Thoughts on breastfeeding a toddler?

[atait1502]

Looking for some general thoughts and opinions on extending breastfeeding. I have a nearly 2 year old, and planning to continue for now. Had a mixed bag of responses from people so just looking to see others opinions and thoughts?

I am looking to wean eventually in the near future just not sure how to just yet!

Gross when they have teeth and can eat food. No need, saw a toddler the other day eating chicken nuggets and chips at a pub then pull its mums top down for dessert. Grim.

How is it restrictive to bf a toddler at bedtime? Past the age of 1 toddlers naturally bf a lot less and mostly for comfort. Most might do it at wake up time and before bed, or only before bed.

No one is breastfeeding a 2 year old every 3 hours like a baby. What a ridiculous comment.

The only person’s opinion that matters here is yours.

If bf has been going well it’s usually just a winding down process, feeds naturally get dropped until eventually you’re not providing enough milk to make it satisfying for either baby or mum.

I stopped about 8 months with my first as he started biting and I think we both ended up too tense for it to be a nice relaxing experience. With my other three it kind of naturally stopped somewhere between 1-2 yo. I would have carried on longer as I found it a relaxing part of bedtime but they get to a point where they only feed for a couple minutes then roll over to sleep.

I always found bf feeding easy once any early day niggles had been dealt with.

Fed mine until two years nine months, when my milk dried up. It’s just a normal thing to do. She’s 15 now.

The only 'grim' thing here is your attitude. That clearly didn't happen, or not in the way you have described it.

I went back to work full time at 7 months. I still breastfeed and DS is 2. I pumped when at work, and I breastfed when I was working from home (2 days a week, nanny would bring him to me to feed) and the rest of the time. By 11 months breastfeeding was a morning and evening / night time thing. At almost 2 it's just morning and evening and if he's restless/in pain.

I'm still feeding DS, he's almost 2. Vast majority of people have no idea, it's a morning and evening thing, maybe lunch too at the weekends. It's easier to continue than to try and stop.

He has a dairy allergy so breastmilk would have to be replaced by processed sugary crap milk.

It also puts him to sleep in 5 minutes, calms any tantrums, helps with teething and illnesses.

It absolutely did. While I was in a pub garden watching the football actually. Can you explain why a child who can eat a full roast dinner etc needs to be sucking on a tit after?

I had a really strong breastfeeding aversion suddenly when DC2 was about 1 and a half, so stopped then. DC1 stopped when I was pregnant with DC2 because I couldn't feed her without throwing up. If you're happy and your DC is happy then it's fine. I'd definitely stop by 4 though, personally.

@BiteSizedLife No, but they probably encourage it partly because it helps to space out your children if you don't have access to unlimited food and contraception. Having a child every year is pretty bad for women's health.

Can I ask how you stopped? My DD just attacks me and screams until I give in 😅

Wow, tell me you're a man without telling me you're 'a man'

Is there a reason why you're sexualizing breastfeeding so much?

My girl had teeth at 4 months old. Do you think this is a good age to stop?

Ridiculous comment, most babies have a tooth at 6 months and WHO recommends BF until 2 years and beyond.

it's absolutely not? I went back to work full time when my daughter was 10 months, and I am still BF her she's nearly 2 years old.

I fed mine until a week or 2 before she turned 3. When she got to around 1 maybe I stopped feeding in public and would have food/water for her unless she had hurt herself but continued in private and at family's houses for another year. Once she got to around 2, I started cutting back on the daytime feeds so it was just morning and night, and then cut out the morning feed.

OP, it's no-one's business but yours and your child. if you are happy, keep doing it. You don't have to wean because of society's pressure. I BF once a day after dinner, mine is 21 months. I have no plans to stop this. If I'm out in the evening she manages just fine without it.

This is absolutely not true. Inform yourself before making baseless comments on here.

Not a man, a pregnant woman actually. Happy to verify in private messages. I just think it’s absolute unneeded and agree with other posters that at 2, it’s about the mother not the child’s best interests.

Yep. In reality the WHO probably doesn’t give a shit when women in developed countries stop breastfeeding their kids (or whether they go back to work 🙄). They are more concerned about cultural pressures to stop breastfeeding putting babies and toddlers at risk from water borne diseases.

For having an opinion? Is my opinion not as valuable as yours? Not as valid? Are you simply just right for your opinion? If so, on that basis, so am I?

i still haven’t seen any conclusive evidence why a child who as I’ve said can eat a full roast dinner etc needs breast milk? If that’s the case, why stop at 2? Why not continue until 10, 15, 50?

What? I’m all for breastfeeding and breastfed my child until he stopped naturally at 2…. But why are you putting up with this behaviour over anything? Attacking you and screaming?

Breastfeeding should be a peaceful and bonding experience. I wouldn’t let my child behave that way about anything!

I think it's between you and your little one.

Mine is going to be 5 in August and he's still asking for it and I don't refuse. We're both neurospicy (ADHD) and it's a very useful tool in calming things down and emotional regulation.

I feel very sad women in our culture feel the need to even ask this question, as the society has totally sexualised a female body and in consequence finds extended breastfeeding weird and disturbing, when it's the most natural way to provide your growing child with extra nutrition, immunity support and comfort. While eating dairy and drinking cow's milk is made to be the preferred norm. Crazy if you ask me!

But not everywhere in the world is like that.
Here is a lovely article that I felt was really eye opening when I first read it.

Good luck on your breastfeeding journey, as long as it works for the both of you it is okay to carry on.