My Thoughts on Extended Breastfeeding

I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be breastfeeding a toddler. And it wasn’t ever my plan, it just kind of happened. My goal was to breastfeed for 6 months.

Our breastfeeding journey was complicated from the beginning, and it wasn’t until Theo had his second tongue tie revision on Valentine’s Day 2020 that things started to get easier for us. So while it’s been almost 16 months, Theo has only been effectively breastfeeding for a year.

My lactation consultant recommends that we implement nursing manners now, so that’s what we are working on currently. For us that means: politely asking to nurse, and not wiggling around or pulling while he is breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding a wiggly toddler is… wild. They have teeth, which surprisingly don’t interfere. Biting can be a problem, but Theo quickly learned not to do that.

Do I have plans to wean him anytime soon? Not really. There’s no real reason to wean before we are both ready, since we are home all the time anyway! He also doesn’t have a special blanket or toy that is a comfort item to him. Breastfeeding is his one comfort right now, and in a world full of chaos and illness, this is one thing I can continue to do for my son!

I’m choosing to share more about extended breastfeeding to try and normalize it. Theo eats real food: 3 meals and 4,723 snacks per day, so when he nurses, he’s nursing out of comfort and habit. But as your baby grows, the nutritional composition of your breast milk changes to meet their needs. The human body is amazing!

Is there anything else you’d like to know about my experiences with extended breastfeeding?

Disclaimer: This blog post contains the authors researched opinions as well as actual experiences, and not one of a medical professional. Please consult to your medical professional for their official opinion on items referenced here, and defer to them in case of any conflict.