extended nursing

[Anonymous]

Nursed my child til sometime past 4. Very healthy child with none of the issues you mentioned. In fact, her speech was advanced. Never occurred to me to worry about it. No cavities, no attachment issues.

[Anonymous]

I weaned at 3 and 3.5. Both were late talkers but it never occurred to me that nursing would affect that. Both have numerous cavities. No attachment problems and they are now thriving in elementary school. I wouldn't change a thing and it's no one's business but yours. No one even knew I was still nursing except my closest friends.

[Anonymous]

I made a deal with DC2 about stopping on his 3rd birthday. He stopped then without any fuss. He did end up with multiple cavities and have had no more once he stopped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I made a deal with DC2 about stopping on his 3rd birthday. He stopped then without any fuss. He did end up with multiple cavities and have had no more once he stopped.

Did something similar. Mine was mainly just doing mornings and was scheduled to start PK3 a week after 3rd birthday. In advance of the birthday I said something like "you'll be starting school soon and in the morning you need to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and brush teeth. We can snuggle a little before that (and lots in the evening) but there won't be a lot of time for milk. Some kids stop nursing at a certain age and your birthday is soon. Some start when school begins. And others have a different plan. What do you think?" And they just said "I'll be done when I go to school." And just like that their last day was the morning before school. No fuss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nursed my child til sometime past 4. Very healthy child with none of the issues you mentioned. In fact, her speech was advanced. Never occurred to me to worry about it. No cavities, no attachment issues.

I nursed to way past 4. They needed the comfort. It was only at night. Not in public. They stopped when they were ready. They are smart and advanced in everything academically and socially. No cavities and healthy as a horse. It was the right time for them.

[Anonymous]

My concerns would only be the teeth, ability for others to do the bedtime routine, and her demanding it in inappropriate times. But you said that none of those are an issue for you. I have known attachment style moms that seemed to fixate on extended nursing and other things as a way to hold onto the baby years beyond when the kids seemed to be developmentally moving on, but that doesn't seem the case for you either. So don't worry about what others think and continue on as long as you both want.

[Anonymous]

We nursed to 2.5 when she decided she was ok transitioning to a new bedtime routine. No cavities and no delays, and no dramatic weaning process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nursed my child til sometime past 4. Very healthy child with none of the issues you mentioned. In fact, her speech was advanced. Never occurred to me to worry about it. No cavities, no attachment issues.

I nursed to way past 4. They needed the comfort. It was only at night. Not in public. They stopped when they were ready. They are smart and advanced in everything academically and socially. No cavities and healthy as a horse. It was the right time for them.

What age exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you continued to nurse your toddler after the age of two how did it go and when did you stop? Did your child have any delays (speech), dental issues or attachment issues?

DD is 3.5 and still nursing nightly before bed. We stopped nursing on demand at 18 months and I tried to totally wean at 2 but she ended up very sick and hospitalized for two weeks literally a few days later and so we I continued nursing. By 3 it dropped down to right before bed, she was fine without it for nap.

The few nights I have been away she falls asleep fine without nursing but if I am home it is part of the routine. I’m ok with it but DH has concerns about development.

At the present moment she has no speech delay. My biggest concern was cavities so we have been brushing teeth after nursing and if she happens to fall asleep I’ll use Xylitol teeth wipes. No cavities or potential cavities so far. Socially she seems to be doing well. She goes to preschool 5 days a week and all her teachers say she’s well adjusted. She dropped naps recently as well which teachers said is normal around this age.

She is still more attached to me than DH. I’m not sure if this is because she still nurses or it’s because I have a shorter work schedule and tend to be the primary parent.

I know complete weaning is in the near future but I’m not sure when. 4th birthday? Now? Whenever she decides? I get a different answer from everyone.

Does anyone here have experience with extended nursing? I’d love some feedback.

Why not let her be the only kid in 1st grade who is still nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you continued to nurse your toddler after the age of two how did it go and when did you stop? Did your child have any delays (speech), dental issues or attachment issues?

DD is 3.5 and still nursing nightly before bed. We stopped nursing on demand at 18 months and I tried to totally wean at 2 but she ended up very sick and hospitalized for two weeks literally a few days later and so we I continued nursing. By 3 it dropped down to right before bed, she was fine without it for nap.

The few nights I have been away she falls asleep fine without nursing but if I am home it is part of the routine. I’m ok with it but DH has concerns about development.

At the present moment she has no speech delay. My biggest concern was cavities so we have been brushing teeth after nursing and if she happens to fall asleep I’ll use Xylitol teeth wipes. No cavities or potential cavities so far. Socially she seems to be doing well. She goes to preschool 5 days a week and all her teachers say she’s well adjusted. She dropped naps recently as well which teachers said is normal around this age.

She is still more attached to me than DH. I’m not sure if this is because she still nurses or it’s because I have a shorter work schedule and tend to be the primary parent.

I know complete weaning is in the near future but I’m not sure when. 4th birthday? Now? Whenever she decides? I get a different answer from everyone.

Does anyone here have experience with extended nursing? I’d love some feedback.

Why not let her be the only kid in 1st grade who is still nursing.

PP I know you’re just being an ass but you would have no way of knowing which first graders are still being nursed.