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)

WHO recommend 2 years and beyond I think. I stopped when DS was nearly 3 and was only feeding at bedtime and he decided he didn't need it. I let him stop when it was right for him.

Why isn't this thread in the breastfeeding section?

It doesn't matter what it says online, the mother does what is right for her. It's not up to the man.

There is no right or wrong time. Totally up to the mother.

It really doesn't have anything to do with you though, does it? It's her choice, and she can breastfeed and be back at work.

Was that 'measured' enough?

I stopped at around 16months, my child would have happily continued much longer.
I don’t think it’s wrong nor essential to carry on to a certain point. I think it’s great whilst it continues to suit both mum and baby/child and ceases to be great when it doesn’t (whether that is 4months or 4 years old).

Up to whoever is breastfeeding/the child being breastfed.

@Husbandno1

Wow! This was way more heated than I anticipated. Thanks for (some of) your sensible and measured responses.

The reason I suggested a year was that she plans on going back to work after a year, and both financial and practically it might not be possible for her not to work after a year.
We (yes both of us) were actually wondering what others did because it’s our first kid and there is mixed things online to read. Thanks for the resources people have posted.
Some of our friends have breast fed up to five years and others have suggested the baby only needs it up to 6 months. Although the ones that did breastfeed for longer were SAHMs
Anyway, thanks for your collective input.

To put it simply, it still has fuck all to do with you

I stopped breastfeeding DS when he was 2, and I stopped breastfeeding DD when she was almost 3. DH was very supportive, but at the end of the day it was always my choice and he would have supported me whatever I had decided to do. As I was the one breastfeeding the child.

Nasty thread.

None of your business OP. Women can make their own parenting choices.

Back off.

Listen, mate, your job is to supply many, many warmish cups of tea and tall glasses of water to the thirsty breastfeeding mother. Not to have an opinion on when she stops breastfeeding.

Most people who try breastfeeding have stopped by the time the child is 4m old. Probably 50% by time child is 10 weeks old. For some women when they stopped wasn't a choice. They tried very hard but didn't succeed -- or not for long, anyway.

I had choices. I was comfortable stopping around 18-21 months.

Breastfed until just past two, returned to work at six months. I was lucky enough that we lived nearby so DH brought dd for feeds at lunchtime but this stopped being necessary by 1

Not sure why you as the man, who is not involved in the breast feeding gets a say? Seems odd that you’d think you should have an opinion on this.

I Bf’d my DD for 20 months, only stopped because I fell pregnant again.

My daughter stopped when she was 5, at that stage she wasn't even doing it every day and the stopping was very gradual. I never intended to be a long term breastfeeder but after a tough start weaning always seemed difficult. It was not something my husband had any say in, it was between me and my child.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

It's not up to you! It's up to her.

Nailed it.

Husbandno1

Interesting username.

You have an unhealthy and controlling interest in this subject.
*
Perhaps Husbandno2 will be a bit more mature.

I think it’s nice to breastfeed for a year if it works for you. Saves a lot of money and faff of making bottles ☺️ It somehow doesn’t feel right to me to see a child much older than about 3 still breastfeeding.

That is down to mum and not you - make her a cup of tea and let her get on with it.

You do what works for you and the baby. Quite a lot of babies, my youngest included, kind of lose interest once weaned before they're a year. Mums have to go back to work, or want their night's sleep back. Others will keep it going as long as humanly possible. You can't decide on it advance unless you know there's a definite limit like return to work.

Depends on the baby/ child. I breastfed my first to 16 months, second to nine months ( milk dried up ), third to eighteen months and fourth to 3 years although for the last year of that it was only once at night to settle.

I let my three choose. They all lost interest around 12 months.

Optimal is to at least 2. But obviously every women's choice how long they do it for.