Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

What is the optimum length of time to breast feed?

43 replies

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 14:50

For babies and also for mothers.

OP posts:
ipanemagirl · 04/07/2007 14:57

I think the latest recommendation is 6 months for babies. I br exclusively for about 7 months and then tapered off and ds was still having one feed a night when he was nearly two! But I stopped openly bfing well before then.

I think everyone I speak to is slightly different, women have very different thresholds for it. I felt really ready to stop when I did and ds didn't kick off too badly.

But there is a lot of judgement about extended bfing so I would be surprised if a lot of women aren't influenced by that.

MrsBadger · 04/07/2007 14:58

in minutes or months?

Piffle · 04/07/2007 14:59

do you mean per feed/length soley feeding without solids or breastfeeding in it s entire scope?

MerlinsBeard · 04/07/2007 14:59

the optimum time to bf is until you feel you wnt to stop. for some that 2 weeks and some thats 2 years.

tiktok · 04/07/2007 15:13

If you are looking at the health research, Thomas, then there are studies which find a difference in breastfeeding up to two years - obviously alongside other foods - and I don't know if there has been any further research after that age.
For instance, women who have been breastfeeding for two years (and I think that's not in total, but with an individual child, though I haven't checked) have less breast cancer.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a measurable health difference for children bf long-term in the West even so. Exclusive bf for 6 mths shows the best health outcomes in children in all settings.

Breastfeeding is always a way of getting a nutritious and healthy drink into a child though, and there's there's no upper age limit to that. Breastmilk doesn't become non-nutritious just 'cos it has been going for a longer time.

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:16

BF in its entire scope. so how many months is ideal.

OP posts:
ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:17

sorry tiltok got distracted and posted without seeing your message.
So its better for mum to BF longer, and makes no difference at all to the baby after 6 months?

OP posts:
ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:18

oops Tiktok sorry misspelt your name

OP posts:
ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:19

I'm on DS 3 now. He's 11 wks and I'm concerned he won't last to 6 months with no food.

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 04/07/2007 15:22

he's only 11wks
why not wait and see?

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:27

Yes I will, I'm just thinking ahead. DS1 and DS2 would have really struggled to make the 6 month mark. But that was back in the days of being advisd to wean at 4 months all those many years ago. In 2004.

OP posts:
ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:31

I have a friend who exclusively BF for 1 year.
And another who is not coping with BF at 9 months ( her son is on solids). I wonder if she knew it makes no difference she could stop and not feel that crazy maternal guilt thing.
Isn't there something about excema and BFing being better?

OP posts:
tiktok · 04/07/2007 15:45

I absolutely did not say it made no difference after six months !

Health-wise, it is always a nutritious food and drink - however long it is given for. I said I thought it would be hard to do research that showed measurable health benefits in the West for kids fed long-term (ie to two and beyond).

But people bf for more than just health reasons anyway.

They do it because they like it - the physical and emotional connection with their children is impossible to measure on a scale, but it is important to them, and they know it is important to their children.

We often do things for our kids which we find challenging and time-consuming (though often, bf an older toddler is neither - it just happens!) . And we choose to continue doing them, because the benefits (as we see them) outweigh the difficulties.

Weaning advice in the UK changed in 2003. Babies all over the world breastfeed with no other foods and drinks to 6 mths. It doesn't have to be an 'endurance' test, seeing how long they will last! Most babies don't need anything else. Yours might be happier with something extra alongside breastfeeding a little sooner - don't sweat it

tiktok · 04/07/2007 15:46

Bf exclusively to a year??? Most babies would have solids...do you mean with no other form of milk?

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 15:56

Yes, no other substance passed this childs lips than breast milk for 1 year. (scary, huh?)

I enjoy BFing and find it easier than sterilising and carrying bottles around.

Being the character I am, I like to have some logical considered reason behind my actions and therefore seek an optimum time for something which is hard to measure.

I shall resist my temptation to over rationalise and enjoy BFing.

Thank you.

OP posts:
ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 16:06

But just one more question...
Why is it not a good thing to wean before 6 months?

OP posts:
tiktok · 04/07/2007 16:08

Ask on the weaning folder, Thomas

Or check out Cochrane on Medline or PubMed.

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 16:28

Ok, thanks

OP posts:
ipanemagirl · 04/07/2007 17:47

There is also a significant benefit in terms of the mother passing on her immunities to a bf baby or so I understood.

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 19:29

Any one else with any thoughts / advice?

OP posts:
ludaloo · 04/07/2007 19:37

....no idea... I bf dd1 until she was about 19mnths, ds until he was 7 months and dd2 until she was about 11 mnths

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 19:39

Why the difference Ludaloo?

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 04/07/2007 19:41

Some people believe that allowing a child to self-wean (ie to have breastmilk for as long as they choose) is very beneficial

Most children allowed to self-wean do so between 2 and 4 years of age

Breastmilk is always going to be beneficial to health, whatever the age of the child. It is an incredible substance. Long term breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother which seem to continue with each year of breastfeeding and with each subsequent child

so I would say, the optimum length of time to breastfeed is, as long as possible, providing both the child and the mother both want to

ludaloo · 04/07/2007 19:42

well dd1 could have let me bf for ever, but I was expecting ds and so I weaned her off at about 19 mnths, ds arrived when dd1 was 2.
Ds lost interest at about 7mnths. With dd2 I got the impression she would have carried on longer, but I was too tired to keep going.

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 19:44

It can be tiring, but its great getting to eat lots of food!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread