How old is too old to breastfeed?

[mrspoisson]

I won't share how old my child is (still classed as toddler) but just wondering when it becomes wrong to keep breastfeeding?

It's starting to feel gross now, but it sometimes works as a great comforter for DD when getting to sleep, when sick or upset. Doesn't have it to replace food though. Eats 3 meals a day plus snacks.

What age would you say could potentially cause psychological damage/hinder development?

You're brave

I’d say the age the mother starts to find it gross.

I'd say you're there as you are feeling grossed out.

It's not a moral question. There is nothing inherently wrong with older children BF. However, I'm guessing that because you are asking a bunch of strangers on the internet what they think, you think it's the right time to stop. Follow your instinct and do what you think, not what strangers tell you.

When you've had enough.

Mother and child are a dyad.

You can't force a child to breastfeed if they don't want to, but the child will natural self wean between 2 and 7.

If you're not comfortable any more you could try the not offering, not refusing method and gently start talking to your little one about milk being very special to help them grow when they were a baby and now they are getting bigger they soon won't need it any more.

DS2 was 3 when he stopped. I've been told that's gross, wrong and even abusive

Whenever is ready for you both to stop?

I BF my son until he was 2 year and 7 months. Then he weaned himself off. I will do the same for my DD wbo is 12 weeks.

Whenever I am ready and she is ready.

Stop when it no longer works for you and your child. It doesn't magically become wrong at a certain age.
I would be surprised to see a child with adult teeth feeding.

It doesn't work the way you seem to think it does. If nobody takes deliberate action to wean a child from the breast, then as the child gets older, the mother tends to start finding breastfeeding irritating and shoos the child away after a fairly quick feed unless the child is ill or particularly in need of comfort. And the child naturally drifts away, finding other things more interesting, and other sources of comfort. If a child chooses the time they stop, then that's the right time for them and doesn't do any harm.

What sort of psychological/developmental damage are you imagining?

If you find it gross, it's too old.

Last yr I saw my friend and her 4 to, 4 to came for milk before bed. Mom non plussed and just got on with it whilst we chatted, girl happy and just got on with it. It isn't too old for them.

I very occasionally (once or twice a fortnight) still feed my dd who is 3 years 6 months.
I wanted to stop at 2.5, but she still seemed to need it emotionally.
I've gradually cut her down, she would be happy feeding at a far more frequent rate, but I am so very very done!

Whenever it stops working for you

Dd was 2y 5m and stopped when I was pregnant with ds
Ds was 2y 9m

I did 'don't offer but don't refuse' and there were plenty of times I was out/away too so they got used to not having it

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Stop when it no longer works for you and your child. It doesn't magically become wrong at a certain age. I would be surprised to see a child with adult teeth feeding.

Like the one in my Drs surgery once? Walking round eating a slice of pizza and running to mum for milk to wash it down?

2 was my personal limit. The WHO advice is for 2 years or beyond.

I saw a woman in the park whip her boob out for a girl who looked about 6. It was weird. I think it's fine until they start school,although I personally wouldn't go beyond 2.

Adult teeth tend to come in at around the age of 7 which is generally the upper age that children breastfeed. Children can both walk and eat pizza when they are you ger than that and still have their milk teeth.

@Bluntness100

I’d say the age the mother starts to find it gross.

👍 yup

Child number one had to be weaned at five months as going back to work. Child number two self weaned on the night before her first birthday.
I always thought a baby getting teeth was mother nature's way of saying stop!

It's your body op. Good god if you don't like it then please stop!

It's your own decision. Personally I feel 2 years max. I had a friend who bf to just over 4years, tbh it was fucking weird, I actually hated seeing her kid hanging off her as the kid was big and in playschool.

I always thought a baby getting teeth was mother nature's way of saying stop!

My oldest had his first tooth at 2.5 months.
(I breastfed him until 3.5 yrs. It wasn't gross.)

I personally plan to stop before DD starts school (ideally between 3 and 4) but that's just me, and shes not even 2 yet so who knows really. There's no right or wrong answer and it won't cause damage. But if find it gross then its probably time.

my son was 2 years 4 months. It was my decision as I was ready to stop even though he still loved it.

If you’re both happy with it, then EBF will t cause psychological issues or be a problem for development.

If you’d prefer to wean, then that’s OK.
If they still want to and you still want to, that’s OK too.

Offering comfort for them via BF is OK, but not if you’re getting uncomfortable with it. You’re as important in this as they are to keep it a good experience.