We’ve been talking about why people might want to nurse through pregnancy and breastfeed their toddler and infant at the same time. There are numerous benefits to doing so, although the decision, is not necessarily an easy one to make. With that said, there are strategies you can implement to help make it a little easier.
Setting boundaries
All of my children have been over a year when I’ve gotten pregnant with the next one (or two!) With the exception of my oldest daughter (and I’ll deal with her situation in a minute), the older baby was eating solids but was still drinking mostly breast milk. It is likely that if you are thinking of this, you are likely nursing a toddler as well.
Since we’re talking about a toddler nursing the idea that you must nurse on demand simply doesn’t apply anymore. It is very important to nurse an infant on demand to help establish and increase supply. In fact, as long as breastfeeding is you baby’s sole source of nutrition you should nurse on demand. However, a toddler will be eating at least some solid food, drinking from a sippy cup, etc.
While your pregnant is a good time to start setting some nursing boundaries. Some things to think about:
1. You may want to consider times of day where it is acceptable to nurse. For us, we night weaned, and our kids learned to go to daddy in the night if there was a problem.
2. We stopped nursing in public. Even with twins, I have yet to find a discreet way to breastfeed two at the same time in public.
3. We helped our toddlers learn to ask to nurse politely rather than just grabbing or plopping onto my lap to nurse.
The message was clear: our toddlers were welcome to nurse–in fact I wanted them to continue nursing. But, since there was a new baby, there were definitely some new dynamics in play. The thing to remember is that with a nursing toddler it’s perfectly acceptable to set some boundaries to your nursing relationship.
Using Your Nursing Toddler to Help with Problems
There are two ways in which you can use your nursing toddler to combat physical nursing problems. The first is to help with plugged ducts and/or to relieve engorgement. Let the baby nurse first if possible, and then let your toddler nurse on the effected side. A toddler’s “suction” is much more powerful than a newborn thus they are able to relieve both conditions rather easily.
The second way I’ve used a toddler is to help encourage the let down reflex. One of my daughters hated that my let down reflex took a few minutes. She wanted it instantaneously. (In fact, even at three years old she wants everything instantaneously.) So I could encourage her brother to breastfeed first and “get things started” and then she would enjoy the instantaneous milk that she wanted.
Breastfeeding a toddler and a newborn can be tricky, but in my opinion it is well worth the effort if you are able to do it. Have you ever tandem nursed? What were your experiences?
Related Articles:
5 Reasons Why You Might Breastfeed a Toddler and an Infant