To not want to stop BF 17 month old

It really is NOBODY else’s business how long you breastfeed. People who criticise you for this usually have ulterior motives.

Don't then.

Because she doesn't want to...

Given you have a Nanny who does bed time why not just leave her and dad to it for a week or two and do something else so you're not available yo BF?

It is working wonderfully for you and your child so carry on as as you are. Why throw the dice by upsetting their routine and risking a terrible sleeper if you don't want or need to? You might end up seriously regretting it.

I just kept repeating to people "I'm choosing to follow the NHS and World Health Organisation's advice to breastfeeding to two or beyond. It's working really well for me and baby and I'm really happy how things are".

You’ll know when you’re done OP.
Ignore them all.

I bf until just short of 3. It felt like the right time but I do miss it. I didn’t really talk to anyone about it except one colleague who also bf her child until about 2.5. My husband knew obviously and I think he was quite uncomfortable about it as he had anticipated I would stop at around 1. He did see the benefits though and apart from asking me occasionally about my plans for weaning, he let me get on with it. No idea what my family or in-laws would have thought about it.

Yanbu as it is working well for you both.

I had this with my first. At 12 to 18 months the inlaws both old and young were horrified and quite vocal about it. But it was like once they realised I wasn't listening or that DD was developing well they just gave up saying anything and ignored it. I fed her till 3.5. They never said anything about my second and my SIL fed her second for much longer too after thinking it was odd when I fed DD1 at the same age! I like to think I educated them by example!

I breastfed all of mine until they self weaned, so 20 months (I was pregnant and I guess they didn't like the change), 3 years and 4 years. I have the most confident independent kids ever and have no regrets

I breastfed my son until he was around 4 and my daughter until she was 3. Both stopped after I'd been away for a (different) weekend without them.

I gave zero f*cks what anyone else thought but it wasn't something I openly discussed. When both were above 2 I would've limited nursing to naptimes, bedtimes or emergencies.

Very much like you - it was mainly a convenience and, for my kids, very much a comfort. If they were sick or hurt breastfeeding soothed them. My husband and close family could see how important it was to my kids so left me to it.

Ignore your husband and parents/in-laws. Keep on doing what works for you and YOUR baby.

Can you send your partner information on the health benefits to you and baby? It’s completely up to you and your baby when you’re ready to stop, don’t stop for anyone else as you may feel regret or resentment later down the line if your breastfeeding journey ends sooner than you’d like.

My toddler has just weaned at 27 months as I’m pregnant and he’s almost immediately just got his first ear infection! Ideally I’d have at least got him through the rest of winter as it’s so good for their immunity. You sound like a great mum! ❤️

I breastfed my eldest until 20 months when my milk dried up (which was only because I was 3 months pregnant with number 2).

No shame. Have a 6 and 4 year old now and still miss whipping a boob out at bedtime to get them to settle!

Keep going until it’s not right for you and/or your child doesn’t need it. No other reason.

Breastfeed your child as long as you want.
It is not anyone else’s business.
Join the FB group “Breastfeeding Older Babies and beyond” for support.
The WHO recommends breastfeeding children until they are “two years old and beyond”
Stick to your guns and do not be bullied into stopping.
This article is fully referenced and was written for GPs on the benefits of breastfeeding beyond infancy.
https://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/breastfeeding-beyond-infancy-a-gp-guide/

If you want to continue then do so, it's not really anyone's business but your own.

I stopped bf during the day at 3 and before and during the night at 4 just before school started. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I fed my daughter till the day she turned 3 (pretty sure the milk dried up a few weeks before but she did it for comfort 🤣). Absolutely keep going until you're both ready, it'll happen naturally anyway.

My 8 year old only breastfed to 11 months but I was 5 months pregnant with his sister so my milk dried up/was so sore. Both of them are equally as attached to me and I regularly joke they'd still be attached via cord if they could! Keep going and tell them to mind their business. Well done for getting to 17 months too!

I recently stopped breastfeeding my nearly 2 year old. He was poorly at the weekend (first time really poorly with a sickness bug and I honestly think bf had given him extra protection) and I felt so guilty that I couldn’t just whip out a boob and feed him/ comfort him.

I had the same pressure to stop but ultimately stopped when I felt ready- he wasn’t sleeping at night and I wasn’t sleeping at night!

Enjoy your bf journey op! You are doing amazing ❤️

I am not going to comment on breastfeeding at 18 months.

The end.

i fixed it for you.

This.
I fed until 4 (latter 2 years was minimum but daily to settle/comfort.
The breastfeeding network is a good resource for information and reassurance.
Milk teeth get their name for a reason- they don’t start falling out until 5+
💐

I find it so weird that people can act like this, it’s a huge cultural problem IMO. Sucks that you’re going through that especially when your child is only 17 months old! I breastfed my first until she was 3!! I found with the first it’s all about setting your standard and for the next one they won’t bat and eyelid they just know what to expect in your parenting decisions.

You're basically doing the exact same thing as the people in op's life pressurising her to give up. She has said she doesn't want to. That's all anyone needs to know.

OP - I breastfed mine until 9 months, 11 months and 23 months. Maternity leave was a lot shorter in those days (4 months, 6 months and 7 months respectively) and my supply tended to dry up once I was back at work so I couldn't keep going as long as I wanted to with the first two. I was working mornings only with the youngest so I could go on longer.

The number of people who believed they were entitled to an opinion was astounding. Most people were fine up to 3 months, they kept their mouths shut up to 6 months, the questions started about when are you moving up a bottle then. Post 12 months, you would think I was feeding a teenager with the reaction some people had. I would have hoped people would have had a bit more cop on these days (my youngest is 22) but obviously not. Ignore them.

If he goes down fine for your husband why does he only put him down occasionally? Is the issue actually that you are still BF or he is wanting to be more involved in general parenting and the BF appears to be creating a barrier to that? (Whether in your husbands opinion or whether you are of the mindset you need to put DS down because of the BF).

DD is 15m and I am still BF, my wife puts her down no probs with a bottle too tho so we do still get to equally parent. I am not saying it’s wrong if you want to continue to BF to sleep every night, just might be worth a discussion about the root of this issue with BF?

If you and your little boy are happy, carry on. No one else's business. My little girl stopped at 18 months but that was her choice, I was quite happy to continue

I would start getting pissed off to be honest. It's none of any of their businesses. ' do you have an opinion on how long everyone breastfeeds their child for, or is just me? Would you like my opinion on how long your child was breastfed for?' ' did you mean to tell me how long to breastfeed my child for there?' and for DH tell.him he should be celebrating and thanking you for every day you've breastfed and his attitude now is disrespectful and belittling of your achievement