When did you stop Breastfeeding and why?

[Cheffie100]

Trying to decide when my Breastfeeding mourning should end and interested to hear others views and reasons.

30 months - I would happily have kept going (as would he!) but dehydration via hyperemisis with 2nd pregnancy made the decision for me as the milk just dried up after a couple of weeks. He was a real guzzler, even as a toddler, and occasionally asks for it now, even at 3+! As I'm feeding his sister I've been tempted a couple of times, especially if he's been unwell or sad, to pop him back on! His dad would have a fit though!

8 months for my DD. I'm returning to work soon and wanted to sort the sleeping through the night and drinking from a cup/ bottle. I started at 8 months thinking it would take a while, but we stopped all BF within a week. I made the decision based upon her having a very healthy solid intake and BFing less. I do feel guilty about stopping, but I didn't want her to be too attached to BFing when I had to go back to work. For me that would have been harder to deal with.

7 months for all three of mine, though they each had a bottle a day (either formula or expressed) from a few weeks old.

I have just stopped BF DS3 and really pleased I managed to keep BF going for as long as I did with the others. 7 months is about my limit though. I just get to the point where it feels it's time to stop (I have to say all three transferred to bottles and formula very happily) and it's been a relief to stop, each time. I am in awe of people who BF for years as it's just not something I could ever have imagined doing.

According to my mum I was around a year when I stopped nursing :)
My DC were 1yr (pg with dc2, v painful and supply had gone), 4 (gradually stopped over a periods of 9 months self weaning) and the last one is 4.7 and yet to wean. I ' let' the self wean because I found/find it easier. I can still go out, stay away for a night or two but letting them wean gradually at their own pace works for us.
I still regret DC1 weaning so early but it's the usual of doing the best I could with the knowledge and info I had at the time.

DC1 just after 1yo. Was down to one feed a day anyway, and thinking of stopping. We had a lovely dozy feed and a nap and I just woke up and thought "let's leave it at that". DC1 wasn't bothered either way, loved bottles by then.

DC2 I had to go into hospital at around 16mo and we had to go cold turkey. I hated stopping, he was still feeding multiple times a day, but after a couple of nights of crying he was fine. Offered breast a week later when I was out of hospital and free of drugs, but he wasn't interested. I definitely missed it more than him.

all three were about 15 months. I just got fed up of the brutality of nights as htey were co-sleeping - kicking and stretching. I needed my body back by then, and some good sleep.

18 months but we haven't really stopped properly, he will have the odd feed every few days.

Seeing as all bar one of the medical staff in hospital thought I was going to stop when he was a few weeks old, I'm thrilled that we are still going.

DH wants him to wean, I certainly don't want to stop and I want to take DS2s lead.

I'm currently tandem feeding a school aged child and a toddler. I think I am ready to stop but seems they aren't yet. My DH thinks they won't stop unless I make the decision but I would like them to self-wean.

I'm worried my eldest won't ever stop.

2 weeks

Still mourning it now though nearly a year on! But it's much easier with time.

Maybe it's different if you've been bf for a long time but I try and just give DS a hug and play a fun game/do something silly with him to make him laugh when I feel sad about it? And hug DH if DS is asleep.

Thanks for all your responses. Really interesting reading, much appreciated (smile)