I love breastfeeding. I love the fact that my body can provide nourishment for my child, and I love the way it connects us. I feel very lucky that I've been able to breastfeed both of my children, as I know some mums don't have the option. I'm confident to breastfeed wherever I choose to (or wherever my child chooses to), and I feel proud to still be feeding my toddler.
Having said that, breastfeeding a toddler is not quite the love-fest that breastfeeding a newborn or young baby can be.
Once you get the
hang of it, breastfeeding a baby is pretty simple - you find your
comfy feeding chair/lounge/bed, prop yourself up with pillows, attach
bub correctly to boob, and away you go. Breastfeeding an active toddler is
slightly different. Forget finding a comfy chair; if my hungry toddler
spots an uncovered breast for some reason (e.g. while I'm getting dressed), he'll launch himself across the room like some kind of hairless chimpanzee and help himself to a drink. Self-service style. At the moment he likes to feed while standing up, so I sit and he stands in front of me, calling the shots. The term "feeding on demand" has never been more true than when describing breastfeeding a toddler.
Newborn and baby breastfeeding involves lots of long, loving eye contact, and a sense of sharing an exquisite and intimate experience. Toddler breastfeeding involves fingers up my nose, trucks being driven across my belly, kicks to the head, and my boob being twisted round so he can watch TV while he's drinking. Oh, and not to mention lifting up my top and flashing my other boob for all to see. It's not relaxing or comfortable, and it's certainly not discrete, but still we persevere.
The Stuntman is now 15 months old, and is still a big booby monster. I don't mean that he loves big boobies, he just loves boobies. A lot. Mine in particular. Although sometimes he'll nuzzle into Nanna's or Aunty's or a random stranger's chest, just to see if anything is on offer, which can be a bit awkward (for them, not him). He doesn't have many words yet, but he can say "mumma boo boo" as clear as day.
On the days I don't go to work, he can have upwards of five or six feeds a day; sometimes just a five minute quickie, but other times a long and intense suckling session of 20 or even 30 minutes. Usually while I'm trying to get out the door to do something. Stopping a feeding session with a toddler once it's in full swing is simply not possible - they are too strong, and, let's face it, they've got too many teeth.
With the little guy being intolerant to cow's milk and soy, weaning him just hasn't been an option for us yet. I'd like to keep it up until he's ready to stop, although I may have to reassess the situation once he starts school. Just kidding.
