When Avery turned 1, we of course threw a big birthday party with our closest friends and family. Before kids, I wasn't really sure why people would throw a party for a 1 year old who had no idea what was happening...
... but after surviving 12 months with an infant, I realized that party was just as much for us as it was for her. We were no longer new parents, and things would get a littler calmer now - right?
I had assumed we would wean shortly after her first birthday; however, the thought made me exceptionally sad.
Even though we were doing well with solids, and I had weaned from the pump, nursing continued to play such an important part in our relationship - it gave us THAT BOND that only those of use who become extended nursers can truly understand.
The emotional benefits of nursing beyond 1 year are numerous:
- It provides reconnection after time away from one another, which often increases as your child gets older
- Soothes your child as they continue to get new teeth
- Comforts them though illness
But there are emotional benefits for you as well:
- Continued nursing provides additional hits of oxytocin, which keeps you in happier moods. Weaning, especially too quickly can lead to a repeat of the baby blues.
- As your child begins to turn into a toddler, their upsets may surprise you and you may struggle to figure out the best way to balance calming them without giving into what they want. Breastfeeding will become one of your go-to parenting tools to stop a tantrum in its tracks, which will also give you a boost of confidence.
- Reducing guilt. Mom guilt seems to pop up everywhere. At 1 year, Avery began going to daycare and I had a whole new wave of guilt from being away from her. But our pick up breastfeeding sessions became our favorite time of the day.
Breastfeeding has so many emotional benefits! But it can also be a source of stress.
It is common to swing between various emotions while breastfeeding (check out this article on the Emotional Cycle of the Extended Breastfeeding Mom).
Breastfeeding burnout comes when you put your child's physical and emotional needs above your own.
The emotional bond we love so much with our nursing toddler can be strained when there is an imbalance in how often they want to nurse and your breastfeeding desires.
Many take this decreased satisfaction to be a sign to wean, but that is not always the case.
In fact, often setting a few simple breastfeeding boundaries can be a great way to find those loving feelings again.
If you are currently in love which your breastfeeding relationship, I'm so happy for you! You may enjoy listening to my podcast Weaning It: A Podcast for Toddler Nursing Moms.
And if you found this article because you are striving to find a way to get back the emotional benefits extended breastfeeding has to offer, then I suggest taking my free quiz to learn what stage of extended breastfeeding you are in.
Based on 5 distinct stages, I provide you with tips to improve the nursing journey regardless of where you are today.
Take the 2 minute Extended Breastfeeding Quiz HERE!
What other emotional benefits are there to extended breastfeeding. Comment below!
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