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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask when you gave up breastfeeding?

244 replies

pestov · 27/07/2016 10:24

DD is rapidly approaching 6 months, and after 5 weeks of mixed feeding hell at the beginning thanks to a missed tongue tie, exclusively breastfed. I had always said before I had her that I'd do the 6 months breastfeeding, then switch to bottles, but am second guessing myself. When and why did you give up? Is there any point in moving to formula when breastfeeding is going so well?

OP posts:
Original poster
pestov · 27/07/2016 11:01

I assumed that most people stopped when starting solids, but it seems like such a faff! I'm not going back to work until Christmas, and although she has become increasingly nosy, she still prefers it to expressed milk or formula.

OP posts:
Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 27/07/2016 11:01

2 years. I would have kept going but I couldn't get pregnant until I stopped and didn't want a sibling to be too far apart.

I agree with the PP who said it makes life so much easier. I felt bad for the other mums who were up all hours trying to lull their little ones back to sleep. I'd just stick mine on the boob and we'd both get some much needed sleep.

Op, you're doing an awesome job. Whether you decide to keep going or stop now you should be proud of yourself!

Mari50 · 27/07/2016 11:05

2 and a half years, DD was a bottle refuser and once we were at six months there didn't seem much point in switching tbh as we were both really comfy with BF. MIL did comment that it was really selfish to continue BF after 6 months so I enjoyed continuing as a fuck you to her too.

Tallulahoola · 27/07/2016 11:06

Still doing it at 8 months. Wanted to start mixed feeding from 6 months to gradually fade it out but he will barely drink anything from a bottle (though until recently he wouldn't entertain the idea of a bottle at all so at least we're getting somewhere).

I like it, he likes it, and it's much easier and more convenient than faffing about with bottles and formula. BUT I do think it has made our night waking problem worse because he won't go back to sleep without a feed and that's a comfort thing, I don't reckon he's hungry. Also I would love to be able to wear whatever tops I want rather than the handful I have on endless rotation because they're easy to bf in, and I long for the day my boobs feel normal instead of like two bowling balls stuck to my front

Chocfish72 · 27/07/2016 11:06

Ds1 was just under 3, ds2 was just under 4! I never expected to nurse so long: when ds1 was born I had to really grit my teeth and aim for 6 months... But as you say i got there and there didn't seem any point in stopping when it was all going well. So I didn't ;-) In the end neither of them had a bottle of formula or anything else - just boob. being a SAHM and having no major nursing issues really helped.

MilicentKing · 27/07/2016 11:09

Both self weaned.
DS1 at 3 1/2
DS2 at just over 4.

With both I'd say the last year or more was just in the morning.

tellmema · 27/07/2016 11:09

13 months. DD1 just tailed off herself over few months as solids increased. Was only bedtime feed for last couple months. I too had 6 months in my head but like others said why rock the boat if everything going well, it was just easier to carry on. (Plus she acted like I was trying to feed her sewage when I tried formula!)

MLGs · 27/07/2016 11:10

About 12 weeks with DC1 (who was sick) - mixed from about 9 weeks.
8 months with DC2, although quite alot of that was mixed too.

Original poster
pestov · 27/07/2016 11:11

Mari how is BF selfish? I'd love to palm her off sometimes; miss the 90% of my clothes I never wear, especially the bras; and I doubt my nipples will ever be the same again!

OP posts:
Lucy90 · 27/07/2016 11:12

15 months with DD1 as I was 6 months pregnant. Currently bfing DD2 and will stop when she is ready

Leviticus · 27/07/2016 11:13

A year because it suited both of us. DC were both pretty much done with it by then and I was only feeding at night so it didn't cause either of us any heartache.

Falsenails77 · 27/07/2016 11:15

10/11 months with my 1st would have gone on for longer but was almost 3 months pregnant with my 2nd and my milk just dried up, think it was my bodies way of saying it was enough.

I did plan to do it longer for my 2nd but he was a snacker and would want a small feed every hour or so and with a toddler to run around after as well I just couldn't do it so I stopped at 6 months.

If it's going well and your happy to continue then there's no reason why you can't but ultimately it's up to you and how you feel. Smile

gruber · 27/07/2016 11:16

Just after 2. I didn't want to but had to be away for 2 weeks for a course so it seemed the right time. Never had formula, only expressed milk in a bottle (and that very reluctantly when I was at work!)
If it's working for you, keep going.

Bear2014 · 27/07/2016 11:17

22 months.

The 6 month things is such an arbitrary time. I personally feel that weaning onto solids and having to make the change from breast to formula is quite a lot in one go. Unless BF isn't going well or you have to back to work, there's no point in stopping at 6 months.

I always had the target of 12 months as that is when they can go straight to cows milk. But at that point she was suffering badly with teething and was barely eating, so I just kept on going.

LittleLionMansMummy · 27/07/2016 11:19

Gave up totally at 9/10 months because ds was eating lots of proper food by that stage so we were down to just one bedtime feed anyway. Decided to give that one up when he started to faff around at the boob and spent most of his time off it, looking up and grinning at me instead of feeding! We gave him formula from that point, which he drank without faffing around and moved to cow's milk before bedtime at 1yo. He still enjoys his bedtime milk now (though obvs from a cup and not a bottle!) at 5yo.

LovelyBath77 · 27/07/2016 11:23

My boys were both three, and had a three year age gap (possibly due to it) so 6 years in total. Find the first stopped as he got to age of not needing naps in the day as was associated with sleep / naps especially as he got older, youngest stopped as I had to go into hospital but right time too.

Spottyladybird · 27/07/2016 11:26

2y9m with DD as I'm pregnant and it was painful. I didn't fancy tandem feeding either.

Crunchymum · 27/07/2016 11:31

18mo is still feeding. I'm going to let her self wean. Although it's taking its toll now as I'm feeling totally wrung out with it all.

Sceptimum · 27/07/2016 11:35

18 months here; just kept dropping feeds as she ate more but she was slow to take to eating a decent amount of solids. Formula is a faff so why stop if you have it working?

babyiwantabump · 27/07/2016 11:40

18 months with DD and currently tandem feeding DS1 (2yr7 months) andDS2 (6 months).

There's no need to stop at 6 months . You can offer a cup with water with meals but no need to switch to formula . I couldn't deal with all the fading about with bottles!

babyiwantabump · 27/07/2016 11:40

Faffing obvs

BlackeyedSusan · 27/07/2016 11:41

13 months and 30 months.

JustHappy3 · 27/07/2016 11:44

18 months for my first child - he stopped of his own accord. But it was just a first thing in morning and last thing at night feeds. I can't fèed my second - bottles are a pain! If you're introducing sippy cups in the day stick with BFing if you want to.
BTW ungrateful bottle refuser first child has no memories of being BF. Reacts with horror at the idea and is adamant he was bottle fed.

Paintedhandprints · 27/07/2016 11:48

Ds1 - 14months, Ds2 - so far to 3.5months.
Ds1 was just having one comfort feed to sleep so I decided to stop then. Took him one night of crying for an hour. Second night he whinged a bit. Third night he just went to sleep.
Despite doing an nct course I thought once we started on solids at 6mo he would instantly stop bfeeding. Blush
Dont know why I thought that. Ds1 was a bottle and formula and cows milk refuser.
Ds2 will take a bottle so I will hope to Wean by 1yo.

QueenArseClangers · 27/07/2016 11:55

3 years 6 months,

4 years 11 months,

3 years 7 months,

Currently bfing 2 and a half year old so will probably have another year or two of it.

Before kids I planned to breastfeed for 6 months and thought feeding a toddler was weird!