Breastfeeding Three Toddlers!

So this post has been a work in progress for almost a month now but oh well...

I wanted to do an updated post on how breastfeeding is going now that our triplets are officially toddlers! I originally just wanted to breastfeed them for as long as I could because I didn't want to set any goals that I couldn't reach. As they got older, I slowly realized that I could do this and I must just be made to nurse! So when they were around 9 months old I started doing research on extended breastfeeding and benefits as well as just logistical ideas and how to do food/drink after they turned one.

WHO, the World Health Organization, actually is now recommending breastfeeding until 2 years old as opposed to just 1 like it used to be. Im happy that it is becoming more normal to do this as I really do think it is important and love the bond I have with my babies!

I have chosen to let them self-wean which basically means that I will let them choose when they want to stop. I will eventually set boundaries and limit the amount if they are still going strong after 2. For now, my milk is their main form of dairy so I do not have to introduce whole milk yet. They nurse at least 4 times a day and sometimes 5. They nurse when they wake up, before naps, and before bed, although I do not nurse them to sleep. Owen is definitely the most connected to it and goes the longest and asks the most often.

I tink he is really the only one that wants to nurse more than the four times but if the others see him thats when they want to as well. Evelyn asks to nurse sometimes if she's upset or really tired.

The way we nurse now is a bit different than before as they can be more patient and it isn't their only form of nutrition anymore. Owen is always the first to wake in the morning so he gets some one on one nursing and cuddling and then Evelyn and Declan get fed as they wake and if they are up at the same time, I tandem.

At night we always have the same routine which I will do another post on, but after reading books I tanden Evelyn and Declan while Owen just hangs out a bit longer. I put them down and they fall asleep quickly. Then Owen gets his turn as he needs a bit more one-on-one time at night to nurse and wind down before he can fall asleep.

With naps, it really depends. A lot of times I will feed one before we even go into their room because they need it and then just tandem the other two once in the room. If I have help, I will feed one at a time while the others are getting changed and read to, and sometimes I do it like our night routine. They only nurse for about 5 minutes at naps and maybe 7-10 morning and night.