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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask if you bf past a year?

216 replies

Susiethetortoiseshellcat · 18/03/2017 09:23

I am currently breastfeeding my almost 1 year old. I only feed him 2/3 times a day now but I think he would struggle to be weaned from these as he still very much demands them, particularly the night feed.

I have a group of friends with similar aged babies and all the ones who are breastfeeding are on a deadline to give up at a year. They are surprised, if not a little disgusted, that I don't feel the same urgency to wean by then. I would like another baby and know it will be difficult while I am still feeding but other than this I don't see the great urgency if he's not ready. It's true he is now a good eater so perhaps is only breastfeeding for comfort but there must be some benefits, are there? If you continued past a year can I ask why and if you think there are any benefits or should I try to wean him completely now? He is not a fan of cows milk.

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 18/03/2017 09:42

Still going strong here at 17mo. I'd like to continue until ds self weans but I don't really want to carry on much past 2. He still feeds a lot off me, through the day and night. A lot of it is for comfort I think.

Ellisandra · 18/03/2017 09:43

Broomstick's point about missing feeds...
Fed til 4.5 but from 13 months I was away 3 or 4 nights every other week (work). Was no issue at all.
Supply was affected - I never pumped to try to maintain it and later years were comfort over much milk. But it absolutely wasn't at all restrictive.

MooMooTheFirst · 18/03/2017 09:44

DS is 10 months old and I had envisaged stopping at around 4 months! He couldn't tolerate solids until nine months in the end, so He was exclusively breastfed until then anyway.

Currently he has a feed at night and one in the morning if he wakes early and I can't be bothered getting out of bed Blush it buys me an extra half hour! The morning feed will be dropped once I go to work as I leave before he wakes up and he doesn't really need it, it's more for laziness Blush

The night feed will continue until he gives it up of his own accord.

RumbleRoar · 18/03/2017 09:45

I have 4 children, currently still breastfeeding the last (9month old). Fed each of the others until about 18months when they weaned themselves. I think they weaned naturally as I was pregnant each time. Goodness knows when I'll stop feeding this time as I don't plan on being pregnant again!

MadameJosephine · 18/03/2017 09:45

I fed both of mine until they were ready to stop. DS was almost 2 and DD fed until shortly after her 4th birthday

ChocolateSherberts2017 · 18/03/2017 09:48

3.5 years

ICancelledTheCheque · 18/03/2017 09:50

I did, for 23 months. I had a goal to stop by 2 as at the time the WHO thought there were no real benefits to BF past that age.

DD sort of weaned naturally as I stopped offering and when she did eventually want BF on day 3 I just steered her towards cows milk.

It's still pretty rare to BF past babyhood so many people find it odd - SIL was disgusted that I would BF a child with teeth... or who could walk.... or talk... meh.

Blumkin · 18/03/2017 09:51

I bf dd1 till she was 3 (got pregnant with ds and developed a nursing aversion). It was mainly for comfort for her, so only at night, before breakfast and then whenever she needed calming down - its an instant soother for bumps, scrapes and tantrums! I never planned on feeding for that long but it worked for both of us

With ds I fed him till he was 2 and a bit. A few months after his first birthday he was really very ill (turned out to be pneumonia) and he spent over a week refusing all food, water, etc. The nurses at the hospital were very encouraging for me to keep feeding him as much as possible. I noticed it more with him that whenever he was poorly he'd go off food and switch to breastmilk for a few days, Any coughs, colds, tonsillitis and chickenpox he'd just get his milk from me.

Occadodo · 18/03/2017 09:52

Both of mine self weaned at 16months and I only have 2 years between them so no problems getting pregnant either!!!

maryelizabeth71 · 18/03/2017 09:52

Ellisandra, thats hilarious!! And you are so right about the funny conversations!

My youngest is almost 4 and still going strong although mostly bed time and in the morning.

Go for as long as she wants and you are happy! It's a special relationship.

SaudadeObama · 18/03/2017 09:54

I had one that I had to wean at 2 years 2 months as I couldn't get pregnant. My others stopped when it felt right, about a year and a half.

Batteriesallgone · 18/03/2017 09:54

Read this
www.drmomma.org/2009/07/breastfeeding-in-land-of-genghis-khan.html?m=1

DailyFaily · 18/03/2017 09:55

I said I was going to stop at 1 year but when we got to that point it seemed a bit arbitrary and, well, mean - like, happy birthday, now say goodbye to these! In the end he self weaned around 16 months I think, he just gradually reduced until we weren't doing it anymore and it was very gentle and untraumatic.

LotisBlue · 18/03/2017 09:58

Currently feeding my 16 month old

Advantages are
They get less /milder illnesses (when Dc1 stopped feeding she suddenly caught every bug going at nursery)
If they have a tummy bug and go off solid food they are still getting milk
It's a good way to comfort them and to help them to fall asleep (although I would advise you to make sure it isn't the only way they'll fall asleep... Voice of bitter experience Wink
It also has health benefits for the mum, delays the return of your period and means you can still eat extra cake portions Grin

oblada · 18/03/2017 10:01

Stopped with DD1 at 5yrs old and still going on with DD2 at 2.5yrs old. Weaning the first one was a combination of lucky events: we went on holiday with her bestfriend (a boy) and the fathers were in charge on their bedtime and they shared a room.. So no feeding before bed (she never asked and I was busy with her sister) and soon after that I found out I was pregnant and she figured herself that baby would need to feed and 2 babies feeding (her sister and baby eventually) were enough! :) there are plenty of benefits and certainly no negatives as long as you're both happy to continue. I think it helped my first one accept her baby sister when she came along as they shared this. Hopefully it will help my second one accept her brother when he comes along too :)

Twingler · 18/03/2017 10:02

I've just stopped feeding at 16 months. I think it's pretty normal to carry on well past a year. One of our friends found it strange. Asked how I could do it when he had teeth Hmm funnily enough, he drinks milk, he doesn't chew it.

I had planned to do it until about 2 but he just wasn't that bothered anymore. He only had a morning and bedtime feed by about 12 months and then just dropped to a bedtime feed not long after. And that feed was usually a few minutes of him pulling off every few seconds and giggling. He just wasn't very bothered but is obsessed with food. Carry on if that's what you want to do!

It was definitely useful for waking in the night during illnesses. I will miss being able to settle him so easily.

DavidPuddy · 18/03/2017 10:02

I also thought I would stop at one year, but when it came to it it just didn't seem necessary. It certainly would have made life more complicated. I suspect that some of the Mums you have spoken to may also change their minds when it comes down to it.

MusicToMyEars800 · 18/03/2017 10:02

I bf both mine til 14 months old it stopped during the day at 12 months and ended up being more of a comfort and sleep aid

Applebite · 18/03/2017 10:04

Your baby, your breasts, your choice.

End of!!

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 18/03/2017 10:04

2 years and a few months. I would have continued but I really couldn't get pregnant until I stopped completely. Even down to one feed per day no period.

If your friends are disgusted by the advice of the WHO then they are idiots. You and your LO are happy and it's so healthy so why on Earth would you stop?

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 18/03/2017 10:05

Oh yeah, except to get pregnant. That is so annoying. Super cheap contraception though.

nolongersurprised · 18/03/2017 10:05

All 4 past one, two past two years. Kind of a non event though, just a few feeds/day.

limon · 18/03/2017 10:08

I breast fed until my daughter was wondering years and five months. It's natural, normal and good for them. Anyone who is disgusted has a problem themselves - ignore and feed until you/your child are ready to wean.

nursy1 · 18/03/2017 10:08

Why stop if you are happy
My four kids stopped at various ages between 15 months and the longest feeder on her fourth birthday. The latter I "suggested" we stop on her birthday but the other just sort of tailed off. The going to sleep feed was always the last one to go.
If you are going back to work there are massive advantages to keeping that closeness and comfort during a time of change. Breast feeding in toddlerhood is brilliant. You always have an instant way to calm and reassure. There are more benefits to breastfeeding than nutrition although that continues to be a factor

limon · 18/03/2017 10:09

Not wondering! Two years.