Date: July 23, 2007 at 11:06pm
Category:
Ryan will turn one year old on July 26th. July 28th will mark one year of breastfeeding.
In actuality, breastfeeding an almost toddler isn’t too bad. I admit that I miss the days of nursing a newborn and infant, but that’s because I could simply swaddle Ryan tightly, bring him to my breast and let him nurse himself into oblivion.
Now? He has to talk, babble, coo and shriek at my and my breast. He has to study my breast and nipple while he is eating. He frequently reaches up to play with my hair and necklaces. He cranes his neck to see what is going on around him. And, he’s starting with the acrobatic nursing… nursing while sitting, standing, kneeling, practically standing on his head, etc.
My name is Jenn, and I'm 27 years old. I'm happily married to my best friend and soulmate, Daniel. Together we have a six year old daughter named 
Name: Alyssa
Name: Ryan
You’re lucky! My daughter started acrobat nursing at 6 months (that’s when she started crawling) and has been a ‘toddler’ since 9 months. She still nurses now at 14 months… Almost time to wean, though (I want *me* back. I think I’ve done pretty darn good for a first kid, so I’m happy with 14 months of nursing).
Good for you for making it to a year! It’s such a big accomplishment, but once you’re there, it’s… A humbling experience to look back on. They grow up so fast, yet so slow
Of course since I am not a mom at all, I know nothing about the emotional part of nursing. But as for nursing for a length of time, at a point where they have teeth – shouldn’t they be eating solids. My boyfriends Mom just had a baby in May and last month started introducing … whatcha call it oatmeal? You know what I mean… was it too soon, or is it based on the Mothers decision.
Thanks for your comment Cassie.
First, it is recommended by professionals and experts (by La Leche League, American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, as well as doctors and pediatricians) that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months. This means no formula, certainly not any type of solids, and definitely not cow’s milk!
At six months, solids may be slowly introduced. The most blandest and easiest to digest foods are recommended first – rice cereal, apples, bananas and pears, and so on and so forth.
Breastfeeding should continue up until a year, with it being the primary source of nutrition. At a year, breastfeeding can continue after at the mutual desire of mother and child.
Teeth can come in as early as four months. Ryan’s teeth didn’t start coming in until about five months, and for the last few months he has had a full mouth of choppers!
No offense to your boyfriend’s mother, but she should NOT be giving solids of any kind to a two or three month old baby. That is WAY too early. She could be causing irreparable harm by doing that. A baby’s stomach cannot really handle any type of solids at that point, and the digestive system is not ready to digest. The systems are too immature, and still have growing to do.
If she’s lucky, her baby will be fine. If not… she is risking food allergies and sensitivities, choking (again, the baby’s body is not ready to take solids), and general pain and discomfort from digestive problems.