poll: if you bf beyond 6 months, why/when did you stop?

[MamaChris]

Before I started bf-ing ds, I had planned to bf to 6 months (and somehow imagined weaning would magically take just 1 day ). Now we've got past the first few difficult weeks, am enjoying it and would like to continue to at least 1 year But I keep reading on here about nursing strikes and am now worrying about how long ds will want to continue for. So, a quick poll. If you stopped after 6 months, was it because you decided you were ready to stop or was it because your dc decided?

[tinylady]

Hi Mama Chris
I breastfed all of mine until they were around 20 months and I decided to stop.
They were only having it to fall asleep on by then and so we went cold turkey, which was surprisingly easy.
I felt that by then we had all had enough of it but esp me!

[Klaw]

I bf dd till she was 15 months. By that time she was eating proper meals and only having a feed from me at bedtime. A couple of times between 12 and 15 months I couldn't be there for last feed and she didn't mind too much so once we got to 15 months we mutually agreed that she didn't need that last feed anymore. I could have gone on longer but she was perfectly happy. Didn't miss those bedtime feeds at all.

It was the most natural process I could ever hope for.

[TheBlonde]

DS 15 mths iirc (stopped cos I was pg)
DD 12 mths (stopped cos I was too tired)

[Chaotica]

DD 14m -- stopped because I was pg with DS and supply was low (and DD was quite happy to drop bedtime feed)
DS - still going at nearly 8m. Will probably continue until I think I can say 'no' to that extra chocolate...

[harpsichordcarrier]

with dd1 I stopped because she weaned herself when she was about three.
I was very happy with that and I think it was the right thing for her although it was a PITA for me sometimes
dd2 I will let wean herself, barring mishap

[MamaChris]

Chaotica hadn't even thought yet that stopping would mean reducing chocolate intake LOL

Thanks for all replies. Nice to know everyone (so far) seems happy with when they stopped

[LambethLil]

DD1 until 20 months.
DD2 stopped on her first birthday.
DS1, can't remember - around a year. He's still a bit groapy 7 years on though!

[LadyOfWaffle]

Planned on BFing 6 months because I thought that's what you 'did' (as all BFing info goes on and on about 'until 6 months'), I didn't even realise you could BF beyond until DS was a few weeks old. Ended up BFing for about 10 months - combo. of DS biting (unsually badly, was slicing me every time so I couldn't even express in the end) and it came to a natural kind of end aswell. I didn't say one day "ok, no more", just the bottle took over, he started sleeping more so was BFing less anyway. Next baby I hope it lasts longer, but you sort of know when it's ending.

[only1malteaser]

Ds1 2.6 yrs, stopped because I was pg and ds1 still getting up about 3 times a noght for a wee munch and i was shattered. Went cold turkey also. He gurned for the first night and that was it.
Ds2 6.5 mths and have no intentions of stopping any time soon!
Ps I was going to bf ds1 for 3 weeks and then return to work, nearly 3 and a half years later and I have still to see the inside of an office

[seeker]

Dd was 3 and a week. Sopped because she said one morning "I don't want milky any more, mummy" And she didn't.

Ds stopped at 11 months because he discovered that if he had a bottle, his beloved daddy could give it to him, not his boring mummy and he refused from that moment!

[jennifersofia]

DD1 - 11 mths, because I fell pg, and felt like I wanted one baby monopolising my body at a time
DD2 - 13 mths, because a year was sort of the 'goal' I had in my head, and she seemed ready

No nursing strikes either time - weaning relatively unproblematic.

DD3 - Currently 7 wks, hopefully for about a year.

[zazen]

DD 9 months and she self weaned.
My sisters 4y.2mo weaned at the same time - how we bawled crying together!
My DD occasionally will pat and nuzzle my boobs! She's 3y10mos.

[Slut]

I stopped with dd at about 18m. I was pg again and didn't want to stop after ds was born and didn't want to tandam and dd seemed ready.

Ds I haven't stopped yet - 20m.

[cali]

DD1 - 20 mths, stopped when 6 wks pg with dd2 as just felt too sick.
DD2 - still feeding 9 mths, will continue as long as she wants to within reason

[muffinmum]

I stopped at 13 mths as had aimed for 12 mths, going along with guidance in attemting to reduce risk of nut allergies for dd as my siblings and grandma have peanut anaphylaxis.was really easy at end as only having night and morning feed, i missed morning feed the most,also forgot about not being able to eat cake every day after stopping!

[alexpolismum]

I only stopped recently, after a year, because my son refused to breastfeed any more. I would have been quite happy to go on, and was actually looking forward to tandem breastfeeding (sob sob).

[jingleyjen]

I wanted to carry on to at least 12 months with both boys.
However DS's decided to to have what I now know as a breastfeeding strike at nearly 11 months so we gave them formula for a little while before they could have cows milk.

It never occured to me that people stopped feeding at 6 months - is this a common point for people to stop?

[missorinoco]

ds stopped at just under 10 months. sniff. would otherwise prob have kept going to about a year.

[beansmum]

I bf ds until he was 2 1/2. By the end he was only feeding just before bed and one day I forgot to offer him a feed, I realised the next day but decided not to offer again. He never asked so I think it was just habit, not something he really needed.

[Lucyand2]

I breastfed DD1 until she was about a year old and I stopped when I got pregnant again.
DD1 cut down gradually on her feeds as she ate more solids and drank cows milk, I stopped offering as much until it was only one feed at night. Then I got DP to put her to bed and that was that.

[beansprout]

Ds1 has pretty much stopped at 3 and a half.

[pooka]

DD - until about 13 months. Stopped partly because she was not consistently keen on feeding anymore, was drinking cow's milk by then.
DS - until about 13months also. He started biting very hard (have a tooth shaped scar on my nipple!) and also he didn't seem to be keen on feeding anymore. Would refuse to latch on sometimes, would wriggle and generally play, would look at me, and then I'd feel the jaw clenching! I stopped breast feeding and he never ONCE rooted/grabbed/complained about it.

[pooka]

Oh but blimey I missed it! Was so useful to have the ability to soothe all worries with a lovely feed.
Actually - have jest realised that must have fed ds for longer, because I recall feeding him after he had his MMR and that was done at 15 months.

[EffiePerine]

DS still going at 19mo. Am pg so will see how it goes. Down to one feed at bedtime and he doesn't miss it if I'm not there (but asks for it if I am).