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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

How long did you breastfeed for?

107 replies

Greengiraffe1 · 19/12/2020 18:46

My baby is almost 3 months. Myself and my partner saw my FIL outside today for a walk. He commented that I shouldn't breastfeed my baby when she is over 1. I want to feed her for as long as she wants it, or until I've decided I've had enough and want her to drink from a cup.

I'm wondering how long you breastfed for as a general "this is when I'll stop/she'll stop wanting to"

Also, if you could give me any benefits for feeding past the age of 1 so that when he talks about it again (highly likely) I have something to say back to him that tells him I won't just stop at age 1.

OP posts:
twittwootwittwoo · 19/12/2020 21:06

Little one is turning 2 soon and she's still going strong.

By 18 months she stopped asking for it out in public but on the odd occasion when she does ask for it, it's only for a min or so

TillyTheTiger · 19/12/2020 21:18

^native should be nap-time

Miarara · 19/12/2020 21:21

18 months. When I started I was aiming for 6 months but then just carried on.

CheesePleaseLoueese · 19/12/2020 21:28

Stopped feeding DC2 at 13 months. I stopped because I was pregnant with DC3. Boobs were too sensitive!

Itmaybeus · 19/12/2020 21:35

Dc1 for 15 months self weaned.
Dt 13 months due to it taking to much out of me. They would have continued.
I think it's a personal decision for you and you alone when to stop, not even your dh should get a say never mind fil.

wurlycurly · 19/12/2020 21:39

2.75 years... Sounds way more digital than it was. No decisions but at the end didn't offer feeds. No feeding during the day after 15 months (unless ill) no evening feed past two years. Happy days! Miss them

mellowyellow6 · 19/12/2020 21:41

Silly question but is it quite possible to get pregnant whilst breastfeeding? I'm breastfeeding 7 months in and would like to continue for the time being, but equally we'd like to think about ttc again in the next few months. Thanks

happymummy12345 · 19/12/2020 21:43

I agree with others that it really is none of his business and I think it's a strange comment for him to make. I don't think there is any right or wrong, it's whatever is best for both mum and baby.

Personally I always knew i never even wanted to try breastfeeding or expressing, so I never did. I knew it wasn't for me so I made it clear that my baby would be exclusively formula fed from day one. I've never regretted it as I know it was the best decision for us both. And I will do the same if I have any more children in the future.

But do whatever you want to do.

GlitterandBalloons · 19/12/2020 21:45

None of his business, my FIL felt the need to comment on my breastfeeding also! The answer is as long as you want to, doesnt matter what anyone else decides is right or wrong.

Smarshian · 19/12/2020 21:47

I developed feeding aversion with both of mine around 5/6 months. Many of my friends continued until 2ish though.

Cyw2018 · 19/12/2020 21:49

Still going at 2.10 and DD is not showing signs of wanting to stop.

By one she only fed outside the house infrequently, by 18 months only if she hurt herself badly. Nobody would know I still breastfeed unless I told them as she only has it in bed (bedtime and first thing in they morning).

Ignore everyone else and do what you feel is right for you and your DD.

Cyw2018 · 19/12/2020 21:51

@TillyTheTiger
"Eventually stopped at 2.5 years, and when I did I felt like I'd lost a superpower, especially in terms of settling him to sleep."

This is the biggest thing putting me off stopping. Breastfeeding at bedtime is like an of off switch for DD.

aureliacecilia · 19/12/2020 21:53

2y9m. I wanted to get to six months initially but by that point I'd read up about it and things were going well so 2 years became my target. I'd had enough by 2y9m and was happy to stop.

GalesThisMorning · 19/12/2020 21:54

2 & 4.5. With my second I reduced feeds a lot from 2.5 onwards and it just sort of tapered off around the 4.5 mark. I weaned my first at 2 because I thought I had to and I still regret it and wish more people had told me I didn't have to.

8MinutesToSunrise · 19/12/2020 21:55

I fed mine til 2.5years. Probably would've been a bit longer but I had an unexpected stay in hospital. Up until 2 if anyone questioned I just said we're following the WHO/NHS guidelines. After that he mostly only fed for a nap and in bed at night so although I never hid it, it wasn't really visible then if you see what I mean.

Do what works for you two. Your body, your rules.

this is lovely and highlights some of the benefits.
AstridAv · 19/12/2020 21:55

I breastfed until 18 months. He showed no signs of stopping but I stopped because he wouldn't sleep. Was constantly waking. As soon as I stopped he slept through. I felt terrible for stopping but he'd got all he needed for a long time and he took stopping really really well

bodgerboris · 19/12/2020 22:10

2 year one month and the who recommend two years. Anyway babies can drink from a cup from incredibly young, you can try it now now if you out to their lips. At one they can have cows milk and some will take to it well and some won't. It was my intention to stop at 1 and switch to cows milk but my DS won't take cows milk. My second is just coming up 1 but still wakes a lot to feed in the night so I won't be stopping yet as it's how I get her back tos lol keep

callistography · 19/12/2020 22:16

I fed mine until around 3. By 18 months it had dwindled to night feeds I learnt to smile/ educate/ignore or deflect depending on the person making the uneducated inane comments.

Generally just ensure you have well-researched, succinct information to back yourself up with, quote the WHO code where needed and always remember:

Your baby, your decision
Your body, your decision

No one else can or should tell you what you should or should not do.

It's not a joint decision event

callistography · 19/12/2020 22:20

If anyone on here is at the stage where they wish to stop feeding a toddler but it's tricky, I recommend a book called 'Nursies when the sun shines'
I had to persuade one of my children to stop a little earlier than they would have wanted due to medication I had to start taking and this book gently helps with stopping night feeds. We just changed the word 'nursies' to what my child called it. Then whenever morning or day feeds were asked for, I just distracted my child and that worked well.

The whole don't offer/don't refuse thing is good as a gradual slowing down thing too, but only if/when you/your child decide xx

spaceghetto · 19/12/2020 22:22

I bf my 2 1/2 yo. Asides from the health benefits, he now asks for milk and books on the sofa and he will happily snuggle for an hour doing so. I feel now I am reaping the rewards of all those long nights and sore nipples!

rottiemum88 · 19/12/2020 22:29

I BF DS until just short of 18 months. Had planned to continue until at least 24 months, but he started to refuse the feed by himself and it seemed like a natural point to stop.

MondeoFan · 19/12/2020 22:30

First baby just over 2 years
Second baby 4 years

Would do it all again in a heartbeat. Tell FIL there's more to breastfeeding than just nutrition you know. You are also bringing up a confident and content baby

frolicmum · 19/12/2020 22:33

14 months and I looooved it! New baby is due in May and I'm already looking forward to it.

This is coming from a person who thought "it's not for me" but thought I'd just give it a go and I never looked back x

Jenifirtree · 19/12/2020 22:43

22 months for first. Then i had ds. Dd’s last feed was the night before ds was born.

Dd was 2.5 years and so very hard to move from breast to cow.!so hard in fact i was considering ttc again as dc1 hated colostrum Grin

Thisismyusernamefornow · 19/12/2020 22:50

First 2 years 5 months.

Second 3.5 years.