How long did you/do you want to bf for?

[HungryClocksGoBackFourSeconds]

DD (2) recently had a bit of a strike and I panicked because I hadn't expected it. Up until then I didn't really think I would be that bothered when she stopped as we've reached my (WHO recommended) goal of 2 and beyond, but I was absolutely gutted.

Luckily, she's stopped striking now and we're back to normal, but it's got me thinking about how long I would like to feed for. It is obviously down to DD when she wants to stop, I'm not going to try and influence her either way but I think I will be really emotional when the time comes. Especially as I am unlikely to have any more babies.

My mum remembers the last time she fed me (self weaned), she said it was if we both knew it was the last time so it was bittersweet and when I thought DD had stopped, I was so sad I hadn't had that final feed for closure.

I suppose I'm just wondering what it was like when your DC weaned and how I'm going to feel when it does happen. At the moment I'm thinking that I wouldn't mind another year or so, but I might want another year after that, and another, and another........

[BertieBotts]

Well I know that now! this was in the days when babies were just cute things that other people had!

[MostlyLovingLurchers]

Perhaps we need to organise a mass toddler bfing somewhere very public!

It does seem that a big part of the problem is that people just don't see it, and most of those that do bf beyond a year or two feel they can only do so in private. I remember reading somewhere on here that even some bf support groups only let you attend for the first 6 months (not mine i'm glad to say), and that only reinforces the message that it doesn't matter after that.

Maybe just a paragraph in the nhs pregnancy/0-5 books would help, so that people are aware that natural term feeding it is at least a possibility, so that they don't feel like a freak for wanting to bf their child beyond infancy. The Real Baby Milk Guide does mention it - under special circumstances, which doesn't really help normalise it.

[Kveta]

Those of you who are bfing a toddler, have you got a local La leche league group? I found mine very useful to remind me that I wasn't doing anything weird or freaky. Very gentle reassurance that I wasn't alone helped me a lot :)

[EauRouge]

God yes, I started going to LLL when DD1 was about 18 mo and everyone I knew had stopped BF. I had already made my plan to let her self wean and it was such a relief to meet some like-minded people. Also they have good cake.