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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Anyone else BFing past a year? A chatty thread.

60 replies

JollyCrumbs · 02/12/2014 19:24

Hello!

Am 15mo into BFing my second DC and going through a phase of feeling a bit unusual for keeping up demand BFing this long.

I know there are loads of others out there. How is feeding going for you all?

OP posts:
MeeWhoo · 02/12/2014 20:37

Btw I breastfed Ds until he was 2.2 when I was 5 months pregnant. I wanted to give tandem a go by but he was a boob monster and I needed my sleep so ended up weaning him.
Dd is 9mths and i'm planning to bfeed to term if possible, i am still a bit sad I had to wean ds as he still needed the comfort and it must have been hard for him. Dd might actually wean earlier as she seems more of a calorie feeder rather than comfort feeder and she loves her food.

RightyTightyLeftyLoosey · 02/12/2014 20:41

Nice to know I'm not the only one feeding past 2!

Sometimes it feels like I'm the only person in the world still feeding at this age!

RightyTightyLeftyLoosey · 02/12/2014 20:42

Oh and DS had a check up at Docs not long ago and when I told him he still feeds he was Shock and said he'd never met anyone who fed past 6 months!!

JuniperTisane · 02/12/2014 20:46

DS2 is still happily feeding twice a day at 23 months. DS1 stopped just before his 4th birthday in september. He was down to once every day or two, just for 10 seconds. The last month or so it was every few days. A few friends and my mum know I still feed DS2, nobody knew I was still feeding DS1 past two though.

BlueberryWafer · 02/12/2014 20:47

I wish I had carried on longer, I felt so pressured into stopping breastfeeding at 8 months, people telling me I was doing it for me and not for him etc Sad I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant with number 2 and hope to breastfeed for longer this time.

It's strange really, people are so pressured into breastfeeding in the first place, then pressured into stopping at 6-8 months!

BlueberryWafer · 02/12/2014 20:48

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack the thread, I know this is a thread for those still breastfeeding past 1 year, I guess I'm hoping this will be me next year Smile

HumphreyCobbler · 02/12/2014 20:54

that whole 'doing it for you' chestnut really gets me riled! People do talk such rubbish. I am sure you will be going strong BlueberryWafer. When people used to ask me if I was STILL feeding I learned to say "YES! Isn't it FANTASTIC! I never thought I would make it this far", with the most massive grin. Stops them dead in their tracks.

starlightloz · 02/12/2014 20:57

Feeding my 17 month old right now, I can't envisage him weaning, he is so determined and treats me like a cupboard he can help himself to at anytime! I fed my eldest until he was 2 as he was lactose intolerant but DS2 stopped the day he was 1 though I was pregnant so that maybe influenced his choices. Well done all of you breastfeeding Mums,top job.

BuffyFairy · 02/12/2014 21:01

Hello! DS is 10 months, feeds on demand and definitely has no plans to stop soon!

He has resolutely refused a bottle all of this time so I was very relieved that he took a cup of expressed milk at his settling in session with his childminder today.

DD self weaned at 22m when I was 5m pregnant. I really wanted to tandem feed so felt a bit upset about that.

OodKingWenceslas · 02/12/2014 21:07

I'm feeding ds who is 21 months. I fed dd3 until past 3 , tandemed for a while too. She still looks longingly sometimes but she lost her latch and couldn't do it any more ( she never had a good one due to tt)
Neither have had bottles, straight to doidies and then normal cups

Wincher · 02/12/2014 21:51

Hmm my post vanished!

I am 'still' BFing 15 month old ds2. I fed ds1 until 2.1, not quite sure what I'll do this time. I can't really imagine stopping yet. I do occasionally feel a bit self conscious but I'm not really bothered. I'm quite involved with the local LLL and that's a supportive place to be.

QuietNinjaTardis · 03/12/2014 10:33

Dd is one on Saturday so after that will be feeding her over a year old! She doesn't really demand to be fed though if she's cranky I'll offer and she'll normally have some. Think it chills her out a bit.
She still gets fed before naps and bedtime and one feed in the night so she's not deprived or anything. Am hoping to reduce it a bit further still over the coming months but I need to get nighttime sleep sorted first and then I might try dropping the nap feeds but I'm not fussy yet.
People are aware I'm still feeding and apart from my mother asking when I'm going to stop no ones really commented. My Dh is really proud of me and encouraging. I don't really want to feed over two years old I really would like my body back at some point! But I'm happy enough at the mo and dd is too so it's all good right now.

QuietNinjaTardis · 03/12/2014 10:37

OH and blueberry you're right, my mum was so encouraging with me breast feeding but as soon as dd got to 6 months and started cutting her first tooth she was asking when I'm gonna stop, still is. I don't know why. She seems to think that teeth will hurt me (she has 8 now and it's fine) and I'm making a rod for my own back (ho ho that old chestnut! ) and I'm teaching her bad habits Hmm I don't really care. I'll cut down in my own time in a way that will be gentle for dd.

Allstoppedup · 03/12/2014 10:42

Feeding my 11mo right now. We are demand feeding still and honestly it varies how and when he feeds day to day.

I'm a bit unsure of what we will do going ahead. I'm the only mum in my 'mum friends' circle who still breastfeeds so sometimes feel a bit lost regarding how to proceed!

I've had a few negative comments about 'still' BFing even though it's within the guidelines and the word creepy has been floated around for BF over a year (for the record, I totally disagree!) I've already had grief for BLW, BW and co-sleeping so I can imagine I will have to defend myself all over again if we do extended BF. I think I'm honestly happy for DS to self wean but I do get tired of comments from others.

DP and I are looking to TTC in about 6 months and realistically I'm happy to try tandem feeding but I just feel a bit clueless!

Sorry that turned into a bit of a rant! Grin

noblegiraffe · 03/12/2014 10:51

I'm feeding DD, nearly 2. I fed DS till 17 months and it was easy to stop as he just lost interest. DD is still very interested so I'm a bit alarmed as to how long she is planning to continue as past 2 is not in my plans. However if DH puts her to bed, she lays down nicely in her cot and says night night, then five minutes later gets up and screams like a banshee until she gets milk. Not sure how I can break that habit without tears, it's easier to feed her. But once she hits two, I think I want to be free of bedtimes (and night wakings). DH's turn.

Original poster
JollyCrumbs · 03/12/2014 11:23

All welcome here, whether you're feeding past one, hoping to feed past one, or stopped feeding. We all think this works for us and it'd be nice if thinking ' nobody else does it' wasn't a factor in folk deciding to stop.

I love hearing about the wide range of normal too Smile

OP posts:
Allstoppedup · 03/12/2014 11:34

Thanks jolly Grin

For the record, it hadn't really occurred to NOT do extended BF just because I don't know anyone else who does, it's just quite often they will all discuss formula amounts, weaning to cows milk etc and I have on occasion felt a bit 'left out' if that makes sense!

It's more the negative comments I find difficult. So far I've tried to ignore and remind myself that everyone does it differently and there IS no right or wrong particularly.

It's been making me feel a bit fed up and although I want to do what works for DS and I but sometimes don't feel confident enough to openly defend our choices anymore. Sad

ItIsSmallerOnTheOutside · 03/12/2014 12:05

Thanks for starting this Jolly. My dd isn't 5 months yet but I'd like to bf until she is at least 1-2.

Some people, including dp's mum, have seemed uncomfortable with me bf at all so I am quite worried about how they will react when at 6 months I don't stop.

The NHS guidelines say ideally you should exclusively bf until 6 months and then start solids alongside bf, so I don't understand where the attitude that it's strange to carry on past 6 months is weird comes from. Do you stop ff at 6 months? If so, I suppose that makes sense that people would think it should be the same for bf.

I have another question, do any of you extended bf'ers still bf outside the home once your baby stops looking like a baby? From what I've read it tends to cut down to just 1 or 2 feeds a day so I imagine it is possible to just do this at home but I don't know if I'm being naively optimistic.

QuietNinjaTardis · 03/12/2014 12:14

I don't feed dd out of the home, she rarely asks for it and if she naps out and about she just misses that feed. She's too interested in what's going on around her to feed properly anyway.

ThereisnoFinWay · 03/12/2014 12:24

Yes, "still" feeding DS2 at 18m. I stopped with DS1 at 17m, due to illness (mine) but have no intention of stopping with DS2 yet. Plenty of my friends know I'm still feeding, but family not really. He only feeds at morning, bedtime and naptime now. I won't tell family a lie if they ask but I don't mention it either as I know they don't approve. I love it now he asks properly, as soon as he gets his sleeping bag on at bedtime he says "mil, mil" makes me smile every time :) . Not so much in the morning when he comes in to our bed and seems to like the more gymnastic feeding style, often sitting on my face to feed!

leedy · 03/12/2014 13:29

Also "still" feeding here at 2, fed his older brother til he was 2.5 and I was 5 months pregnant. Have to say it's incredibly easy at this age - no night feeds, no worrying about "skipping" feeds (I'm planning a weekend away in January, though will bring the pump), but still have the benefit of it if he's sick, etc. Also he unlatched this morning and went "MMMMMMMM!" with a big satisfied beam. melts

I feed him in public rarely enough just because he's rarely interested in feeding when he's out and about these days, though if he does start demanding MILK TIME! and can't be fobbed off with some other distraction I just do it, I figure the more people see nursing toddlers the less weird it will seem.

RaspberryBlonde · 04/12/2014 10:19

We are similar to lots here, feeding DD at almost 1 but very few others I know are and the couple I know are intending to stop at 1. Will be nice to hear some other experiences.

We're at a couple of feeds a day now but largely comfort...if she's actually hungry she wants food! She has just started to pat both hands on her chest when she wants milk which is cute now but maybe a bit too descriptive....this despite my best efforts to do baby signing with her!

QuietNinja our DD's are almost the same age, mine is 1 on Monday.

jimijack · 04/12/2014 13:41

23 month old ds is attached to me as I type this.
I feed him on demand. It's lovely.
Kind of thinking of reducing after Christmas as he will be 2.

I'm more traumatized by the thought of parting with him to play school in the new year for a couple of mornings a week.

Need a plan, he loves it so I think it will be a challenge.

Sid77 · 04/12/2014 14:50

I'm still feeding my nearly 14 month old and feel a bit unusual where I am. Fed DS1 for 6 months and always topped him up with formula. DS2 however took to BF straight away and we haven't looked back. He's never had a bottle and is allergic to cow's milk. He's not that keen on food and doesn't seem to eat much; he has 4 Bfeeds a day, but none at night. I love feeding, don't want to stop - but should I be trying to cut down to encourage him onto food more? He's growing and happy - although has had bronchilitus and cold after cold after cold, so I'm not so sure about the magical protective properties of BM!! What do you experienced feeders think? It's good to find some folk still feeding!!

leedy · 04/12/2014 15:35

4 feeds a day and none at night sounds normal enough at that age to be honest.

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