Breastfeeding beyond a year - who has done it?

[octanegirl]

I initially thought I'd only do the 1st 6 months. I then decided to go till he's a year old and am now thinking of going even longer than that. Unless he decides he doesn't want it any more. He is eating 2/3 meals per day now but still gets 4 BFs, almost 8 months old.

What about you guys? People seem very surprised that I'm still BFing him now, I imagine I'm going to get odd attitudes the longer I go on. Even other parents say "Still"when I tell them he still BFs.

Are teeth an issue? Not got any yet!

[WinkyWinkola]

I have bf'd my lot up until the age of 2. I get a bit cheesed off with it by then.

Ds3 is 1 now and I'm fine but I know that in a year, I'll've had enough of it and he'll have had a good dose of bm.

Teeth or gums - both can give a hard bite. I scream and the child looks horrified and doesn't bite again.

I just tell people I do it because I've read the scientific studies. And then I don't really engage any more with negative opinions on it. Who cares what other people think. You do what you feel is best.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Never had any problems with teeth either.

Initially I thought I'd try bfing and see how it went, then when I'd done it for a while I thought I'd go to six months. Once I'd got to that point I couldn't see the point in doing bottles when bfing was so convenient so I just carried on. For us it was the right decision.

If you do continue, think you need to develop a thick skin and get done replies ready. Smiling and saying "it works for us as a family" and just repeating ad infinitum worked as does just saying that you are following the WHO guidlelines which are to bf for a minimum of 2 years...

[Snazzyenjoyingsummer]

I did, and like you I wanted to get to 6 months, and then I just thought I would go on with it as long as it worked. However, the frequency dropped down quite a bit. Once DS was in childcare I expressed for a few months but then dropped to just bfing morning and evening with formula in between (this was around 10/11 months old. Continued with that until the last few months before his 2nd birthday, and that was because DS started refusing and it became clear he'd had enough.

Teeth - he did have a phase of biting but taking him off every time he did it put a stop to that. Then he was fine again.

I did keep it fairly quiet though other than with family and close friends as I had the same reaction as you from some people.

[Tieni]

DS self-weaned at 12 months but DD has kept going; we are just stopping at 16.5 months because my nipples can't take any more biting (lots of teeth coming all at once) but teeth were never an issue with DS who only got one tooth at a time.

Just keep going until one or both of you are ready to stop, don't worry what anyone else thinks.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have you read bfing after the first year OP?

[TwasBrillig]

I'd always assumed most people went to a year (why start on formula when you've got bf established and over the hard bit?!). However it was only after I was past a year that I realised this wasn't universal. At a year you can go onto cows milk to supplement so you never need to make bottles!

[scoobydooagain]

My plan was 6 weeks which changed to 3 years 4 months! I stopped as I was fed up, ds would have happily continued, I think I went about a year too long for me.

[Bythebeach]

Had no plans to breastfeed over 6 months DS1 was not impressed and v distressed with bottle..investigated and could see no reason not to carry bf on and nutritional, emotional and immunological benefit....went to 30 odd months but last 6 months v occasional. DS2 for 21 months when he self-weaned. DS3 10 months going strong.....I felt very weird and self conscious with DS1 as no one in my antenatal group went past 7 months but actually it's the most natural thing in the world...

[fivepies]

Hi, I'm feeding DD1, she's 2 and still asks for a feed once a day or so (more if she's feeling under the weather). Teeth haven't been a problem.
I've found that people stop asking about feeding after a year or earlier, simply because they assume you've stopped.
People ask me if I'm 'still' feeding DD2 (6 months old) and I always want to say that I'm feeding both but can't always be bothered with their reactions!
Do what suits you, your DS will tell you if he's ready to stop feeding.

[LaVitaBellissima]

I did a year and a week with twins, they would of happily carried on but I was starting to resent having to do every bedtime etc and wanted a bit of freedom back. BF for me was a great experience and I felt I stopped at the right time for me. You should carry on as long as you want to

[TeaandHobnobs]

I'm still feeding DS at 16m, just morning and evening now. We started cutting down when I went back to work at 1yr - initially I continued feeding during the day on my days off (I work 3 days/week), but I soon I didn't really like feeding so much, and really felt the need to cut down.
I've felt for a few months like I want to stop, but I didn't feel DD was ready to stop. Now he isn't so reliant on it, and we do skip the odd feed here and there, so I think I could now wind down to stopping entirely, without upsetting him too much.

I originally intended to feed for at least two years, but I don't think I was prepared for how I might feel about it.

He got his first teeth at 11m, we are now on number 7 - they've not really been too much of a problem, the occasional accidental bite and sometimes rubbing a bit when he is teething, but nothing bad enough to make me want to stop because of that.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

26m twice (inc during two pg each).

To be honest, I never quite worked out how one would stop. I was only ever feeding the same child as yesterday. They gradually cut down themselves, probably aided by pgy hormones/taste change/reduced supply, and eventually I realised they had already stopped.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Oh and nobody ever really knew because toddler feeds tend to be at pyjama times or when ill so not in public.

[mimmymouse]

Fed DD1 to 17 months - was 14 wks pg with DD2. She is now 10 months and having 4/5 feeds per day. For us, feeding turned out to be a god send as DD1 had multiple allergies. The consultant was extremely pleased to hear DD1 was bf and asked if I could continue. Her allergies were gone by the time he was retested at 16 months (initial tests 8mths). Healing power of breast milk!

I would say that I am very lucky. I come from a family of breast feeders as does DH. Lots if family support as encouragement.

Go for it. X

[fluffywhitekittens]

Went to about 18 months with DS. Dd was around 10 months - year.

[carovioletfizz]

I'm still breastfeeding 21 month old ds - in fact I just wrote a blog about people's attitude to natural term breastfeeding! carovioletfizz.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/five-things-to-say-to-people-who-dont.html

[foolonthehill]

4 DC all bf until over a year, they gradually cut down and all had stopped by 2 years.

Do what feels right for you and your baby/child.

One day one or the other of you will be happy to stop.....

[LoopThePoop]

DD2 was two.
Her choice not mine.
Looking back, it wasn't worth it.

[BigBrassBand]

Just stopped feeding DS on his second birthday, it was a week and a half ago and he stopped mentioning it 2 days ago. Nobody ever gave me any stick for feeding him, I only stopped because he was becoming quite rough and demanding and I could feel myself getting irritated, especially at the time of the month! I was a bit sad at stopping but that's mostly because I'll probably never breastfeed again now (don't plan to have any more, have a DD as well).

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Ds is 16 months and comes into our bed for a morning feed and had one just before bed at night unless he's ill. I've had nights away, he happily had cows milk but wants bm when I'm in the house.

Full time at nursery too, he's not tied to me.

Its not tasking except when he's ill I'm which case I'd expect life to be harder anyway and is healthy for both of us. I'm happy to continue until he wants to stop.

[blueskiesandbutterflies]

Yep, ds1 bf for 18 months & currently bfing 16 month old ds2. Am thinking of gently weaning by 2yo. My US's are the most handsome, strong, brightest boys on the block! (& I think that's down to bfing/being mothered at the breast).

[blueskiesandbutterflies]

*ds's

[Debs75]

I've done it twice with dd2 and dd3. 42 months and 30 months respectively. 18 months tandem feeding.

DD1 was 8 months and I stopped due to a bite, it never bothered her but I was still producing milk until she was 18 months old.

I hadn't planned to bf dd2 that long but she loved it and I loved it so we just kept going. I fed throughout DD3's pregnancy as well, again didn't plan to but dd2 wouldn't stop. TBH I didn't notice the age 'limit' really. I know some people feel icky about feeding after one year but really what changes? It is still the same child and it's not like they dramatically grow or change in the space of one day

[Snazzyenjoyingsummer]

TwasBrillig that was my feeling about formula - why start with all the faff if you can avoid it? And I personally was able to because while I couldn't express enough to supply DS throughout the day by 10/11 months, he just had formula during the day while at nursery. At weekends I just bfed when needed. So I have never had to make formula and still don't know how. Not saying my experience is universal, but I certainly found bf the lazier easier option.