list some positives

• she smacks her lips and says yumyumyum and smiles at me afterwards, MELT
• it takes 5 minutes and we only do it once or twice a day
• I can wear normal clothes and normal bras
• it is magic for tantrums or illness
• I can feed her or not, my choice, I've just stopped feeding at night, I work evenings sometimes, I can go away and see my mates
• she can sort her own latch out and I don't really have to do anything
• when she is sad sometimes we feed in the bath, it's the snuggliest giggliest thing ever

Feel free to add to the list!! I like to remind myself of the positives to keep me going through the harder times. Feeding a baby was special in its own way and I enjoyed lots of it, but it was also exhausting, restrictive at times, painful at times, I didn't really stop leaking from the other boob till about a year old, hated the stupid nursing bras, got engorged when I missed feeds, worried about her if I wasn't around. This is just like a lovely extra for my lovely little girl. She is 14 months now.

Awww this is so sweet! Drinking jewels!

Thanks for sharing everyone - I'm BF my 11 wk old and stil having a few latch issues so great to see. Also interested you feed to sleep - this makes so much sense but I've read quite a few books that are anti bad sleep associations.

Rollermum- I always fed to sleep- what nicer way for a baby to feel safe, warm, secure, a tummy full of sweet milk, drifting off into milky dreams.... it's all part of what makes breasfeeding so special.
To me association of sleep with such contentment makes future bedtimes easier.

If you like feeding to sleep it's not a problem, ignore the books, I had loads of disapproving comments from family etc but could never understand why anyone wouldn't want to use such an effective method!

I still do it at nearly 10 months with no problems and it is a lovely happy sleep 'association' IMO.

(Not so great if you want a social life in the evening though - on the flip side I saved a lot of money not going out!)

Xpost msmiggins!

Thanks both! YY that is exactly how I feel. Also it just works so why fight it?!

And it doesn't have to be exclusive. I feed DD to sleep (13mo) in no small part because she won't bloody sleep for me. When Daddy's about she goes straight down, no arguments. It is exceedingly unfair (guess where I am right now, MNing in the dark?!)

Yes, babies haven't read the book!

Ha ha, no my babies couldn't read either!

mummymog sounds tough. Have you been able to get any real life help? A bf support group could help you make a plan to drop the top ups.

Lovely posts about toddler feeding. I stopped feeding DS at 18 months and often wish I'd continued.