Breastfeeding Older Twins

Welcome, Carnival of Breastfeeding readers! This month’s theme is extended breastfeeding. Check out the bottom of this post for links to other posts on this topic.

Once I was past the foggy, early days of juggling babies, figuring out latch and soreness and the myriad of other early breastfeeding challenges I faced, breastfeeding twins was one of my lazier parenting choices.

  • Toddler fell down? Nursing calmed them.
  • Both babies needed me at once? Hey, two boobs!
  • Two toddlers whining? Nursing would buy me some peace and quiet.

People who balk at breastfeeding a toddler – a kid who is “old enough to ask” – might still be envisioning the breastfeeding pattern of a newborn – frequent, lengthy, and insistent. (A newborn is able to ask, too — with actions, noises, and cries!) Breastfeeding older babies and toddlers is a different experience. Toddlers can latch on themselves, don’t need pillows and props, and can often wait to nurse if the time or place isn’t right.

For us, breastfeeding after the first year or so was about connection and reconnection, a magical calming elixir, a secret weapon, a moment of quiet, an early sibling sharing experience, and so much more.

What is “extended” breastfeeding, anyway? Did you breastfeed your twins (or singleton!) over 12 months? 18 months? 2 years? What did you enjoy about your extended breastfeeding experience?

Check out these posts by other bloggers on this month’s theme:

Posted in Breastfeeding Stories, Feature and tagged ,

11 Comments

  1. My Sleep Breakthrough-Momma's Angel on April 17, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    […] Mama Alvina of Ahava & Amara Life Foundation: Breastfeeding Journey Continues Elita @ Blacktating: The Last Time That Never Was Diana Cassar-Uhl, IBCLC: Old enough to ask for it Karianna @ Caffeinated Catholic Mama: A Song for Mama’s Milk Tamara Reese @ Kveller: Extended Breastfeeding Jenny @ Chronicles of a Nursing Mom: The Highs and Lows of Nursing a Toddler Christina @ MFOM: Natural-Term Suzi @ Attachedattheboob: Why I love nursing a toddler Elisa @ blissfulE: counter cultural: extended breastfeeding Momma Jorje: Extended Breastfeeding, So Far! Stephanie Precourt from Adventures in Babywearing: “Continued Breastfeeding”: straight from the mouths of babes The Accidental Natural Mama: Nurse on, Mama Sarah @ Reproductive Rites: Gratitude for extended breastfeeding Nikki @ On Becoming Mommy: The Little Things Dr. Sarah @ Good Enough Mum: Breastfeeding for longer than a year: myths, facts and what the research really shows Amy @ WIC City: (Extended) Breastfeeding as Mothering The Artsy Mama: Why Nurse a Toddler? Christina @ The Milk Mama: The best thing about breastfeeding TopHot @ the bee in your bonnet: From the Mouths of Babes Callista @ Callista’s Ramblings:  Pressure To Stop Breastfeeding Amanda @ Postilius: Nursing My Toddler Keeps My Baby Close Sheryl @ Little Snowflakes: Tandem Nursing- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Lauren @ Hobo Mama: Same old, same old: Extended breastfeeding Tanya @ Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog: Six misconceptions about extended breastfeeding Jona (Breastfeedingtwins.org): Breastfeeding older twins […]



  2. Callista on April 17, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    I think that’s a good point. Perhaps many people are envisioning a toddler or preschooler nursing every 2 hours when the majority of them nurse 1-3 times a day.



  3. Elisa | blissfulE on April 17, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    “Secret weapon” and “lazy choice.” I can relate to those! I’m nursing a 4yo, 3yo, and 19mo while pregnant, and nursing is a quick solution in case of a potential meltdown, serious hurts, or even just those times they need a snack!



  4. Rebekah on April 18, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    It’s the easiest way to live. Motherhood isn’t easy, but why spend money, buy stuff we don’t need, when I have this miraculously normal way to comfort and feed, relaxing us both. I love my nurslings, though my first is five and we weaned at 3+, but her baby sister is 11mo and I have the best medicine to help her fight this cold we both have.



  5. Mama Alvina on April 18, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    The first and only time I tandem nursed was with my now 2 year old twins. It was a wonderful experience! They nursed until they were 17 months and I agree, if I was completely frazzled we all could lay down for a nap while nursing and I got a quick recharge. Those days are now long gone, they barely stop for naps these days.



  6. My Hopes For Tandem Nursing « The Adventures of Lactating Girl on April 19, 2011 at 7:39 am

    […] Jona (Breastfeedingtwins.org): Breastfeeding older twins […]



  7. A Song for Mama’s Milk: April Carnival of Breastfeeding | Caffeinated Catholic Mama on April 19, 2011 at 8:46 am

    […] (Breastfeedingtwins.org): Breastfeeding Older Twins Motherlove Herbal Company: Five reasons to love nursing a […]



  8. The best thing about breastfeeding – The Milk Mama on April 19, 2011 at 9:52 am

    […] Jona (Breastfeedingtwins.org): Breastfeeding older twins […]



  9. Breastfeeding Flavors « TouchstoneZ on April 19, 2011 at 10:02 am

    […] (Breastfeedingtwins.org): Breastfeeding older twins (corrected […]



  10. Zoie @ TouchstoneZ on April 21, 2011 at 11:58 am

    This is a great post for the breastfeeding carnival. Your point about how different it is to nurse older kids is spot on. I think that since the majority of people who have experience with breastfeeding have it during those earlier months when breastfeeding is substantially more intensive, see it as much more demanding than it is. I doubt that we as mammals would have survived if breastfeeding didn’t become less intensive as the child grew too large enough for traditional all-day wearing and breastfeeding on demand, all while mamas worked themselves to the bone.

    I love this “breastfeeding after the first year or so was about connection and reconnection, a magical calming elixir, a secret weapon, a moment of quiet, an early sibling sharing experience, and so much more.” I don’t know how I’d parent peacefully without my secret weapon



  11. Wendy on April 24, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    Very good points! I often bring up similar ones when people question my extended breastfeeding habits.. 😉
    My older son breastfed for 35 months, and self-weaned at the end of my first trimester of pregnancy. It’s different with my daughters (identical twins). One daughter abruptly weaned at 15 months, and nothing I could do would convince her to nurse again. Her sister is still nursing, solo, at 18 months, and shows no sign of losing interest. It makes me kind of sad to be only nursing one, as it was such a peaceful and magical time to be nursing 2 at once, but what can I do? It was her choice, and she was ready to wean.