Over five years of breastfeeding is coming to an end and I'm really sad.

[TisapityshesaGeordie]

I breastfed my DD till she was 3.5 - tandem-feeding her with her baby brother for the last year of that - and until recently was still feeding DS (2.9) first and last thing.

A couple of weeks ago he stopped wanting breast milk at bedtime, and the past three mornings he hasn't wanted it then either. Hasn't asked and I haven't offered, because if he's ready to stop I'm not going discourage that.

But I'm really sad about it. I could cry. It feels like I'm losing my last link with their babyhood. Doesn't help that I'd love another baby but for various reasons we've decided not to have another.

I love and adore the little people they're growing into. They make me proud every day just by being themselves. But god, I miss my babies so much.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

I know exactly what you mean. I'm feeding DS2 who is 9.5 months, he's highly likely to be my last baby given my age (my DP thinks we're too old for another, and I don't want to try and force the issue). So I know whenever I stop feeding DS2 it'll be the end of babies for me too. I love seeing them grow up but I will miss the baby stage.

[highinthesky]

What you are feeling is a form of natural separation anxiety.

Focus on the other ways in which you enjoy physical affection with DC, cuddles etc. Esp with DS, as boys tend to start rejecting this from about the age of 5.

[TisapityshesaGeordie]

Oh don't tell me that! He's such an affectionate little boy, and I love his "cuggles" and sloppy kisses.

[artisanroast]

Pregnant with my second (6 weeks) and currently breastfeeding my first (18 month old daughter) and started to cry. I love breastfeeding and really feel for you stopping.

xx

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

high that's not been my experience at all. 11 yo ds is sitting with his head on my shoulder and is legs draped over me right now.

It's ok to feel sad about it OP

[MyCatLikesToSitInBoxes]

Nothing useful to say here but you've got my sympathy op. I'm bf dd who is 10 months at the moment. I'm hoping to continue for as long as she'd like to - it's been a real surprise to me how much I enjoy breastfeeding her. For various reasons, she is likely to be our one and only so I totally understand the feeling of wanting to hold on to babyhood.

[dementedma]

Alternative view here. I hated the baby years, the feeding, the neediness.
It's way way better when they get older and become actual people. You have so much to look forward to now the grunt work is done.

[handsfree]

I stopped feeding my second a week ago. I fed eldest ds until he was 2 and fed this one until 2.5. No children more for us. I feel a mixture of weirdly free and incredibly sad 😢