Comments for Custom-Made Milk http://custommademilk.wordpress.com "Many of life's failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." ~Thomas Edison Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:03:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Painful Toddler Nursing by Sara http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/painful-toddler-nursing/#comment-373 Sara Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:03:14 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=106#comment-373 Sorry for the late response! For me, it was an issue of "I want my son to know that sleep is a safe place." and anything that involved screaming and crying or waking up alone and afraid.. Did not sit well with me. So I co-slept with my son until he started crawling away from me to sleep elsewhere on the bed, and then I knew he was ready to try sleeping in his own bed. Now he does. Through the night. He wakes up once in the morning, and we snuggle and nurse and sometimes fall back to sleep for another hour. He started this at 2 1/2. He would (and still sometimes does) that "nurse all night" thing. What I discovered that helps me is to randomly pull away the nipple. About 1/3rd of the time he'll be fine with that, the other 2/3rds he won't be. So we latch him back on, and eventually he's ready to sleep. The way that I do it is we'll be side-laying and nursing. He'll be facing me. I'll unlatch him and quickly use his arms to turn him so that he's facing away from me but his back will be touching me. If he's sufficiently sleepy, he'll just snuggle up to me and go to sleep. If he's still facing me, he will want to keep nursing. You might want to look at her sleep habits during the day. She may be sleeping too much during the day, not nursing enough during the day, or may be ready for some additional high-quality solids like avocado in her diet. The nipple twisting.. I'd recommend three strikes and you're out. During the night my son becomes a total nipple twister and I say "NO TOUCH." and if he does it three times I stop nursing and he'll cry for a minute, and we'll nurse again. Sometimes I have to do that ten times in a row. But it does sink in. Sometimes all you have to do is show them "stroke mommy's arm" or "pat mommy's belly" instead, or "rub your head". It helps to wear a bra and keep the other breast covered. I often place my hand firmly over the other nipple, and push my son's hand away if it comes close. I remind him firmly in a no-nonsense voice "NO HANDS" Sorry for the late response!

For me, it was an issue of “I want my son to know that sleep is a safe place.” and anything that involved screaming and crying or waking up alone and afraid.. Did not sit well with me. So I co-slept with my son until he started crawling away from me to sleep elsewhere on the bed, and then I knew he was ready to try sleeping in his own bed. Now he does. Through the night. He wakes up once in the morning, and we snuggle and nurse and sometimes fall back to sleep for another hour. He started this at 2 1/2.

He would (and still sometimes does) that “nurse all night” thing. What I discovered that helps me is to randomly pull away the nipple. About 1/3rd of the time he’ll be fine with that, the other 2/3rds he won’t be. So we latch him back on, and eventually he’s ready to sleep. The way that I do it is we’ll be side-laying and nursing. He’ll be facing me. I’ll unlatch him and quickly use his arms to turn him so that he’s facing away from me but his back will be touching me. If he’s sufficiently sleepy, he’ll just snuggle up to me and go to sleep. If he’s still facing me, he will want to keep nursing.

You might want to look at her sleep habits during the day. She may be sleeping too much during the day, not nursing enough during the day, or may be ready for some additional high-quality solids like avocado in her diet.

The nipple twisting.. I’d recommend three strikes and you’re out. During the night my son becomes a total nipple twister and I say “NO TOUCH.” and if he does it three times I stop nursing and he’ll cry for a minute, and we’ll nurse again. Sometimes I have to do that ten times in a row. But it does sink in. Sometimes all you have to do is show them “stroke mommy’s arm” or “pat mommy’s belly” instead, or “rub your head”. It helps to wear a bra and keep the other breast covered. I often place my hand firmly over the other nipple, and push my son’s hand away if it comes close. I remind him firmly in a no-nonsense voice “NO HANDS”

]]> Comment on Painful Toddler Nursing by Al http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/painful-toddler-nursing/#comment-372 Al Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:42:16 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=106#comment-372 Nipple Twister -- My 17 m dd is a nipple twister and I don't know what to do. It makes sense that she is trying to get more milk but it does seem wrong, a little creepy. She's having a rich fantasy life with the boob but I need some help. She is night nursing -- all night long. She likes to have the nipple in her mouth for 75% of the night. I've tried to say boobie's going to sleep...in the morning....but full on temper tantrum ensued. I was thinking that maybe in a few months she would be old enough to get the concept and it would make sense to her. Right now I don't think she can consider it beyond her frustration. Any advice? She naps on me and we co sleep. I have to go to sleep when she does. It's the only way to get some rest. I'm pretty happy with the decision over all but I don't have a life outside of her. I think I'm ok with this for the first 3 yrs (nursing, co-sleeping, staying home with her delaying going back to work). Can any of you elaborate why you are still nursing after 2 yrs and co-sleeping? I feel it is right for both of us but I haven't articulated it. I don't have anyone to talk to about this b/c my mother never bf and has been trying to get dd her own room and to wean since 6months old. I would appreciate any input. Thanks in advance. Nipple Twister — My 17 m dd is a nipple twister and I don’t know what to do. It makes sense that she is trying to get more milk but it does seem wrong, a little creepy. She’s having a rich fantasy life with the boob but I need some help. She is night nursing — all night long. She likes to have the nipple in her mouth for 75% of the night. I’ve tried to say boobie’s going to sleep…in the morning….but full on temper tantrum ensued. I was thinking that maybe in a few months she would be old enough to get the concept and it would make sense to her. Right now I don’t think she can consider it beyond her frustration.

Any advice? She naps on me and we co sleep. I have to go to sleep when she does. It’s the only way to get some rest. I’m pretty happy with the decision over all but I don’t have a life outside of her. I think I’m ok with this for the first 3 yrs (nursing, co-sleeping, staying home with her delaying going back to work). Can any of you elaborate why you are still nursing after 2 yrs and co-sleeping? I feel it is right for both of us but I haven’t articulated it.

I don’t have anyone to talk to about this b/c my mother never bf and has been trying to get dd her own room and to wean since 6months old. I would appreciate any input. Thanks in advance.

]]> Comment on Painful Toddler Nursing by Kristi http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/painful-toddler-nursing/#comment-371 Kristi Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:15:25 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=106#comment-371 P.S. I have never been able to "put my kids down" at a bedtime if it's different than when my husband and I go to bed because we do nurse them to sleep. Rare is the occasion that they are more tired than we are! While my friends that don't co-sleep and use separate rooms/cribs, etc. yack on and on about private time for mommy and daddy, we are just kind of used to it I guess. I think the wonderful years we have had this closeness as a family is well-worth the sacrifices we have made to co-sleep. My oldest daughter can't wait until the baby is old enough to sleep with her. She started sleeping in a toddler bed in her room across the hall from us at 4, but we don't use doors on our rooms so the upstairs is kind of like one big bedroom. I can see her from my own bed 10 feet away. I sleep securely knowing we are all together and if anything happened in the night, earthquakes, fire, break-ins, etc. my babies are all right there! I know that our co-sleeping will come to an end all too quickly, and will cherish my memories of having them all snuggle next to us as they drift into dreamland. P.S. I have never been able to “put my kids down” at a bedtime if it’s different than when my husband and I go to bed because we do nurse them to sleep. Rare is the occasion that they are more tired than we are! While my friends that don’t co-sleep and use separate rooms/cribs, etc. yack on and on about private time for mommy and daddy, we are just kind of used to it I guess. I think the wonderful years we have had this closeness as a family is well-worth the sacrifices we have made to co-sleep. My oldest daughter can’t wait until the baby is old enough to sleep with her. She started sleeping in a toddler bed in her room across the hall from us at 4, but we don’t use doors on our rooms so the upstairs is kind of like one big bedroom. I can see her from my own bed 10 feet away. I sleep securely knowing we are all together and if anything happened in the night, earthquakes, fire, break-ins, etc. my babies are all right there! I know that our co-sleeping will come to an end all too quickly, and will cherish my memories of having them all snuggle next to us as they drift into dreamland.

]]> Comment on Painful Toddler Nursing by Kristi http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/painful-toddler-nursing/#comment-370 Kristi Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:07:16 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=106#comment-370 Have you guys ever heard of nursing necklaces? I have never needed one yet, although both my girls are twiddlers. My La Leche League leader has suggested the use of this little device as a means to distract the wayward hands from grabbing the unaccompanied nipple. They are simply lanyard type necklaces with small baby-safe objects on them. Large beads or little wooden toys. I have a couple of necklaces with leather string that would meet the requirements. We used to have a parrot and they always sold toys like this for the birds in the good parrot shops! Leather string, and larger blocks and assorted goodies that could be strung on to the leather... now that I think of it, they'd have been perfect for this purpose! :) For nighttime, when I am going crazy from twiddling, I lie down next to my toddler on my side and offer the "top" side breast. I kind of squash the other one low enough to the mattress that it's not readily accessible. Good luck!! Happily, it is a passing phase. My five-year old nursed until she was 4, and it seems like the twiddling lasted mostly while she was getting really good at physical activities such as walking, stair climbing and other things she wanted to practice. Try really wearing them out with a good walk before bed too (or let them go up and down the stairs a few times!). Have you guys ever heard of nursing necklaces? I have never needed one yet, although both my girls are twiddlers. My La Leche League leader has suggested the use of this little device as a means to distract the wayward hands from grabbing the unaccompanied nipple. They are simply lanyard type necklaces with small baby-safe objects on them. Large beads or little wooden toys. I have a couple of necklaces with leather string that would meet the requirements. We used to have a parrot and they always sold toys like this for the birds in the good parrot shops! Leather string, and larger blocks and assorted goodies that could be strung on to the leather… now that I think of it, they’d have been perfect for this purpose! :) For nighttime, when I am going crazy from twiddling, I lie down next to my toddler on my side and offer the “top” side breast. I kind of squash the other one low enough to the mattress that it’s not readily accessible. Good luck!! Happily, it is a passing phase. My five-year old nursed until she was 4, and it seems like the twiddling lasted mostly while she was getting really good at physical activities such as walking, stair climbing and other things she wanted to practice. Try really wearing them out with a good walk before bed too (or let them go up and down the stairs a few times!).

]]> Comment on “Toddlers Should Not Imitate Breastfeeding” by Kristi http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/toddlers-should-not-immitate-breastfeeding/#comment-369 Kristi Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:41:02 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=277#comment-369 I agree with these moms as to kids nursing their "babies". This IS normal. A 39 year-old grandma is probably NOT normal in most families. Nursing is such a huge part of the lives of my two daughters, that I cannot imagine a time when they have not made reference in some way on a regular basis to the practice. It's their nourishment, their comfort, an expression of love. These things are paramount in good parenting in my opinion! I'm so glad they know how to share the love with their babies! Bravo to the hospital for showing NORMALCY! I agree with these moms as to kids nursing their “babies”. This IS normal. A 39 year-old grandma is probably NOT normal in most families. Nursing is such a huge part of the lives of my two daughters, that I cannot imagine a time when they have not made reference in some way on a regular basis to the practice. It’s their nourishment, their comfort, an expression of love. These things are paramount in good parenting in my opinion! I’m so glad they know how to share the love with their babies! Bravo to the hospital for showing NORMALCY!

]]> Comment on Painful Toddler Nursing by Alex http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/painful-toddler-nursing/#comment-368 Alex Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:13:50 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=106#comment-368 How does my wife stop the nipple twiddling during night time feedings? She is still nursing my daughter to sleep. Does she do three strikes and you get to stay up and party with mommy and daddy? How does my wife stop the nipple twiddling during night time feedings? She is still nursing my daughter to sleep. Does she do three strikes and you get to stay up and party with mommy and daddy?

]]> Comment on Nursing in Public: Bad Paralells by Kathi http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/nursing-in-public-bad-paralells/#comment-367 Kathi Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:47:06 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=266#comment-367 I nursed in public all the time. My daughter just couldn't come to terms with any kind of schedule so.... She was the boss. I carried her in a sling and she fed all day long. Usually every 30 mintues. I often stopped the car and hopped into the back seat for a quick feed. Thanks to this post I realize now how different living in Europe is. I usually think of the negatives since I'd rather be in the US, but I think maybe nursing isn't seen as being so blatant here even when its hanging out. So there's a good point for Italy tonight. Why do our little ones have to pay the price for the ignorance ???? Such a pity. We have to be strong moms and draw the line. Even my husband would dart his stone cold eyes over to me when my toddler would stick her beautiful little hand into my shirt and twinkle my nipples while we were standing in public talking or something. He'd kind of mumble...Mm..Mm. Like that was all the message necessary. What was I supposed to do -Tell my angel that we live in an dumb society and to get her paws off what is rigthfully hers, that exists only because of her. How do you make up for that kind of error later? Heavens, don't rush the alphabet but do learn public decency (or ignorancy) at age 1 -before potty training even!! That is ridiculous. Not breastfeeding in public. I nursed in public all the time. My daughter just couldn’t come to terms with any kind of schedule so…. She was the boss. I carried her in a sling and she fed all day long. Usually every 30 mintues. I often stopped the car and hopped into the back seat for a quick feed. Thanks to this post I realize now how different living in Europe is. I usually think of the negatives since I’d rather be in the US, but I think maybe nursing isn’t seen as being so blatant here even when its hanging out. So there’s a good point for Italy tonight. Why do our little ones have to pay the price for the ignorance ???? Such a pity. We have to be strong moms and draw the line. Even my husband would dart his stone cold eyes over to me when my toddler would stick her beautiful little hand into my shirt and twinkle my nipples while we were standing in public talking or something. He’d kind of mumble…Mm..Mm. Like that was all the message necessary. What was I supposed to do -Tell my angel that we live in an dumb society and to get her paws off what is rigthfully hers, that exists only because of her. How do you make up for that kind of error later?
Heavens, don’t rush the alphabet but do learn public decency (or ignorancy) at age 1 -before potty training even!!
That is ridiculous. Not breastfeeding in public.

]]> Comment on Breastfeeding in the Beginning is Different from Breastfeeding at the End. by Kathi http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/breastfeeding-in-the-beginning-is-different-from-breastfeeding-at-the-end/#comment-366 Kathi Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:26:36 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=274#comment-366 Boy, I would love to still be breastfeeding. I never really wanted to give it up when my daugher was 20 months old, and she was a real suckler. She is stil lso attached to those breasts. We call it "boobing it" when she fondles me. At 20 months of course if was difficult when I had to exlain to her that in public it wasn't ok (WHY NOT). Sometimes she'd get so impatient while I was chatting in public she'd just reach in and pull my breast out in front of everyone. For many reasons I feel I have not competed this nurturing. So when is the "end". I have decided to express milk now for my 4 year old. At least one glass per day. I am massaging now and will take fenugreek when it arrives to promote milk production. I have always had those few drops ever after almost 2.5 yrs of not nursing. Maybe because of her fondling, maybe because of the psychological tie. I have decided I am just no ready to be done yet. The real reason I stopped BF was because of stigma. I hope the pump will work. It didn't when she was little. Was a lot of work. I think now my reasons are different and I understand the mental aspect of the let down. Would love to hear from anyone else trying this. Going back to feeding for an older child. Pumping only. Boy, I would love to still be breastfeeding. I never really wanted to give it up when my daugher was 20 months old, and she was a real suckler. She is stil lso attached to those breasts. We call it “boobing it” when she fondles me. At 20 months of course if was difficult when I had to exlain to her that in public it wasn’t ok (WHY NOT). Sometimes she’d get so impatient while I was chatting in public she’d just reach in and pull my breast out in front of everyone.
For many reasons I feel I have not competed this nurturing. So when is the “end”. I have decided to express milk now for my 4 year old. At least one glass per day. I am massaging now and will take fenugreek when it arrives to promote milk production. I have always had those few drops ever after almost 2.5 yrs of not nursing. Maybe because of her fondling, maybe because of the psychological tie. I have decided I am just no ready to be done yet. The real reason I stopped BF was because of stigma. I hope the pump will work. It didn’t when she was little. Was a lot of work. I think now my reasons are different and I understand the mental aspect of the let down. Would love to hear from anyone else trying this. Going back to feeding for an older child. Pumping only.

]]> Comment on “Toddlers Should Not Imitate Breastfeeding” by Kathi http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/toddlers-should-not-immitate-breastfeeding/#comment-365 Kathi Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:17:09 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=277#comment-365 Breastfeeding is the fondest memory I have. Of course my 4 yr old nurses her dolls. All of them. She changes their all natural bamboo diapers. (I even found doll size ones) Now I know why there is that never ending sense to duplicate our parents as adults. I always found it hard to belive that children of child beaters become child beaters, those of screamers become screamers, daugthters of passive battered woman become the same and so on. It is so ingrained when they are toddlers. My daughter is practicing so much that if she practices wrong...she will have a difficult time un-learning that as an adult. I know she will be a great mother. She will nurse, she will use natural products, she will use a kind voice. And yes, she has babies just about every day. Pushes and breathes. I think it is exactly this kind of play that prepares them for the hardships and victories in their life. Breastfeeding is the fondest memory I have. Of course my 4 yr old nurses her dolls. All of them. She changes their all natural bamboo diapers. (I even found doll size ones) Now I know why there is that never ending sense to duplicate our parents as adults. I always found it hard to belive that children of child beaters become child beaters, those of screamers become screamers, daugthters of passive battered woman become the same and so on. It is so ingrained when they are toddlers. My daughter is practicing so much that if she practices wrong…she will have a difficult time un-learning that as an adult. I know she will be a great mother. She will nurse, she will use natural products, she will use a kind voice. And yes, she has babies just about every day. Pushes and breathes. I think it is exactly this kind of play that prepares them for the hardships and victories in their life.

]]> Comment on Screaming & Crying While Breastfeeding by ADM http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/screaming-crying-while-breastfeeding/#comment-363 ADM Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:28:46 +0000 http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/?p=120#comment-363 Thank you so much for your post. It is very helpful. Thank you so much for your post. It is very helpful.

]]>