Brace yourselves

[Husbandno1]

NC as this may be a controversial topic....

My wife and I are having a ‘lively discussion’ about breastfeeding. There appears to be mixed evidence online. So we thought we would ask this community and see what others thought.
What age do most people stop breastfeeding their child at?
(I have suggested a year btw)
YABU - a year is way too early, children need that boob for ages to come!
YANBU - we/I stopped breastfeeding my child at a year (or under)

14/16 ish months for me. I was back at work and it naturally dwindled to morning and nighttime only then a few missed then a few more until it stopped.

There was no big decision. It happened very naturally and easily.

I breastfed both until about 2yrs or a bit beyond - not exclusively, obviously. It particularly helped during periods of snotty colds, and sickness bugs - breastmilk being the only thing they could keep down, and kept them hydrated and nourished.

Also, it’s not up to you.
When our first was born, DH suggested bf for 6mths to a year max. I told him to absolutely F-off, his suggestion being based on zero actual knowledge. BF is a bit more complicated than simply food input until weaning at 6 months.

Go tell your wife how amazing she is and how supportive you’re going to be, in whatever she decides - including whether she can actually see BF through. It’s not an easy thing for many, so stop arguing and start supporting, unconditionally.

husbandno1, indeed.

2 days and zero regrets - wish I’d stopped sooner.

I stopped at 12mths with mine. While WHO recommend 2yrs I live in a developed country where the kids would have access to clean water and great nutrition on weaning. Mine all then went on to 12mth toddler milk stuffed with omega’s and all the extra bells and whistles and stayed on that as opposed to regular milk (along with food obviously) until 3yo. I think there’s a world of difference between that and a situation where a baby has poor nutritional options on weaning where it would be much better to continue breastfeeding for an extended period.

@Caramellatteplease

we/I stopped breastfeeding my child

Only a woman can breastfeed. "We" cannot breastfeed

This isnt something a man gets to decide.

I thought exactly the same

Both mine continued with breast feeding after I went back to work at about 9 months. My eldest had formula (and food) during the day and was breastfed in the evening /overnight /before breakfast until about 15 months. My youngest just had food and water while I was at work and was breast fed when ever I was around, stopped at just over 2. Plenty of people continue to feed after returning to work, but pumping is optional!

If my husband told me when I should stop feeding I’d tell him to fuck off. I would of fed mine till he started school if he wanted but he self weaned at 15 months.

In fact this is a bit of an odd post ?

I’m still BF and DD is 21 months. But I don’t have opinions on when anyone else should stop.

14 months was about right for me and both my children. They started to lose interest at this time and I'd also had enough so it felt right to stop.

But each to their own. Every day you breastfeed is fantastic. Some will manage 6 hours, some 6 days, some 6 weeks, some 6 months (and some even make it to 6 years ). Whatever is right for your wife and your kids is fine.

Unless you have the breasts, it isn't up to you.

Mind your own breasts.

@Husbandno1 Your wife can continue to breastfeed even when she returns to work. Once babies are weaned (from 6 months), their milk requirements drop.
I went back to work when my children were 8 months and they were fine - I didn't need to express milk and they've never had a drop of formula. At this age they fed once first thing in the morning, as soon as I came in from work and finally before they went to bed. During they day they drank mainly water but also had a cup (open style) of cows' milk with their morning snack.

11 months
7 months
4 years
When it was right for DC and me.
DH wasn't involved in the decision.

I fed my first until about 8 months. At that point he was only on a feed at night tho as I had gone back to work at 5 months and he was used to expressed bottles. I fed him at weekends and holidays. But often I would express in holidays too and give a bottle.

My second child, I was on mat leave and then working from home until he was 13 months so I slowly fed him less over the last week I was at home and continued to feed him at night a little longer whilst I slowly reduced that...probably over a couple of weeks.

I was adamant is feed until 8 months like my first. But each baby and situation is different. So I would just go with it and make the decision when it feels right.

It's completely my choice and my husband has always said that. I'm still going with one feed at 5am and my daughter is nearly two. This is just because it's the easiest way to get a couple more hours of sleep when she wakes like clockwork at 5am. My husband is open to helping me 'fix' this for my benefit but as I'm sure it will 'fix' itself he's happy if I am.

DC1 - 6 months
DC2 - 15 months
DC3 - 12 weeks

Each baby was very different, I went back to work whilst still BF DC2 - didn't really have a choice as she wouldn't take a bottle. Just take each week or month at a time and your DW can stop when the time is right.

So you're telling her that she can't continue breastfeeding past 12 months because she can't afford another year off work?! This is at best misguided/ignorant, and at worst weird and controlling.

Please reassure her that many women continue to breastfeed morning/evening/around work alongside a predominantly solid diet at that age. It won't take any complicated planning or preparation - she'll just breastfeed when she's with the child, and she won't when she's not.

We/I is a stupid statement.
It's up to the mother, yes, but also the child as well. Mine stopped by themselves at 1yr and at 6m but I would have carried on if they had. They just lost interest.

For as long as she wants to. 2 yrs here.

My youngest was 3 and a half when he self weaned. By that point it was just at bedtime. It's completely up to mum and baby.

I stopped both mine around 6 months. As soon as teeth start showing it’s over for me.

When my kids decided so between 8 months to 3 years

DC1 - 3.5 years

DC2 - 7 years

Whenever she wants.
It's nobody elses' business.
Your "suggestion" is pretty patronising to her. She might not want to go that long, she might want to go longer.

"People" don't breastfeed children, mothers do. Your partner can breastfeed exactly as long as she wants and is able to.

FWIW, the international guidelines suggest two years, but if your partner wants to stop at two days, or go on longer, up to her.