Kelley wrote to me with the following question:
My 10 month old babe has started to come over (she’s been walking for about two months now). She starts to nurse, and then as soon as my milk drops she fusses to get up and walks away, happy as a clam I might add. Is this normal? Is she playing some nursing game that I don’t know about? I can’t find anything about it online. She only wants to really nurse at night, or if I catch her in a groggy state after a nap. Otherwise, it’s the routine above. Any info …read more

Given that physicians recommend breastfeeding for at least one year and beyond, it is assumed that at some point sooner or later, the breastfed baby will have new baby teeth! Some nursing moms and babies sail through that transition without problems, and even benefit from the soothing that breastfeeding can provide a teething baby. But what about the moms who start to notice tooth imprints in their nipples? The baby isn’t biting exactly, but those pesky teeth are getting in the way of mom’s comfort. This happened with a reader who writes:
My 10 month old son is not really biting …read more

As a follow-up question to this one about breast milk storage guidelines, I got this question:
My husband was supposed to feed the baby with my breastmilk while I was away but I came home too early and now, the baby would not bottlefeed. He probably sensed me. Unfortunately, the breastmilk got wasted. So how do I prevent something like this from happening again? Likewise, how do we get the baby to bottlefeed even when I’m around?
I know lots of women have struggled with this issue, whether it’s just the occasional bottle of breast milk while mom’s away or the need …read more

Jeannee recently left a comment seeking information on weaning from a supplemental nursing system:
I am an IBCLC and currently searching for information or testimonials on weaning from the supplementary nursing system. Once the line is introduced mothers and babies do seem to become dependent on it and knowing the best way to remove it from the breastfeeding situation seems to be as elusive as the scarlet pimpernel. Could someone assist me please to help these mothers? Thank you.
If you used a supplemental nursing system or you are a lactation professional who has helped mothers with an SNS, please share your …read more

Today’s Mom-to-Mom breastfeeding question comes from a mother battling recurrent mastitis. She writes:
Q: “Hi, I’m hoping that you, or someone you know can help. I’m a tandem nursing mom to my 2 1/2 year old and my 12 week old. I never had any nursing issues or problems with my first. I am currently suffering from mastitis for the second time in 4 weeks! On top of that, my 2 year old was just diagnosed with Herpangina (a form of Hand, Foot, and Mouth) virus. I guess it’s very contagious by saliva and I’m praying that …read more

When I wrote about the current sleeping arrangements in my family, commenter Jen vented her frustrations with co-sleeping right now. I thought her comment cried out for a little mother-to-mother support. After reading her comment, please leave a comment of your own with how you’ve handled sleeping arrangements and/or weaning from co-sleeping without crying-it-out.
Jen wrote:
I am very tired of our sleeping arrangements. My husband is so tired of them that he actually has opted out entirely and just sleeps in another bedroom by himself. I don’t know how to move away from cosleeping now, with my 22-month old daughter, without …read more

After I wrote about how to heal a bite mark, one reader asked the very reasonable question of how to prevent a baby from biting in the first place. Steph wrote:
Q: My 12 month old son is used to being nursed to sleep, but with three teeth coming in at once, he is now also a dedicated biter.
He bites me so often and so hard that I have had to limit his nursing sessions for the first time. His first birthday ended in hysterical screaming all night… he couldn’t sleep without the breast, but can’t seem to feed without biting. …read more

Today’s Mom-to-Mom question is more of a Parent-to-Parent question because I received the following from Abel of Parent Wonder:
Q: I found you on breastfeeding123.com’s “Fostering Independence in the Breastfed Child” and I must say that I like your blog. I have a question on Attachment Parenting. Do you have a problem that your child is too “attached” if you follow AP approach? Will they become too dependent on you?
A: I’m glad you enjoyed that post and thanks for writing to me! Your question is a very interesting one.
The quick and dirty answer is no, the attachment-parented child does not …read more

A reader writes:
Q: I could use some weaning advice for mothers who have been feeding on demand. I just cannot work all day and nurse all night. I am truly at the end of my tether.
A: Good for you for breastfeeding your baby on demand for a full year! When you start to resent nursing, it signifies that it’s time to make a change. Your needs matter and you certainly do not want to transfer any resentment to the baby.
As you begin cutting back on nursing sessions you may find one of three things happens: (1) the baby happily accepts …read more

Mary at Owlhaven alerted me to the fact that today is the last day of National De-lurking Week (January 8-12). This is the perfect opportunity for the next Mom-to-Mom question, which came to me anonymously by email:
Q: Do you believe in toddler nursing and why?
A: I’m nursing my two-year-old toddler and I’ve already written a lot about toddler nursing. So, readers, I leave it up to you. Please de-lurk and leave a comment about whether or not you believe in toddler nursing and why.
(Feel free to use a false name and fake email address like my favorite: sorry@dontpostit.com, but …read more