The Joys of Breastfeeding a Toddler #4

April 29th, 2010 by Dionna | 7 Comments
Posted in Breastfeeding/Lactivism, Carnival and Special Series, Compassionate Advocacy, Feed with Love and Respect, Guest Posts, Joys of Breastfeeding Past Infancy, Just for Fun/Miscellaneous, natural parenting

I am so happy to welcome Elizabeth, who has shared a story about one of her greatest joys in breastfeeding a toddler. Elizabeth is the mother of three girls and is a full time writer/professor/social media consultant/editor (whew!). She writes incredibly funny (and sometimes irreverent and moving) posts at her own site, DaMomma (read this post and you’ll see why I begged her to write something for the “Joys” series). Here is her breastfeeding guest post:

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Kieran and Dionna cuddling up for mama's milk

Breastfeeding a toddler is the hindmilk of the entire breastfeeding experience.
It’s the good stuff, I’m telling you.  Don’t stop before you get there.

In this overly-sexualized culture we are so backward that we are repulsed by the sight of a woman’s bosom doing exactly what it was designed to do – provide perfectly-manufactured milk to nurture, comfort and sustain the baby she brought into the world.  What should be a delicious sight – a woman, her offspring nestling in the shelter of each other – has become a grotesque one for no reason I can comprehend.

The first time your toddler pulls on your sleeve hopefully, and you say,
“Nurse, baby?” — and she nods with big happy eyes and crawls into your lap … you’ll know it was worth it.

Then she will tuck in to you, put her hands on your warm body, sigh deeply.

And that’s still not the best part.

The best part is when the milk comes, and she kicks both of her feet in unbridled joy, her eyes locked on your face as she contemplates just how awesome you are.

Try to get that from the jug in the fridge.

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Breastfeeding a toddler is full of laughter, joys, and heartbreaking tenderness. I am publishing a series of posts dedicated to the beauty of nursing toddlers in an effort to normalize this healthy and beneficial nursing relationship.

But this isn’t just about me – I want to hear YOUR joys. If you are nursing a toddler (or have in the past), please contact me and tell me about your favorite moments. I will include them in the series and credit you, your site, or post it anonymously if you so desire.

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