My Tandem Feeding And Weaning Story – I got pregnant while breastfeeding my 2-year-old child, Amaria. It’s ok to breastfeed throughout a new pregnancy if your doctor tells you that it’s safe. In my case, I didn’t experience contractions or any threat to my pregnancy so I opted to continue breastfeeding Amaria. Besides, she has shown absolutely no signs of weaning yet. This is my tandem feeding and weaning story.

Beginnings
After I had my new baby Mariana, I also decided to continue to nurse my toddler along with my newborn.
Breastfeeding siblings that aren’t twins is called tandem feeding.So here we go! The tandem feeding journey began and I must say, nursing a toddler and a newborn is such a special situation, and it wasn’t easy at all.

The job was so demanding, the milk production should be continuously running on a seriously high level! They nurse at different times because it was difficult for me to hold them both and nurse simultaneously. They took a lot of my time and boy, it was really exhausting!
Yes, breastfeeding a toddler and a newborn can be tiring, but it was also such a rewarding experience. I was blessed to have enough milk for them to share and I am really happy to nourish them with THE ONLY BEST MILK a child could ever have.
Tandem weaning is not so hard!
As expected, we all got the hang of it eventually. Amaria learned to wait for her turn because she knew that the baby is the priority when it comes to feeding, especially at bedtime. The baby on the other hand couldn’t care less, when she’s hungry, she is hungry. Of course, we all know that.
I felt so fulfilled as a mother knowing that both my children are getting all the nutrition that they need from my breast milk. Despite the struggles and hardships, I have been experiencing since there were two kids feeding on my always swollen, overused breasts, I chose to continue nursing both my children for as long as they want to.

Then, like magic, Amaria fell asleep without nursing one night! It wasn’t something I expected so I told my husband and my mom about it the next morning. Then, she started to only ask for “dede” once a day, like when she’s sleepy for example. That went on for probably about 6 months. Then she would fall asleep without asking for breast milk again. Then she forgot to ask again the next day. And the next.
Amaria happily fell asleep without mentioning breast milk for a week. I was so sure it was the beginning of the end. Occasionally she would ask, but I would suggest snuggling to sleep instead which sometimes she would accept and sometimes not. She didnβt ask again for a week. We nursed before her 4th birthday and after that, WE WERE DONE.

Not a baby anymore
Every child eventually weans. You do not need to impose weaning on your child. Though many mothers choose to do so when there’s a need for it like they need to be away for work or some because they tire of breastfeeding before their children do. Mother-led weaning is certainly a valid choice. But so is child-led weaning.
Before I had a child, I didn’t actually know what extended breastfeeding meant but I was so sure I would stop breastfeeding when she’s at least 2 years old. That was my goal. I reached 4 years with my firstborn, why do I feel displeased or discontented? It was like, after waiting for this day to happen, suddenly, I wasn’t ready for her to wean after all.
It hit me… She is not a baby anymore. The realization made me sad. She made her own decision of weaning off after 1,460 days of purely breastfeeding. She gave it up.
Just. Like. That.
She seems just fine with her decision, but I must admit I’ve been struggling. Please, someone tell me I’m not alone! While I thought I would be happy to stop breastfeeding, it’s proving to be more difficult than I thought it would be. It’s funny that I started to look through her baby pictures on my phone and feel very emotional for the baby she no longer was. Amaria may be 20kgs now but I will hang onto the idea of her still being my baby.
Conclusion of my tandem feeding and weaning story
Breastmilk is FREE and very healthy! That’s the reason my husband has been really supportive of my tandem feeding journey and I really appreciate him for that.
I usually have no trouble mentioning that both of my kids, ages 1 and 4 were still nursing. Iβm surrounded by many amazing parents who support full-term breastfeeding. <3
I feel lucky to have been supported by a wonderful network of family, friends (offline and online) who are very supportive of breastfeeding. I nursed in public for years (but never without a nursing cover) and never received a single negative comment from anyone (well, not that I heard of). People even gave me positive comments and appreciations saying that more moms should be like me. I was never questioned about my breastfeeding relationship with my children, I only became a serious advocate of breastfeeding.
It feels like I was wearing an invisible momma crown for successfully pulling off my breastfeeding journey with my children and I felt really proud and fulfilled.

I know not all mamas have such a positive experience as mine. Some are regularly questioned or judged by strangers (or worst, even family members and friends) about breastfeeding and nursing beyond infancy. If you are feeling unsupported in your decision to continue to breastfeed, find a community of mothers, in person or online (you can always DM me!), who has your back. We should #NormalizeBreastfeeding because #BreastmilkIsBestMilk <3

The weeks have passed and I have come to realize that no matter how old my precious girl gets, she will always be my baby. That won’t change just because I’m no longer breastfeeding her.
Our breastfeeding journey started off bumpy. Just like most first time moms, my milk supply wasn’t so much during our first month. But I persevered and I was so motivated to breastfeed her no matter what. And with a lot of hard work, Mega-Malunggay capsules, lactation drinks, snacks, and water, it became the best part of my #momlife.

Despite the aching back and swollen nipples, I am so grateful that we had this special time, special bonding and connection while breastfeeding. I am still happy that she was able to make the decision to self-wean and stop on her own terms. I feel blessed to be able to offer her this gift. And I swear I would do it all over again if I had the choice.
Love,
Momma Nish
I heard a lot of stories about how Mother feels when their child start weaning…as for me just before i gor pregnant im already decided na mag BF ako but then didnt expect it na magiging twins sila so my mother advices me to mixed feed them since alam niyang mahihirapan ako..she knew na walang tutulong sakin dahil matanda na di mga in laws ko so si hubby and me lang talaga nakatuka sa pag aalaga.Sobrang hirap and challenging talaga mag pa BF lalonna twins di ko kayang pagsabayin sila dahil natatakot ako on how the right position to hold them kaya ginagawa ko i pump while the other one is latching..alternate…I thought by the age of 1 mejo aayaw na sila since mejo mahina nadin ang milk ko but then feeling ko mas lalong nagiging clingy up until now na turning 2 na sila.Nakakapagod talaga siya but i kept on telling myself na this is for them its its their own good..Kahit minsan sobrang sakit na ng katawan ko lalo na minsan nakadagan sila pareho sakin at minsan nagaaway pa dahil ayaw magsabay mag latch ..Maraming beses na kong gustong sumuko pero dahil sa mga BF moms advocate like you Mommy mas lalo ako naiinspire at pinupush ang sarili ko. Breastfeeding really takes a lot of patience and hardwork kaya naman saludo ako sa mga BF moms π
Grabe your story is so inspiring, mommy! I know we all do the best we can for them pero totoo naman may times na parang gusto na natin sumuko sa hirap! Haha! I am happy successful din ang breastfeeding story mo mommy Sarah. Salute to all breastfeeding moms talaga.
Kudos Mommy! I still bf din my 2yrs old daughter while pregnant kay bunso, actually i just can’t help it when she cries na begging for my milk. I found out na dahil sa subchorionic hemorrhage ay unti nalang kapit ni bunso so i did my best para ma save ang pregnancy ko. Malakas naman kumain si ate but then dede padin talaga siya e. I was advised to stop bfing, may ilang days na pasaglit saglit lang siya dede para makasleep til nairaos ko naman panganak kay bunso . And my dream na makapag tandem-feeding ako , yes! di pala madali, fulfilling pero mahirap . Glad that supportive talaga si hubby. Til now for comfort nalang pag dede si 5yrs old. I believe din na iba iba ang kids kapag weaning na. Breastfeeding my bunso na 3yrs old na now at ate nya na 5. We’re all doing great . I’m happy di ko sinukuan at malaking bagay na di sila sakitin, masigla at happy kids.
Totoo yung fulfilling pero mahirap! Weare lucky to have supportive husbands beside us. Breastfeeding talaga ang primary reason why our kids are healthy at masigla, I agree to that. π
Wow nakakainspire naman ang BF journey mo momsh .. sana all hehe ako kasi sa 2 children ko same 3 months lang napa BF dahil need ko na bumalik sa work at tapos na ang maternity leave.sana kung magkaka anak ako ulit magawa ko rin yung ginagawa mong dedication as padede mom para naman maging masigla at happy si baby .. π im so proud of you momsh at sa lahat ng padede mommy πππ
You can do it mommy! Determination din talaga kasi seriously mahirap pero because we love them kinakaya natin lahat. π
Nakakainspired naman po Mommy Nish and inyong BF journey with bebegirl Amaria and Mariana.π I have a twins mommy Nish and I breastfed them for almost 3years. It’s really hard Mommy lalo na po nun mga baby PA po sila sabay silang iiyak so sabay ko rin po silang papadedein. Nakakangalay, nakakangawit on my part but because we love our kids we can do anything for them. Because breastmilk is the only best milk for them.π
Waah! Tandem feeding is such a challenge pero I think feeding twins is a lot difficult! Saludo ako sayo mommy!