Why Is My Toddler Still Nursing and What Do They Get From It?
If you’re nursing a toddler, you’ve probably heard it all.
“You’re still nursing?”
“But they eat food now!”
“Aren’t they too old for that?”
And maybe the classic: “If they can ask for it, they’re too old for it.”
Let’s pause and take a deep breath. Toddlers nurse for a lot of good reasons, and none of them are because you forgot to wean on time. In fact, there is no “on time.” Nursing into the toddler years is normal, healthy, and pretty common around the world. But that doesn’t mean it always feels easy. So let’s talk about why toddlers still nurse and what they actually get from it.
It’s Still Nutritious
Some people act like once a baby turns one, your milk suddenly turns into water. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Human milk continues to be full of nutrients, fats, and immune factors well beyond babyhood. Toddlers are growing fast, and sometimes they go through phases where they barely touch their dinner. Nursing can help fill in those gaps. Plus, when they’re sick or teething or just feeling a little off, human milk is often the one thing they’re willing to take.
So yes, even if your toddler ate three grapes and half a cracker today, your milk still counts. It matters. It helps.
It’s Comfort
Have you ever seen a toddler have a big emotion? Of course you have. Toddlers feel things with their whole bodies. A dropped banana slice can be a full-on tragedy.
Nursing can be a powerful tool for calming, connecting, and helping them reset. That doesn’t mean you have to nurse every time your toddler is upset; but for many parents, it’s one of the quickest ways to help a little one feel safe and loved again.
Rachel, a mother in the Group, shared this: “Sometimes I wonder if she’s really hungry or just bored or tired. But when she latches on, she melts into me and sighs like, ‘Finally, my person.’ I remind myself she won’t do this forever.”
It’s Connection
Nursing a toddler can feel different from nursing a baby. There are gymnastic moves. There are sudden requests in the middle of Target. There might even be some negotiations.
But there’s also a deep bond. For many toddlers, nursing is part of their connection to you. It’s a way to check in, touch base, and feel grounded. Some nurse a few times a day. Some nurse more. Some nurse less. It often changes week to week.
The world is big when you’re little. Nursing offers a familiar place to land.
It’s Normal
In the United States, we often see nursing as something just for babies. But globally, it’s very normal for children to nurse into toddlerhood and even beyond age two. The World Health Organization actually recommends breastfeeding for two years or longer, alongside solid foods.
You don’t need to nurse that long if it’s not right for you. But if it is right for you and your child, you are not alone. In fact, you’re in good company.
It’s Okay to Have Mixed Feelings
Let’s be real. Nursing a toddler is not always a serene, magical bonding experience. There are days when your skin feels touched out. There are days when your toddler asks to nurse at the worst possible time. There are days when you think, “Maybe I’m ready to be done.”
That’s okay.
You’re allowed to have complicated feelings. Nursing is a relationship, and like all relationships, it shifts and grows. Some days it feels easy. Some days it doesn’t. Give yourself space to feel what you feel.
You’re Doing a Good Job
If no one has told you this lately, let us be the first: you’re doing a good job.
Whether your toddler nurses ten times a day or just once before bed, whether you plan to keep going or are thinking about weaning soon, your journey matters. The connection you’ve built matters. Your milk matters.
You are not “still” nursing like you forgot to stop. You are continuing to nurse because it works for you and your child. And that’s something worth celebrating.
Want to talk more about nursing a toddler? You’re always welcome at a La Leche League meeting. Come swap stories, ask questions, and find support from others walking a similar path.
