Bf a 7 1/2 month old - am I the only one?!

[ExBrightonBell]

So, I met up with my NCT group yesterday and discovered that I am the only one who is "still" breastfeeding on demand during the day. Our babies are all between 7 1/2 and 9 months old. The ones who are bf are feeding morning and evening (and maybe through the night, I don't know the details), but during the day their babies are having formula or water with meals.

They all seem very keen to stop bf completely and I felt like a complete freak when I sat and bf my ds after lunch! One of them even asked me how I had the time to bf as well as doing meals during the day.

Is it really so unusual to still be feeding on demand during the day at 7 1/2 months? I also don't really care about cutting down on the number of feeds either.

My ds is a bit rubbish at drinking water from a cup, although he is getting better. But there's no way at the moment that he would be getting enough hydration without bf-ing as well.

I suppose I'm just asking for opinions on whether I'm really that out of step with other people?

[mrscog]

No - my DS is 1 next week and I still demand feed in the day. He does only demand 1-2 feeds though (plus first thing in am). He also has water with meals. Don't feel like a freak - tons of people still bf beyond 6mo.

[ExBrightonBell]

Thanks mrscog - I wish I knew some of them!

[kayty]

Not unusual at all, you carry on! My DD didn't really drink anything except BM until after she was one - despite offers of water etc. I didn't cut down on feeds either (despite those who seemed to have a problem with it) although as she got nearer one I tried to distract her until after meal times. At 7 1/2 months I don't remember any difference to 5 1/2 months to be honest!

[belindarose]

My DS is the same age and the thought of stopping hasn't even crossed my mind. He loves it. It's just what we do.

[rockinhippy]

Agree it not unusual at all, I carried on until 10 months old, even expressing so my DH could feed DD whilst I was at work & I stopped quite early in comparison to other new mums around me at the time - as has been said, you are doing the right thing for your baby, nit all can, but you obviously can, so carry on until you are ready & don't be made to feel you are doing anything wrong, you most certainly aren't

[OddFrog]

7 1/2 months is still just tiny. Totally normal and healthy to bf on demand! And quite lovely too IMO. Keep it up and do what your baby needs/likes for as long as you want.

[ExBrightonBell]

Thanks for all the reassurance that I'm not an extreme lentil-weaver!

I am fortunate in that I am not going back to work until ds is 11 months, so I'm not stressing about how he'll cope in childcare yet.

[PotteringAlong]

Nope, I still Breastfeed my DS - he's 15 months

[Indith]

My 11 month old currently clamped to my breast :)

He feeds on demand and also has water with meals. When he starts childcare soon he will have water there and bf on demand when he is with me so evenings and weekend.

[WantAnOrange]

I think the WHO recommend that breastmilk as the main food for the first year of a child's life. If not breastmilk, then formula is the next best thing. Weaning should be a gradual process, and I think being relient on 3 meals a day instead of milk at just 7months is quite unusual. To much water is actually bad for babies as it can reduce their milk intake, which provide both hydration and everything else.

If they are one small group of mummies that tend to agree with each other then its probably not very balanced view of what people are doing in general. Groups tend to follow each other...

[blackcurrants]

nah, I didn't stop bfing DS 1 till he was 20 months! honestly, I thought we got till they were walking before we were weirdos!

[blackcurrants]

nah, I didn't stop bfing DS 1 till he was 20 months! honestly, I thought we got till they were walking before we were weirdos!

[lolalotta]

Take no notice, I BF my DD until she was 2.1yrs, she had cut down to only morning and bedtime by then though! I just took the lead from her, seemed to muddle through ok!

[Chottie]

Nope, I breast fed both my DC until they were 9 months old. Don't listen to anyone else you and your PFB know what is right for you both

[MikeOxardAndWellard]

Ds is 7.5 months and still bf on demand. Dd did too until she self weaned at 22 months. I have quite a few friends who did the same, and some who ff.

[TeaandHobnobs]

Still BFing 10mo DS, and intending to continue - he is going to nursery when he turns 1 for three days a week, so I hope to switch to cows milk at that point, and express for a bit to cover the overlap if he doesn't take to it straight away.
However I have noticed his appetite for food has increased in the last two weeks or so, and that he doesn't ask for milk much, it is more that I am giving it to him (although he is more than capable of refusing if he doesn't want it). Due to being out on my own recently on a Sunday morning, he went 7:30am to 2:30pm without any milk (except some on his breakfast cereal) and was totally not bothered about it.

The BFers I know who have moved on to formula have generally only done so in preparation for returning to work/starting childcare, and are mostly intending to continue feeding evening/overnight/morning.

You are definitely not alone, although I know how it does feel that way sometimes!!

[kohl]

Nope-still bf 2.6 DD morning and evening. 7m is tiny still, enjoy all the lovely bf cuddles!

[MrsHoarder]

DS still bf at 9.5 months. He has expressed bm in a cup with I'm out now. We try to get him to have water as well, but he flings it around the kitchen. See no reason to stop for a good while yet.

[peacefuleasyfeeling]

Ow, don't take it to heart. You are not on your own at all. All bar one of the women in my ante natal group bfed on demand past the age of 2, some are now tandem feeding todders and 2nd babies (and no lentil-weavers there, just ordinary professional women). DD fed pretty much on demand, apart from when I was at work, until she was 31 months when my milk dried up on account of being pregnant again.
Align yourself to like-minded group of women in your area, find them through your local LLL group, perhaps. And do go on enjoying feeding your baby in the way she loves to be fed.

[mamapants]

My LO is 7.5 mths and a few of the mums in baby group have said their LO were down to 2 feeds by 7 or 8 months old. My LO is fed on demand which is normally every 3 hrs but sometimes less and has feeds during night. He is showing no sign of going longer between feeds or dropping one. He doesn't eat very much solids yet to be honest. But there are other mums whose little ones have huge appetites but still drinking as much milk as ever.
So no you aren't the only one. I find it quite funny though when people are impressed I'm still bf as once you've got the hang of it I think its the easy option.

[flipflopson5thavenue]

i'm still bfing 7 mo DS on demand day and night, and dont want to stop til he's at least 1. Am only one in NCT group still doing this.

Am also only one doing BLW, other babies all on three meals a day. The only other lady in the group who EBFd, asked me the other day when I was going to stop as she is going to switch to formula. I told her no time soon and she looked at me very oddly

DS loves it, I love feeding him, its good for him and good for me. Why on earth would we stop?

I agree it does feel strange being the odd one out sometimes but you should be proud of yourself.

[CommanderShepard]

Our group range from 9 - 11 months and of the 6 of us 3 are breastfeeding - so you aren't alone I promise!