Did anyone's toddler stop bf when they were pregnant and then start again afterwards?

[weebairn]

Just that really.

DD is 22 months, we bf very easily and happily until May this year where she got really upset. I was 20 weeks pregnant again by that point and I think my milk supply dropped. She was frustrated and angry every time she fed and I found it all a bit upsetting. She was only feeding once a day anyway. After a week or so we of tantrums we just stopped, she stopped asking, I stopped offering. it wasn't difficult.

The new baby is due in September and I've been talking to her lots about babies and what they do, including breastfeeding. She is fascinated by my boobs again and once or twice has asked for milk. I haven't let her because … well, it's only colostrum so there won't be much there and also I am shattered with the pregnancy and don't really want to. She's not been upset about it or anything, but she is really interested.

Once the baby is here and my milk is in I'm more ambivalent. TBH I wanted to feed till at least 2. If I'm feeding anyway I don't think I would have a problem with her having some too and carrying on for another year or however long she wants to.

But can they restart? Do they forget how? Has anyone's toddler done this? It's been 2 months off breastfeeding completely now, will be 4 by the time baby is here.

[Lion5711]

Very similar to me! There's a 2y4m gap between mine and my son pretty much fed once every few weeks from half way through pregnancy. It hurt me a lot and I think he sensed it was different and different taste, however I read a lot on tandem feeding but wasn't going to push either way. 9 months down the line he now feeds every few days as I get a bit overwhelmed by it, but 90% of the time it tr best thing! Bedtimes are so much easier as I'm by myself in evenings so one on each side and fed to sleep easily! I'm now a bit more ready to wean him and we talk about it a lot and he seems a bit keener so we will see! You are not alone if you choose to, lots of people do and pregnancy can really does affect their interest in b'f so quite often it isn't a natural weaning- more tr taste difference. Up to you, do see if you can get hold of adventures in tandem feeding as it has a lot of info for pregnancy too!

[NAR4]

My dd was about 20m and I was 6m pregnant when she stopped. She went from feeding lots to stopping in the space of a couple of wks. My milk just went and she gave up. After I gave birth she occasionally asked for some but just sucked her cheeks in and didn't seem to know what to do. She did this less and less often until she stopped asking when the baby was about 6m.

[BadPenny]

Sort of - a bit like NAR4: my DS was 20 months and I was 5 months pregnant when he stopped. We were down to mornings only - one feed a day then not every day.

After the baby was born he asked every so often for milk, but had forgotten how to latch. I still let him pretend whenever he wanted to - usually this was during morning cuddles rather than in public but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it so once or twice, when he did ask in public, I just let him get on with it and doubt anyone was bothered!

He knows I can hand express milk and also very rarely asks me to give him some in a little cup - again I don't see why not. He's 3 1/2 now and hasn't asked for anything lately. My DD is 15 months and still wants a couple of feeds a day - more when I'm not at work.

[weebairn]

I wondered that too - whether she'd forget how to latch.

I keep meaning to get hold of a copy of Adventures in Tandem Nursing - thanks! And thanks for your experiences, interesting to hear about…

I am not planning to have any more children after DC2 for at least 3/4 years - and maybe not at all - so hopefully their bf won't be cut short like I kinda feel DC1's was