14 months, still cosleeping and nursing to sleep - normal?

[futuremama88]

I am still nursing my 14 month old daughter, we are still cosleeping and I actually still nurse her to sleep a lot of the time... I've had comments that she is too big for that now... should I try to get her to self-soothe and sleep alone now?

Also, is this what could be interfering with my menstrual cycle? Sorry if TMI but I just finished a heavy period, had 6 days of no bleeding, and the another heavy period started again? Is it normal to keep having irregular periods so long after the birth?

 

[ChimChims]

I have the same question. I am a little resistant to being flat-out told what is too old (just b/c I'm enjoying it so much), but am definitely curious as to what is the norm around and after a year. My LO is 11 months on Monday, and still primarily breastfed, eating foods about three times a day (bites of what we have, or 'us' food softened by dipping into a jar of puree). She's growing just fine and is healthy, but I know at some point nursing is going to cut back. We're still 8 times a day minimum. It is no bother to me though - I am a SAHM, and after waiting a total of 10 years for my two babies I'll let her be this way as long as she wants. Still, like I said, totally curious to know what is 'the norm'.

 

[futuremama88]

Yeah I'm a SAHM too.

 

[Rickles]

TBH - I think it's whatever works for you and your family. As far as I am concerned there is no norm!!

Maddie is 10 months - we never co-slept unless she was ill/very unsettled. Mostly because I just couldn't sleep I was so nervous about it. We moved her into her own room at 7 months, which my parents thought was "late". I am BFing and she generally feeds 3/4 times during the day and once at night. She is on 3 meals a day plus snacks... I think the amount of solids affects feeding. We did TW - if she was BLW she would eat a lot less - we give her finger foods at every meal and for snacks and on the whole, they end up on the floor

 

[Super G]

We're still doing all that and she's 27 months. It works for us. I don't think there is any 'normal' on this. Certainly in the UK most people are not breastfeeding by this stage, so it's unusual for sure.

I'm sure in other cultures it's far more usual.

I used to worry about co-sleeping too long and nursing in the night and whether it was ok or not, but after doing some reading I've made peace with it. It now makes far more sense to me to co-sleep and nurse at night than to not.

Some of the James McKenna research was interesting, see https://www.naturalchild.org/james_mckenna/
and also there's some good stuff on Kellymom about nursing to sleep -https://kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/comfortnursing/

All of this led me to conclude that it's really just personal choice and if it's working for you then there are some very good arguments to support that it's actually beneficial for you & little one.

 

[Bookish]

Hi,
Like other posters said -- whatever works for you! I still nurse my 22-month-old to sleep, and he cosleeps, and nurses during the night. At one point, I thought about trying to get him to sleep in his own bed, etc, but this works for us. We are both sleeping well, so I don't want to mess with that!

I read a book, Good Nights by Dr. Jay Gordon, that was helpful. He promotes nursing/cosleeping, but there is a chapter on gentle ways to transition for whenever you are ready.
Best wishes!

 

[ChimChims]

Thanks!

 

[moo_fie]

I did what your doing until my dd was 3. Good for you, if you and your child are happy carry on.
My dd is now 5 and sleeps in her own bed and stays there all night so no lasting damage xx

 

[ChimChims]

We still nurse through the night too. Not sure how often bc it isn't every night, but it's there when she needs it.

 

[CatandKitten]

If it works for your family keep on doing it. We are cosleeping and nursing at 16 months.

 

[Button#]

Ashley feeds to sleep sometimes and still has a night feed. We don't co-sleep because Ashley's version of co-sleeping is to kick mummy and daddy out of bed and have it all to himself, plus he loves his cot. Go with what works for you and your family. 'Normal' in the UK at least is not to BF past a few months.