How long to breast feed for?

[cocojo]

Hello, How long did you all breast feed for? my wee one is 9 months and am thinking i could stop breast feeds around a year.
Can't wait to burn these bloody nursing bras! but not sure if a year is too soon.
My eldst was bottle fed and I'm sure she stopped taking formla about then.
Any advice? x

[Wigeon]

I went for a year in the end because that way my DD could go onto cow's milk straight away, without having to go onto formula. Although didn't have a year as a particular "target" when she was born.

[organiccarrotcake]

DS1 15 months. He self weaned but I had cut him down to 1-2 feeds a day.

DS2 planning to go to natural term, hoping for 2-3 years+ as he's dairy intolerant and can't have cow's milk (currently having to avoid it myself).

[thisisyesterday]

ds1- 6 months ish

ds2- 16 months

ds3- 18 months and hasn't stopped yet!

[Maternelle]

dd - 14 months
ds - 26 months

[Wigeon]

Looks like the only overall advice from posts on this thread has got to be "depends on the individual mother and the individual baby"!

[PureAsTheDrivenShow]

DD self weaned at 3yrs 4 months.

You do what is right for you and your baby.

Well done.

[rubyslippers]

Ah, now I thought I would stop at 6 months, then a year, and now DD is 15 months

Am now thinking she will be 2 probably!

[Groovymoves]

DS 6 months
DD 21 months and still going.

BTW by 9 months I gave up on nursing bras and converted normal ones into feeding bras. There's a kit you can by, I'm crap at links so just google feeding bra converting kit or something similar!

[muddleduck]

Can't you use normal bras now?

From 12 months I just did one bed time feed. Was a good compromise for us.

[organiccarrotcake]

Although interesting that often subsequent babies nurse for longer than earlier babies as if the benefits become apparent with experience, and perhaps the confidence too.

Before I was pregnant with DS1 I didn't even know it was POSSIBLE, or OK to BF after 6 months. And when I learnt it was, it seemed gross to BF over a year but now I think it's odd to give another species' milk to my babies.

I also give EBM to my 6yo BTW.

But it's a very personal decision with no rights or wrongs.

[organiccarrotcake]

Try Hot Milk bras for an example of pretty nursing bras.

[Igglystuffedfullofturkey]

DS is14 months and still going. He can't have cows milk or soya so no chance of stopping anytime soon... I don't mind TBH. We feed 3-4 times a day when I'm home, less when I'm at work.

[Caz10]

DD 3yrs and still going, I originally was aiming for 1, then 2...!

BUT - never used nursing bras after about 10-12mths-ish, and was down to just 2-3 feeds a day after a year, now 1-2 a day and that's not even every day.

So if you feel like going for longer and so does your wee one, don't worry that it will be the same as it is now!

[Babieseverywhere]

DD1 - 4.3 years still going (only once in the evening)

DS - 2.3 years still going (total milk monster more so since arrival of DD2)

DD2 - Three months just started

...and breath

[KristinaM]

DS1 15 months
DS2 3.5 years

[BrandyButterPie]

I used normal underwired bras from 9m. DD2 is a total milk monster at 12.5 mo- she gets all excited when she knows she will be getting milk :)

[BertieBottlesOfMulledWine]

DS is still feeding and he is 2.2

But you should do what's right for you - if you want to stop at age 1, that's great, if you want to carry on, that's great too :)

[fourisfine]

As long as you like! :)

And as you will be saving about £500.00 per year on formula you can justify buying nice nursing bras :)

dd1 13 months
dd2 18 months
ds1 2 years 8 months
ds2 16 months and counting... ds1 and ds2 tandem fed :)

[cocojo]

Thank you all for your replys, lots of good advice. Much appreciated. x

[SirBoobAlot]

We're at 13 months so far. Imagine we'll get to about 2 years, unless DS looses interested (not bloody likely) or I loose my rag before then

There is no right or wrong length of time, it has to be an individual choice for mum and child.

[SirBoobAlot]

Though FWIW, I always thought "I'll get to a year and then stop". Then when DS turned a year, he was (and is) still such a milk monster, it would have been pointless to try and stop. Guess you kind of have to go with the flow!

[ohanotherone]

Three and a half years, but wore underwired bras after 12 months!!!!!

[solo]

Ds was 18 months, Dd fast approaching 4 years...it's been good for them :) and I'm happy doing it most of the time...do get grumpy with it sometimes, but Dd still loves it, so...

[moonstorm]

For those of you with normal underwired bras... How do you feed easily (drop the cup down) when out and about???