Start to Stop Toddler Breastfeeding

"Nervous System" talk is definitely in the parenting ziegist. It's something I talk a lot about, and it's a corner stone to my approach for coaching and supporting families. AND - I have seen how the way it is often framed and discussed in the parenting space can actually *backfire* and leave you feeling worse than when you started. In this episode, I highlight 3 different beli...

Hey friends, I'm back behind the mic and easing into a new season with a heartfelt episode on a topic that might seem a little odd - how grief is an important part of breastfeeding boundaries. In this episode, I open up about the emotional undercurrents we face in transitions—from weaning and toddler boundaries to unexpected life moments that stir up deep feelings. Grief shows up in subtle an...

Are you nervous about your next holiday get-together, worrying about unsolicited comments about your breastfeeding toddler?  Myths and misconceptions abound when it comes to breastfeeding - and for some reason, there are people who feel they have a right to comment on your parenting.  But have no fear!  I've got you.  In this episode, we’re busting common myths about breastfeeding beyond the...

Natasha was rocked when the breastfeeding relationship she loved so much became something she felt she had to white knuckle to endure.  Using compassion, curiosity, and creativity Natasha transformed her breastfeeding relationship with her 3 year old son, night-weaned and created a rhythm that works for both of them (and her baby!).  If you have been lonely in your breastfeeding challenges, curiou...

The word "Gentle" can be really divisive in the parenting world these days. I've used that word a LOT to describe the way that I approach and support breastfeeding families to set boundaries and even wean.  But I don't mean it in the way you might think. In this podcast episode, I unpack what I mean by "gentle" and the 3 different areas in which gentle boundaries and...

If you are feeling at the end of your rope with your breastfeeding toddler - this episode is for you.  I break down 4 steps to creating your own action plan to find ease in your breastfeeding relationship that WILL help to:  Stop the continual meltdowns Support your child to be able to tolerate the word "no"  Get your butt unglued from your couch (where your toddler always demands you si...

In this episode, Sex Educator, Alisha Lunsford, and I explore the crucial body safety rules every child should know by age five so that you can feel equipped with the tools needed to foster confidence and autonomy in your kids. We cover modeling consent, trusting intuition, managing tricky situations, and much more. You can grab the free PDF summary of the top 5 rules here. Remember:  Start the co...

I'm back! It's been a hot minute since I've posted a new episode, but I am here! I'm also working on new content and resources - let me know what you want to hear about here. As I have been navigating diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from a number of health issues while also serving breastfeeding toddler families, I have noticed a few parallels between my own path to health,...

This week I'm answering a coaching call question from an extended breastfeeding mom: " My toddler often doesn't accept dad at night when she wakes up crying. I am and have always been the preferred parent.  I have just found out about a work trip I need to take which will have me away from my 2-year-old overnight for the first time.  Typically, I feed her to sleep and to resettle th...

**SUBMIT YOUR Q FOR ME TO ANSWER IN FUTURE EPISODES** In this week's episode of Start to Stop Toddler Breastfeeding, I'm answering a question I received from a student in Own Your Breastfeeding Story.  "How can I encourage my 2 year old to settle down when he is on the bed with us?  We cosleep and most of the time especially in the morning when he wakes up, after he nurses from me,...

**AUDIO FIXED** Breastfeeding a toddler and a newborn... at the same time -> most people in the Western world think this is crazy.  And yet, I breastfed 2 kids (of different ages) for 3.5 years, and I hear from listeners all the time who are either doing it or considering it.  But, just like most things "extended breastfeeding" there aren't many places to find support when you st...

Finding out you are pregnant is a complex at the best of times.   Having concerns about safety for you and your growing baby, finding your life impacted in ways you never would have expected, and feeling emotions you didn't know were possible (thank you hormones!) are all normal things in pregnancy - but there is an added layer of concern and change when you conceive while you are currently b...

Trying to understand your fertility while you are breastfeeding your toddler is an uphill battle.  Sure - Google abounds with tips & information about conception and contraception, but less so about conception and contraception while you are breastfeeding... and finding support for making sense of those things while you are breastfeeding a TODDLER?!  ...virtually impossible.  But, have no fear...

Have you ever felt the pressure of setting specific breastfeeding goals? I know I have!  In the beginning, I felt like I had to have these concrete goals because, let's face it, everyone asks! But guess what? Once you are actually "in it" - things shift and change day-to-day and all of that concrete thinking feels a whole lot more abstract.  In this episode, I share my journey from...

Welcome to episode three of this Behind the Scenes series!  In this candid conversation, I'm opening up about my mental health journey, embracing the highs and lows of anxiety, and depression, and sharing how it all ties into my experience with nursing aversion.  This episode isn't just about my journey; it's an invitation to explore the intersection of mental health, motherhood - a...

Tune into this episode to hear about sleep, boundaries, and more in my home right now. Ever wonder what life might look like if you were breastfeeding a 4 year old? Apparently, a lot of you have! Hundreds of you were curious about my current breastfeeding experience.  So, I decided to break down what it's like to breastfeed my 4-year-old. I know it sounds like the title of a click-bait articl...

If you have longed for a "me too," or an "I get it" for the times when parenting feels like you are just doing what you can to survive the day - this is the episode for you. 2023 was a crazy ride for me.  Launching this podcast was incredible, but a lot was going on behind the scenes - including health struggles for me, which led to a lot of "survival mode parenting"....

The shirt-pulling, screaming, and demands to breastfeed have gotten to the point that you find yourself dreading them before your toddler has even thought about breastfeeding again. When they do, inevitably "ask" to breastfeed, the fear of reinforcing all of their bad behaviors reverberates through your body as you quickly try to decide if you will hold the boundary; or give in to their...

Breastfeeding & weaning your toddler with confidence and connection isn't impossible.  But the reason it feels that way (at least some of the time) isn't your fault.  In today's podcast episode I break down the first of 3 cultural traps that keep you stuck and frustrated on your natural term breastfeeding & toddler weaning journey. (The other 2 are available in my free insta...

"They swarm me whenever I sit down and will SCREAM until I breastfeed them - and then they are off to play.  They never want snuggle without breastfeeding.  I feel like all I am is a milk machine."  <- Have you ever had these thoughts? I know I have! This week I challenge the cultural narrative that we are only milk machines, unpack the ways that this belief impacts our moment-by-mome...

Lactation support for newborns is hard enough to come by - but when I decided to focus on toddler breastfeeding there was NO one to look too and say "ah, that's how it's done!"  So, there was (a lot of) trial & error as I worked to create some kind of support that WORKED to help toddler breastfeeding families get unstuck from the loop of boundary burnout and thrive in their...

Hands up if you have gone back & forth about whether or not you should wean your breastfeeding toddler?! 🙋‍♀️ It makes sense - and trust me, you are NOT alone.  (It's one of the most common dilemmas "extended" breastfeeding moms face.)  In this episode, I offer you an alternative to the "to wean or not to wean" conundrum that will have you feeling hopeful and empowere...

In this episode, I discuss the challenges of weaning your booby-obsessed toddler when they're not quite ready to stop breastfeeding. I explore the role of internal experiences, stress, and co-regulation in this process. Key Points: You Can't Magically Make Them Ready: Unfortunately, you can't instantly make your toddler ready to wean - no matter how badly you might want to! It'...

Who knew you would be longing for the early days of breastfeeding again a year or two don't the road? It seems to get MORE complicated the further along you go - and the big reason for this? Really terrible advice, from (often) really well-meaning people!  In this week's podcast episode I am breaking down the 3 different types of toddler breastfeeding "advice" I see out in the...

Breastfeeding on demand is recommended by leading health & breastfeeding organizations around the world, but what happens when your little one isn't so little anymore?   Is there an age where you should stop offering breastmilk anytime your child asks?  And if there is - what are you supposed to do after it?  In this podcast episode, I break down:  What on-demand breastfeeding is Why it&a...