BFing Toddler

[Newt07]

I am still BF'ing my 13 month old. I work out of the house for 3 - 4 days per week and my supply is much less than it used to be. (I pump every 5 hours or so on those days.) My daughter drinks more than I produce while I'm at work so my frozen supply is dwindling and I am concerned as to what I should do when it's gone and she is only consuming milk that I pump at work (which amounts to about 8 ozs. total). Should I supplement with rice/soy milk? When we're at home togther I strictly BF (of course she eats solids) and she's fine.

[vegma]

I was lucky in that I didn't have to leave my breastfed infant/toddler/pre-schooler. :) But I've read that many little ones will "reverse-cycle" - nurse like crazy when mom's home and do without when she's not. I personally don't think there's any need to give a child milk from another species, nut or bean. ;) Offer water when you're not home. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I started soymilk as a beverage with my son before I came to this conclusion. He's 6 now and has one cup a day as a beverage - otherwise we use it for cereal, cooking, etc.

[Jergisen]

If you think she's not getting enough milk (only you will know), but 8 oz sounds fine for a toddler. My kids all started on plain soymilk at age 1.

[VegParent]

I know lots of working Moms that are still breastfeeding their toddlers and pumping while at work. It's my understanding that after 12 months, most babies are more and more content to wait until they are with Mom to BF, rather than taking expressed milk bottles during the day. It may be you'll find that your baby will begin taking fewer bottles during the day, also (eventually making this a non-issue).

Until that happens, I'd encourage you to continue pumping while at work, to keep up your supply, because breastmilk is so wonderful nutritionally. You probably already know, but lots of books recommend that Veg/Vegan babies BF until they are at least 18 months to 2 years. I'm still BFing my 16month old (despite any of my frustrations) because I feel that no food can possibly measure up. I recently learned that breastmilk is 50% fat! And fat is sooo good for brain developement at this age. So, I would really try to encourage your baby's desire to have her bottles during the day as long as possible. Keep up the good work! :D

[firegypsy]

My kids don't drink milk at all. I'm not into fake stuff. My toddler is still BF, my preschooler is not. They have never had (and don't need) a milk replacement. Really kids don't need to drink anything but water.

[kjmckenzie]

My toddler is definitely one of those wait-until-mom-gets-home kind of guy. I usually come home at lunch to nurse him because I hate pumping, but I don't have any problem with my supply if I miss a lunch.

However, I find that when I am home and especially at night, he nurses and nurses and nurses and I was getting really sore. So we have added a bottle at night. He was also waking up frequently to nurse. We started with organic brown rice milk, but realized how much sugar and how little protein is in it. So today we bought omega rich organic soy milk to try tonight.

I really struggle with it because I am an attachment parenting believer and I agree that water is all toddlers need if you are still breastfeeding. But I have found with the addition of the bottle in the middle of the night, he is waking up less and my nipples are thanking me. I have also found that after sleeping with him for a year and a half, he seems to wake up less if I am not in the bed with him.

Again, this seems to be against everything I believe in! I am trying to make up for my "selfishness" (as in I need to sleep since I am working, and I need to have breasts that aren't painful!) by nursing him more during the day.

Any thoughts from anyone who has been through anything like this? Thanks!