Those of you who breast feed toddlers when do you/did you feel its time to stop?

[MrsWho]

Just wondering when you feel its time (ie if the child didn't wean themselves)

I stopped at 19 months. DS had been having only one feed a day (bedtime) since he was 14 months.

I didn;t think he would be that bothered, and he wasn;t!

I wanted to stop so that I would be happy that DH could put DS to bed on occasion, allowing me to go out, or away, but I think I would have carried on longer if DS had seemed to particularly want to.

I stopped at around 15 mths as I was pregnant and I didn't wish to tandem feed

I stopped when DS1 was 20 months and I was 5 months pregnant. My milk stopped and I grabbed my opportunity. But I must say that it was blimmin awful, and I wish I'd carried on...

ds did wean

I didn't feel it WAS time but he was insistent

Did DODR (don't offer, don't refuse) with DS1 - was gutted when he sacked me at 13 months. DS2 (almost 1) often isn't too bothered during the day but will cheerfully sap me all night - plan to keep going as long as he wants to (assuming he won't still be keen by the time he starts school).

Quick question.

If you tandem feed with a newborn and a two year old. Will you still produce colostrum for the newborn. How does it work?

I've often wondered that, Bubble. I have a feeling that you do still produce colstrum, but can't remember where I procured that information. It may well have originated in my own head.

you do produce colustrum. Your body gears up for the new baby prioritising it.

Some determined smalls carry on regardless when i was preg i really noticed a change about 4/5 months - dd used to sit on my lap feeding (well suckling really don't think there was much transferred) with a sippy cup. Sit up have a big drink then want the other side.

Lol even though my little one is only just 7 months i say to him every week. 'make the most of it i'm stopping next week!'

It's just sooooooo easy when he's whingy and sleepy to whip em out and feed him!

better explanation than mine
here

and
mrs Who - I don't know yet.

Thanks for that link.

Bubble - I have a copy of the tandem feeders' bible going spare, if you want it.

oops - or you, muminfife.

DS1 stopped when he was nearly 17mo. I'm still feeding DS2, who was 16mo yesterday. I was pg with him when DS1 stopped, or I think he'd have carried on.

My milk changed taste, I think - I was producing colostrum one side and milk the other by the time DS1 weaned as he only fed one side first thing in the morning by then. DS2 has no such reason to stop - and seems in no rush to. He sits up and waves goodbye to one side when he's finished, then wants the other now

Thanks, Rowan, but I probably won't need it.

We run a nursery and one of our children has a new baby sister. Dad came in with her last week and said that the new baby had been born at home in a pool, all was well, but that the baby hadn't fed for 12 hours (since birth.)

I said that newborns are often sleepy etc, and that baby's hunger would probably coincide with milk (day 3 ish)

He said that the milk was already there as mum was already feeding the toddler. Hence my question about colostrum. I think they're fairly clued up, it's just me who was wondering.

mrswho, i#m struggling with the same question. dd is 16 months. i#ve nearly stopped once, but copped out and i'm still doing one each day.
Question about don't offer don't refuse - does it mean don't offer boob in particular or milk at all? i would feel uncomfortable about not offering milk at mealtimes or at least regular intervals

21 months (got pregnant)

26 months (had to go away overnight to work)

DD1 stopped around about 3 but once I remember giving her milk after a particularly nasty fall in the park. (I still had milk as was feeding ds2 by then.)

DS2 stopped at about 3.5.

ds3 stopped at around 3 I think.

ds4 is still feeding at 2.5.

It never occurs to me to just stop. They seem to gradually ease off over time so there's never an issue. Makes sense to me.

Also, you are allowed to say 'no' now and again if you don't fancy them feeding. It doesn't mean you have to stop for good.

dd1 stopped at 13m when I became preg (almost to the day) and I couldn't feed dd2 ()

Has anyone got/fed older children they feed?

At what point does it feel weird ? (for want of a better word)

BTW I fed dd1 throughout pg with ds2 and then fed ds2 througout pregnancy with ds3. It wasn't a concious, pre-planned decision. I just went with the flow and did what felt right.

I stopped bfeeding dd1 when she was 16 mo. Would maybe have stopped a month or two earlier but we went on a long haul trip for 6 weeks and wanted the option of bfeeding her to give her some stability in a strange place. She didnt object at all, phased it out in 3 or 4 days. I think i was sadder than she was!

Dunno Mrs Who dd is 3 and it isn't weird.

To us anyway.