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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:
puglife15 · 27/07/2016 11:55

18 months.

BFed until 12 months, then switched some feeds to cow's milk. Did one feed per day from about 15 months and it was pretty easy to wean tbh.

Didn't want to use formula if I didn't have to due to expense, faff and the fact BM is tailored to baby.

I went back to work at 10 months, and wore normal bras and clothes there (amazing!).

BertieBotts · 27/07/2016 11:58

Keep doing it as long as it's working. That was my motto! DS stopped by himself eventually. He was four but I would have stopped earlier if it had become a problem for me. It never did so I just carried on!

Not selfish or weird. Keep on doing what works. Sensible.

JustMarriedBecca · 27/07/2016 11:59

18 months. But just one feed a day from 11ish months as I went back to work. HV told us to go straight to a cup with water after 6 months rather than introduce a bottle

MumOfTwoMasterOfNone · 27/07/2016 12:00

Stopped with my DS at 14/15 months when I went back to work. Was best for him as he was always ill and helped with comforting him. My DD is nearly 6 months and I'm getting a little fed up. I know it's selfish but I want a spa day and a nice meal out with OH and a night out with the girls. I've been pregnant/breastfeeding/pregnant/breastfeeding since June 2013 and I would just like a bit of me time.
Had a chat with my mum and decided to continue until I can put her on cows milk and I'm not wishing the time away, she's such a gorgeous happy baby, but I can't wait!!!!!

gaston · 27/07/2016 12:03

No need to stop while it's all going well.
DS1 19 months
DS2 19 months
DD 13 months - (I was sad to stop but had to due to needing strong medication for back/disc problems)
I miss those days Smile

GeoffreysGoat · 27/07/2016 12:04

15m with ds1 (self weaned) still going with 10mo ds2

Why buy a cow when you're getting the milk for free?

nanetterose · 27/07/2016 12:06

DS1 @ 1 year
DS2 @ 2 years
DD @ 3 years.

I must have really got in to it, as the years went by! Grin

backtowork2015 · 27/07/2016 12:37

5 weeks and 2 weeks, it was total torture and regret even putting myself through that short hell

Fruu · 27/07/2016 12:37

I'm still going at 18 months. My aim was to make it to 2 years as recommended by the WHO, but now I'm considering waiting until DS decides he wants to stop. :)

BF is really useful when your baby / toddler is teething and refusing to eat or drink anything else - I've been quite grateful a number of times that it's still going well, although occasionally it's frustrating that I can't spend more than 6 hours or so away from DS. I'm trying to reduce the frequency he wants to BF in the middle of the day so that I can leave him with other people occasionally!

Daytona79 · 27/07/2016 12:38

11.5 months as weaned him on to cows milk as I was returning to work and he was starting nursery

TeaBelle · 27/07/2016 12:40

16 months - unless you really dislike feeding, I wouldn't bother making the switch as you've done the hardest bit and bf is so convenient

SquedgieBeckenheim · 27/07/2016 12:41

15 months with DD. She was down to 2 feeds a day by then, and not even bothered about those. Switched to cows milk and she wasn't fussed. I was sad she was happy to stop so soon!

MagicMojito · 27/07/2016 12:41

Dd1 was 2.7 dd2 is 2 now and still going strong. Doing my fucking head in tbh but Im so exhausted all the time that I haven't the energy for the inevitable battle over it Confused

Agree with others though, go for as long your both happy to. There really is no right or wrong time to stop.

Houseconfusion · 27/07/2016 12:41

9 months. I loved what I did. And I loved feeling ready to stop and step into the next phase.

Houseconfusion · 27/07/2016 12:43

why do you want to switch?

Because mothers sometimes want to stop breastfeeding. That is a sufficient reason to stop. Their wanting shouldn't be questioned.

Porcupinetree · 27/07/2016 12:43

Three days old when my nipples turned black and crusty and my DD had uric crystals from dehydration .

museumum · 27/07/2016 12:43

Never used bottles. Moved from breast to cups of cows milk gradually between 10 and 13months.

FireLamp · 27/07/2016 12:44

Still going at 10months. He only feeds 2x a day now and a couple of times overnight, so my supply has dropped. No need to express at work, my supply adjusted and he has formula on work days.

SexLubeAndAFishSlice · 27/07/2016 12:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skippy67 · 27/07/2016 12:45

7 months and 6 months. As soon as they began sleeping through the night.

witsender · 27/07/2016 12:46

I wasn't questioning n a negative way House, the OP didn't sound overly fussed or as if she really wanted to so I wondered what her thinking was so I could answer the question better. Simmer down. Hmm

milpool · 27/07/2016 12:49

14 months here and still going. Though I am considering stopping as I'm pregnant with #2 and it's getting to be really hard work.

If it's working for you, and you're happy to continue, then go right ahead. I think I initially had 6 months in my head too but then we just kept going.

Batteriesallgone · 27/07/2016 12:52

If the mum doesn't actively 'stop' all children wean themselves sooner or later.

I'm just lazy and couldn't be arsed with the hassle of weaning - introducing food is hassle enough! Bf for years, liked having it as a fallback to ensure hydration in times of illness, and as previous poster said breastmilk props up the immature immune system.

Fomalhaut · 27/07/2016 12:53

Still feeding at nearly 10 months. He struggled to do it at first but now we are going great! He won't take a bottle and will only drink small amounts from a sippy cup.

No need to stop when you introduce solids -we had to start solids at 4 months but he still loves boob :)

Stop whenever you feel it's right for you and your baby there's no one solution that fits everyone.

catsilversilk · 27/07/2016 12:56

Nineteen months with DS1 and three and a half years with DS2. The first time I originally thought 6 months, then 12 (to get to the age where risk of SIDs lower, to avoid sterilising because I'm lazy, because it was easier all round, to boost immediate and lifelong immunity.. all the usual stuff!!).

I don't regret it, I truly believe each to their own (as long as it is an informed choice) and have friends who have done both extremes of ff and bf. But in answer to your question OP - why give up if it is going well - I can't imagine any reason why! I miss those days and they passed so quickly too.