Customer Reviews

Mothering Your Nursing Toddler

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A welcome source of support and positive reinforcement for nursing mother's whose happily nursing babies are quickly approaching their first birthday. As people question when the baby will be weaned, we can seek the words of Norma J. Bumgarner for support. Even now, in October 1998, as the American Association of Pediatrics recommends nursing through the first 12 months and as long as mother and baby feel it is beneficial, there is still not very much support for mothers who nurse toddlers. I read the book when my son was 7 months old to learn what nursing a toddler would be like. The book enlightened me. Now that my son is 14 months old, I have re-read the book. Norma writes realistically and in a down-to-earth manner. I recommend this book to anyone currently nursing their baby. I understand the book is to be revised soon. I would like to see more interviews of mothers telling their experiences. The thing I've learned the most is that every baby is different, and every nursing style is different. While some toddlers nurse many times during the day for very short periods of time, others nurse infrequently. The book should also acknowledge that all toddlers are not comfort-nursers. I especially liked the chapter which dealt with how to deal with negative criticsm from others and the debate of whether to keep the nursing relationship a secret or not.

I nursed all four of my children as toddlers and delight in recommending this nurturing book. While long-term breastfeeding becomes more popular in the US, Europe and Canada, there is still some confusion and unease about the topic. This book provides a reassuring nod to all mothers who are breastfeeding their toddlers. Filled with practical tips, real-life stories, quotes from experienced mothers and glorious photos, it is a joy to read.

Handy pointers about typical toddler-feeding issues such as that annoying twiddling, handling your child's verbal public request to nurse, dealing with critics, night-nursing and weaning.

If you currently are nursing your toddler, or if you are considering the journey, this book is worth owning. I have included a recommendation for it in my new book, Gentle Baby Care: Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby.

-- Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution.

I loved this book because it was so nice to actually see someone write black on white that it is perfectly ok to want to continue nursing beyond 12 months and even during pregnancy. It also helped me overcome the weird feeling I always had when my in-laws and parents questioned my belief in child-led weaning. Read it! It's a wonderful book.

Clearly written, referenced book discusses child-led weaning, which typically means nursing past the first or even second birthday. Reinforced my own feelings that I should listen to my child and let him decide how long he needs to nurse. The book discusses cultural and historic practices about nursing and weaning (human children were nursed well past their second birthday for thousands of years before the advent of formula). It is an emotional and supportive read. I would give it 5 stars if the author was more supportive of working moms - I work FT and my son has never had a bottle - my company is very flexible. What is needed is a discourse for working moms who continue to nurse and must work in a place that is not nursing-friendly. We all strive to be good moms, whether we work in or outside the home. I would like to see this excellent author better address issues on how to manage nursing one's toddler while working either FT or PT, as well as managing/balancing home life - this is reality for so many women.

This book is an extensive reference about nursing children from the end of the first year until they wean themselves. It is filled with a plethora of quotes from mothers and their toddlers about the nursing relationship, as well as entertaining cartoons, so I found it amusing and inspiring, but ultimately dissappointing. The author is so adamant about the need to breastfeed children until they self wean that she fails to acknowledge that the mother has needs and commitments that may conflict with the child's desire to breastfeed, and how to deal with that. The book is also steeped in the authors views on topics unrelated to breastfeeding, in particular potty training and co-sleeping, that some mothers nursing toddlers may find irritating.

If you love breastfeeding but feel that you should wean your child because of pressure from friends or your own lifelong programming, then this book will reassure you that it is not only okay, but normal, to nurse your child well into toddlerhood. If you are struggling with the breastfeeding relationship due to lack of support being a mother, because your other commitments interfere, because it is difficult or uncomfortable for medical reasons, or because your child just likes it more than you do, then you will find little to help in this book except the knowledge that by continuing to breastfeed you are providing your child with a source of instinctual comfort.

I believe that this book would be strengthened by demonstrating a more complete understanding of the reasons why mothers choose to wean their nursing toddlers and providing realistic strategies for mothers to avoid these reasons.

I read the first edition of this book when my daughter was about 8 months old and it helped me make the decision that it would be OK to keep nursing her past 12 months if I wanted to. I re-read the first edition when she was about 14 months old for practical advice and reassurance. I have since purchased the new edition [which is even better!], and I've returned to it many times over the last year. I've used it as a reference whenever I had a question, and I just recently re-read the whole thing as my daughter's second birthday began to approach. I've certainly gotten my money's worth out of this book and I recommend it to any mother who is contemplating nursing past the first birthday.

This book is a must-have for any mother who is still nursing their child past the first year (or thinking about it). If you ever had any hesitations about extended breastfeeding, this book will show you why you should feel good about your decision to continue nursing your child. The author answers all of your questions about the how, why, and when of extended breastfeeding.

This book covers every imaginable topic, including sexuality while nursing, family pressure, tandem nursing, and weaning. The information is very easy to read, and more importantly, it lets you know that you are not alone. Whether your nursing child is 1, 2, 3, or older, this book addresses all of your concerns and questions in a very supportive and informative way.

As other reviewers have written, this is a compassionate, informative and inspired book supporting the nursing relationship between mother and child. Our culture puts a lot of pressure on the family to create "independent" children. Often this means mothers are told that sleeping with their children, holding their children, and nursing on demand is actually harmful to them. Even committed nursing moms sometimes find themselves questioning their choices when faced with criticism from family or strangers. How refreshing to find a book that shows the *rightness* of a hands-on approach to child rearing.

No psychobabble here! The book is a fun read, based upon the testamony of 1000 nursing couples as well as the author's own experience. Some of the things toddlers have to say about the subject are simply priceless, and the little cartoons will bring a knowing smile to any nursing mom's face. I found this book not only to be a wonderful resource on nursing but on parenting as well. Any woman nursing a child or contemplating nursing a child will find this book helpful and heart-warming.

Based on experience and interviews with many, many nursing moms, the author of this book has written a book that can be categorized as a lifesaver. Nursing a Toddler is not the easiest of tasks, no matter how great the loving intent. Her wisdom, and her "been there, done that, you're not alone" approach really give moms the encouragement and information they need to continue to meet the needs of their children in this special way.

I heartily recommend this book, and am delighted to have learned the author is resident of my metropolitan area. I hope to meet her soon. I've heard a revision is in the works, though I don't know the planned release date. In the meantime, this edition will reaffirm and confirm what moms know in their hearts - nurturing your children via nursing, no matter their age, is a great gift.

This book is essential for women who want to nurse their toddlers. I would like to see it updated. But the best part is realizing how wonderful it is to continue breastfeeding. For example, the quotes from toddlers really make you understand why it's important. In one, a girl says to her mom about a crying baby, "That baby needs to nurse."

I'm still nursing my 31/2 year old. I recommend the book to mothers considering weaning before the age of two. It will give you the courage and motivation to continue and be happy about it.