[lunarmagic]

I didn't think I'd really consider tandem nursing with a newborn and toddler but that's kind of where I'm at now! I was going to start weaning Kate around 18 months old - she doesn't nurse very much at all anyways. Except when she's sick, which she is now. And then I started thinking about how it solves the boo-boos, how it helps with temper tantrums, how it relaxes her when she's anxious. It's just so USEFUL. And I also picture in my mind Kate watching the new baby nurse and how that will make her feel... I think it would really lower any jealousy/anger if she could nurse too so it wasn't "just for baby".

Anyone out there who has tandem nursed? How did you end up making that decision, was it always your plan? How did things go when the new baby arrived?

[ylime1982]

I'm very interested in what everyone has to say about this as well, as I am
In the same place and having some of the same feelings that you are. I dont have any experience with it though, sorry!

[blondie-lox]

I'm currently tandem nursing my 3 year old and my 7 week old. I never in a million years thought I would nurse a 3 year old, let alone tandem nurse! It just kind of happened. My 3 year old doesn't want to give it up, as it's such a comfort for him (as you said it's such a great tool) and I practice child led weaning. He doesn't nurse often, sometimes going days between but I don't mind. I've only nursed both of them at the same time only twice, usually they nurse separately. I also always let my 7 week old nurse before my 3 year old to make sure she gets enough and the good hind milk. The best part is my 3 year old can relieve any engorgement pain if I have any (like when my 7 week old will only nurse on one side etc), or he will nurse briefly before I nurse my baby as I have a very strong let down and my baby doesn't like it. HTH!!

[andi2284]

I tandem nursed w/ my first 2 girls for about 18 months. I just let things play out during my pregnancy and since Abby wanted to keep nursing, I didn't wean her. Tandem nursing went well, I did have to set some boundaries so the younger one could nurse first, but she did fine w/ it.

[Fluga]

I'm currently tandem nursing. I'm letting my girls self wean so unless I wanted a bigger age gap TN it was. Nursing is very important to my older girl. She nurses 3-4x a day for 10-20mins per time. The baby rarely spends that long at the breast .

When the baby came DD1 was used to nursing off both boobs so I had to limit her. I told her only one at a time so that I'd always have a full one for the baby. She objected a bit but is fine with it now. Sometimes I feel like my older girl might suck me dry (dont remember to drink enough and used to get headaches in the early days). If I dont feel like nursing her right away she is usually pretty OK with waiting. I usually only ask her to wait once, the next time I give it to her. Sometimes she seems to be trying to be exclusively breastfed, if she asks to nurse twice with not much time and no other food in between I tell her that she has to eat or drink first.

I dont regret letting my older daughter nurse through pregnancy and to tandem nurse now. Nursing has always been so important to her. Sometimes I wonder if she'll out nurse the baby.