To ask when you gave up breastfeeding?

[pestov]

DD is rapidly approaching 6 months, and after 5 weeks of mixed feeding hell at the beginning thanks to a missed tongue tie, exclusively breastfed. I had always said before I had her that I'd do the 6 months breastfeeding, then switch to bottles, but am second guessing myself. When and why did you give up? Is there any point in moving to formula when breastfeeding is going so well?

[Katedotness1963]

A year with my first, almost two years with my youngest. Gave up when they were ready to.

[ceebie]

I stopped at 10 or 11 months with both mine, when I went back to work. If it's working for you, why change? Anyway, DD absolutely completely totally refused to take any kind of milk out of any kind of receptacle, so just as well I was happy breastfeeding!

[MarcelineTheVampire]

I'm still going at nearly 8 months- DD refuses formula when we have tried to give it to her and even expressed milk now, out of any form of cup/bottle...

I had only planned to do it for first 6 months but I'm happy, she's happy so why rock the boat.

[Thefitfatty]

6 weeks with DS. Never started with DD.

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

We stopped at 2 years

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

Sorry, posted too soon. Having got to 6 months, stopping just seemed too much effort. He loved it so much & it was instant comfort anytime anything was wrong

[alltouchedout]

2 years, 2.5 years, not stopped with ds3 yet who is 20 months.
Gave up because I wanted to. They would happily have carried on for ages, especially ds2 who was still wistfully asking about 'the milk' aged almost 5. But I was done.
I'd like to give up with ds3 tbh but he's not having any of it and I just don't have it in me atm (school holidays, new job starting next week with increased hours and travel, dh stressed to fuck) to go through the screeching that a forced wean would mean.

[Unthoughtknown]

5.5 months...mixed fed from 2 months ish

[JaceLancs]

DD 11 months DS 9 months - they just fed less and less and therefore my supply dried up

[Binglesplodge]

Still feeding at 20 months: after the first 6 weeks or so I haven't had any problems and so haven't seen the need to stop, especially as he had terrible reflux and feeding brought a lot of comfort. Now he just likes it for going to sleep or if he's feeling out of sorts.

I'm aware there's no way to ask this without sounding judgy or goady and I swear I don't mean to be either: please don't feel you have to answer but I've always wondered what makes people stop breastfeeding at 6 months if it's working for them? By that age I certainly would have found it a lot less effort and expense than making and washing bottles.

[WhyShouldYou]

3 years with dd1 but still for comfort on occasion when very upset (she is now nearly 5).
2 years so far with ds1.
Very tying. Very tiring. But it feels right.

Did you know that when your child is ill, something passes from them to you through your breast skin, and you develop antibodies which then pass back to your child so they can more rapidly become well again. Bottles can't do that - and a million other things.

[witsender]

Why do you want to switch?

I never bothered, they both self weaned. One at about 21 months, the other at just gone 3.

[MarcelineTheVampire]

Bing sorry I know your question was to OP but just wanted to tell you my thought process- I thought about giving up at 6 months because that's when the risk of SIDS is lowered. However, for all the reasons you have described is why I have carried on. My thought process was before I had her and when I first started and needed an end date as I was so tired.

[RubbleBubble00]

6 months maybe 7. I'd established well on solids and cut feeds

[dlwelly]

9 months. It wasn't enjoyable, DD would rip off me and turn her head to be nosy when we were out and about so wouldn't have a proper feed in the day (and would make up for it with lots of feeds at night) so I weaned her gradually then.

I went back to work soon after so needed her to get used to formula anyway for when if be away. I miss it sometimes (even though I never liked it at the end) and know that I could settle her with it now if she's overtired but we're doing ok.

If it's working for you carry on and your supply will be established now so if you wanted to replace some feeds with bottles and carry on breastfeeding at bedtime/in the night then you could do that.

[DartmoorDoughnut]

Last week when we were on hols, noticed he wasn't that bothered and as I'm pregnant it was hurting so have it a go and am now free! He's 22 months

[BringingYoniBack]

3 days. It's really about what you want, not other people.

[Felyne]

DC1 26 months, stopped as I was pregnant and it was just too painful, although after baby was born I did express milk for DC1. DC2 3 years.
I'm really proud of myself because I did not find it easy in the beginning.

[Mouthfulofquiz]

15 months with DS 1 as I was in hospital for a few days, 13 months with DS2 as he stopped being bothered about it, and going strong with DS3 who is three months old. I'll stop when he wants basically. I'm lucky in that I find it easy and very convenient.

[FankEweVeryMuch]

4 months
7 months
13 months
8 months.

DC3 was a bottle refuser hence the 13 months.

With the other three I slowly switched, introducing one bottle, then two etc. until all feeds were formula.

[TheABC]

2 years - it was just a nice cuddle time for us by the end as DS was munching his way through three meals a day. Gave up as milk dried up due to pregnancy.

It's honestly up to you, but you might find it easier to skip the bottles and go straight to sippy cups as you are likely to introduce food soon (if you have not already?).

[Owlytellsmesecrets]

DS1 was 16 months and he self weaned as I was pg with DS2 and I think it tasted funny. DS2 was about 1 week then expressed for 8 weeks. He was a failure to thrive baby and had no suck, swallow, breathe reflex so mixed fed BM and infatrini down an NG.
DD1 again self weaned at 16 months!

[SovietKitsch]

14 months, 12 months and still going at nearly 2 for DC3 - she's not keen on quitting, and I haven't got the energy to make her at the moment, her days are numbered though!

[kiwiscantfly]

15 mo with DD1 and 14 with DD2.

[HelenaJustina]

I fed all mine to over a year. They take fewer feeds as they up their solid intake and by 11 months they were all down to just one last cuddly feed at bedtime.

After the age of 12 months children should not need any supplementary milk in their diet as their requirements should be met through a healthy balanced diet.