(Mostly) formula fed 1yo becoming obsessed with breastfeeding - is this normal?

[Sunrise888]

My almost 1yo is mostly formula fed as we struggled with latching from early on, and he only seemed to be interested in breastfeeding when sleepy.

But in the last month he has become a bit obsessed with breastfeeding, like he's just discovered it, pulling at my shirt, taking little sips from one side while twiddling with the other, then switching, then back again, have a rest, bit more twiddling and then start over - he's in a very curious but good mood. This is all very new behaviour for him. (He's also biting quite a bit, probably teething, and I can't seem to put him off it.) I'm not sure how much he's getting and it depends on how much time we are relaxing at home.

I'm glad he's finally into breastfeeding but I'm a bit puzzled. I don't think it's the heat because he still takes lots of formula before and after meals. He's not eating as much as I'd like (lots of meat, not much veg, some fruit). We offer lots of water and he'll have 2-3oz with each meal. I'm a bit concerned because we are planning to wean off formula soon and this is something I hadn't considered. Also he is starting nursery next week and if it's a comfort thing then I feel a bit bad about not being around so much.

Had anyone else experienced this? I'm guessing it's nothing to be concerned about but I'm curious to know if other breastfeeding mums experience this!

A little bit different as my boy won't take a bottle, and has various allergies so food has always been hit and miss with him depending on if he reacts to the new food or not, but around 11/12/13 months he started to feed a lot more on and off- it tends to coincide with teeth coming through and other development leaps like he needs the extra closeness and comfort of boob milk because he's becoming more independent in other ways? The biting especially happens when a tooth is coming on for about 2-3 days at a time when he also feeds like a newborn, I think its the soreness combined with getting used to this new thing in his mouth. No solutions though sorry! I tend to just go with it as at least he is getting extra calcium, I'm not planning on weaning him until he chooses to wean himself.

It's completely up to you how you approach this but by this age I was doing scheduled breastfeeds at times of my choosing eg first thing, lunchtime and bedtime.
So if a 1 year old was asking at other times I would go for distraction and wait until the next milk time. (Same approach as if they wanted a piece of Lego or my phone or anything else I didn't want them to have!).
I couldn't be doing with being used as a teether!!

But each to their own so if you are happy to feed as and when then go for it, I just thought I'd mention that scheduled feeding is also fine after the newborn stage. I suppose the only thing would be if you would actually like to increase feeding as more feeds will increase your supply. I couldn't quite work out from your post.

Ps in terms of why he's doing it, could it be that he gets specific attention or praise when he does it and that's encouraging him to do it more?