Who else is feeding a 16-ish month old?

[Junglemum]

Sheesh, she is doing my head in!
DD2 is about 16 months old, granted the poor little chicken has just had Malaria, and is getting 4 molars, but she wants a BF EVERY time i pick her up. It's like she can't associate me with cuddles or any other comfort really except BM. It's driving me crazy and making me avoid picking her up. I mean, i don't leave her standing at my feet crying but i do try and distract her with whatever i can so that i don't get hounded for a BF ALL the time.

Please tell me it's a phase!

[Barb Glare]

When your baby is sick it takes every bit of your mothering reserves - you are left with nothing, and it's a hard, hard situation to deal with. Having malaria is right up there with the toughest of the tough. When you look back you will see that it was one of those times that *you were glad your were breastfeeding* Right now, breastfeeding is constant and seemingly never ending. But what you have is a sick baby - not a breastfeeding problem. You need a break - but imagine what it would be like if you *didn't* have the option of comforting her through breastfeeding You need to muster all your resources to cope - who can give you a bread? Hold her while you sleep? Take her for a walk? Cook and do the washing for you? Now is the time to call in favours. She will get better - but right now she needs the comfort breastfeeding provides

[Arcadia]

I am getting a world of nipple twiddling at the moment in place of constant breastfeeding. *Sigh*. This too shall pass?

[Junglemum]

Thanks Barb, i can always rely on you!
I know everything you say is right. And i was so thankful that i was breast feeding when she was in the clinic, limp, sad and needing IV fluids. I tell you what my nipples were sore after that 48hrs! She sucked and sucked and sucked.
I got Malaria just as she was recovering so i guess that's the root of it really. I am tired, no not tired, exhausted, trying not to get dehydrated and A LOT less patient than usual. On the upside i am out of bed and showered today for the first time since Friday, so things are looking up! After a good nights sleep things should be much better.

I am so thankful she is still BF, it is so much easier to comfort her and rehydrate her.

Thanks again for replying Barb.

ETA- Arcadia- that drives me nuts!

[Ginger]

wish i could come and give you a break...

maybe you could hold my boob tapping ds while i held your boob demanding dd?
do you think he would still tap at your boobs and she would tap at mine? ha ha. i think i need to go to bed!

[Junglemum]

[2CheekyMonkeys]

we are still breastfeeding too. it is getting to me overnight. she is on it ALL night.!

[kelebek]

yes it is a phase and I would find DS, who usually only feeds twice a day at your DD's age, would want to feed constantly. Hang in there, try and keep up the water

ETA: realised that didn't make sense...

Whenever DS was sick he would want to feed constantly, it doesn't make it any easier but hope that helps knowing it won't last forever

[Jennifer13]

It's just a phase, especially likely during that kind of illness. Don't you wish you had someone to pick you up and cuddle you and offer the comfort of a drink that would fix everything? Your DD2 is kinda smart really.

You sound like you need a rest. I hope you're all better soon. Nothing wrong with distraction when you're up to it. Otherwise, I'd head for bed and lie down for a rest. If you're going to be stuck in one place so she can bf you might as well be resting!

[feeb]

DS1 (2 years old) wants feeds when ever I sit down, to the point he will frequently pull boob out of DS2 mouth so he can have a bit!!

Oh and the nipple tweaking drives me batty!!!!

Hope you are all fighting fit asap. xoxo

[onthefly]

Malaria!
I would say it's mostly the illness. Absolutely agree with Barb, I wish I still had milk when DS is sick now. It's bloody hard at the time, but soooo much better than trying to care for them without breasfeeds.
I hate nipple twiddling. The boobs disappeared if DS did that. He's taking to pinching through my clothes when he gets a chance. Sneaker bugger

[~Kim~]

Poor little poppet and her Mum you guys have had a rough trot.
However yes we also went through a mammoth phase like that just recently. For us too it coinsided with illness, and much life upheaval and DS deciding he wasn't going to eat at all (except frozen peas).
Thankfully we've come out the other side this last couple of weeks.

I truely hope you guys are feeling much better soon....

[Olive]

i have a couch slapper for her morning feed, she slaps the couch or computer chair to indicate that she wants a feed then comes and drags me over to it!
ive just dropped her down to 3 feeds

[Junglemum]

It's oh so comforting to know you're not the only one!

Marcellus- through your clothes?! He is keen. i agree, mine go away with any tweaking too!

Olive- Did you jus call your princess a slapper??

Hollo- nice work on the weightloss ticker! I have to say we are very lucky overnight. When she was sick she fed overnight but last night she went back to sleeping through. I don't know how you're still feeding overnight all the time, i'd be a mess!

Thanks Kim. We are all feeling MUCH better this morning.

Feeb- i love it. i take my hat off to you tandem feeding. One is enough for me!

Jen- are you offering to pick me up and cuddle me? yes please.

Thanks Kel- lets hope the phase passes soon!

[Olive]

[Shanti]

i have a couch slapper for her morning feed, she slaps the couch or computer chair to indicate that she wants a feed then comes and drags me over to it!
ive just dropped her down to 3 feeds

haha had to laugh when I read this Olive..... LOL!

I'm still feeding my nearly 18mo DD and I have days like that too, even when she isn't sick!! sometimes it seems whenever i sit down she says "booby! booby!" and climbs all over me until I give in.... sometimes I distract her other times I just give in and grab a magazine or book to read.... use it as a good chance to relax for a bit even though she kicks my book so I can't read it.... cheeky.

Sorry to hear your bubba has been sick with Malaria! poor bubba.... that's wonderful she's still BF that will really help!!

so good to hear of other mumma's still feeding their bubs past 12mths! Good work girls!

[Jennifer13]

Jen- are you offering to pick me up and cuddle me? yes please.

I'll do my best over the net.

[onthefly]

I think it's because he spied me attempting a little hand express to see if there was anything there. He's also been squeezing his "boobies" so I guess it's all fair.