breastfeeding past 1 year

[silver18]

DS was 1 last week and we're still enjoying breastfeeding morning lunchtime and bedtime. He's got a healthy appetite for food too. People keep asking when we're going to stop breastfeeding and hinting that he should be having cows milk (he does on cereal and from cup on lunchtime on the days i'm at work).

I know you're all going to say if you're both happy keep on as its so beneficial for both of us but I just need reassurance! I just feel a bit uneasy!

How will I know when's the right time to stop?
x

The right time to stop is when you want to, silver.

Why would you do it any earlier than this?

People who ask you about this may not actually think anything bad about what you are doing. They're maybe just curious.

:)

I know you are right tiktok! I just wish everyone though breastfeeding was as fab as I do!

Silver my DS was on the same sort of system at 1 year as you are on. By about 18months he'd stopped the morning feed, but continued feeding at bedtime till he was two. Then (don't know why, we were on holiday maybe his routine was upset) he just chose to stop.
He had a mixture of cows milk and bm, now cows only so never had to have formula for which I am pleased for various ethical reasons.

He is healthy and very tall for his age, not that that necessarily is down to the bm! Good luck.

Don't worry, people stop asking eventually In the end I just used to point to DD and say 'ask her' and people soon gave up. Lots of people on MN feed past a year so you'll find a lot of support here.

ooo feel better already!

DS will be 2 in December and has recently stopped feeding in the night, now just has bedtime and naptime(unless he is out in car or pushchair, in which case he just nods off).

When he stops asking we will stop, I am ready to stop now to be honest but as he still wants it I am happy to carry on. No need to plan anything IMHO, just stop when you both want to.

I rarely mention we are still breastfeeding unless it is relevant, and politely ignore suggestions to stop Eg MIL and SIL have asked before when I will stop and I just say 'Oh, I have no idea really...'

DS turns 2 on Tuesday and showing no signs of stopping yet.

It's not so much that I've made a conscious decision to carry on breastfeeding, it's just that I don't really see a reason to go through the process of weaning him.

If people ask when I'm going to stop (generally I don't tell people he still feeds, TBH) then I say when he stops by himself, or when I've really had enough of it. That seems to satisfy them that I won't still be breastfeeding at some "weird" age.

But really, why would cow's milk be better than human milk? He's a baby human, not a baby cow!

When children get their adult teeth at 7 or 8 they lose the ability to latch, so although most children stop before this, between the age of 2 and 4 is average I think - don't worry, he won't still be doing it as a teenager. :)

I was at a LLL meeting the other day and the leader was saying that the major brain development continues until the age of 3, and we know that breastmilk contains things which help brain development. Also there are still lots of antibodies etc in it which helps their immune system develop. And there are lots of vitamins etc in it, it's like a vitamin drop, if you have a non-eating toddler So there are still benefits past age 1.

i feed all five of my babies way past one year and enjoyed every minute. only stop if and when you want too!!! just close your ears and enjoy your baby

i think breast feeding is fab!!! fed all five of my lovlies well past the year mark. you will know when you want to stop or your babies may decide for you in the mean time close your ears and enjoy!

'ask her'

I'll remember that one!

I was gutted when DS1 self weaned at 15 months, but it was his choice. DS2 will have access as long as he wants assuming I'm not mighty sick of it, which seems unlikely!