Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

When did you stop breastfeeding?

68 replies

Hope54321 · 25/04/2021 19:00

Hey guys, I’m interested to know:

When did you stop breastfeeding?

Why?

And did you need to offer an alternative such as formula or cow’s milk?

OP posts:
whattocallhim · 25/04/2021 19:04

Hello. I'll start. At 2 years as per the WHO guidelines, but I know not everyone can get that far and understand that. We had an unbelievably rough start which made me all the more determined to carry on. Went straight into cows milk. Why do you ask OP?

plixy · 25/04/2021 19:07

I stopped at 10 months. I then gave formula for 2 months before switching to cows milk.

GintyMcGinty · 25/04/2021 19:07

First at 10 months cause I was going back to work. Switched to formula.

Second at 15 months. I kept going longer to avoid the faff of formula which I found a real hassle with the first. Stopped because baby self weaned.

BergamotMouse · 25/04/2021 19:07

You'll get so many different ends of the spectrum.

I'd say stop when you want to, it doesn't matter about any one else's experience.

I fed my DC1 to about 20 months, I was pregnant, very sick and couldn't take it any more.

Still going with DC2 who is 2.5.

MixedUpFiles · 25/04/2021 19:09

Just after the 3rd birthday.

Why? I was ready to be done and we had made it to the 2 year mark so I was comfortable stopping.
At that point there were plenty of other sources of nutrition.

Seeline · 25/04/2021 19:09

First time 6 months, although I had mix fed from the start. Carried on with formula.

15 months second time - bottle and formula/cow's milk refuser ☹️

MySocalledLoaf · 25/04/2021 19:09

2 years 7 months (last week). I had cut it down a lot but then got a really bad migraine and took a triptan (after 3.5 years of having to do without). I explained and he understood although he missed it sometimes.

Notverygrownup · 25/04/2021 19:10

DS1 when he was 3. The last year was mainly last feed before sleep and first in the morning. Stopped because I was pregnant: I was tired, and he was ready to give up.

DS2 fed until he was 3.5. I hadn't intended to breastfeed him for so long, but he loved it and I hadn't got any good reason to stop, so we just kept going.

stargirl1701 · 25/04/2021 19:11

DD1 stopped at 10 days, relactated at 16 weeks, mix fed to 1 year.

DD2, ebf till 6 months, on demand bf till 2 years then night weaned. She self weaned at 5 and half years.

MySocalledLoaf · 25/04/2021 19:11

Regarding cows milk, he’s now drinking about 250 mL a day (I didn’t offer it, he asked.) He didn’t use to like it.

busface999 · 25/04/2021 19:11

Stopped at 17 months. I was keen to get to 12 months and once I got there, the feeds had reduced so much that I found it easy to keep going (found the first 6 weeks sheer hell). So had no need for formula. He was already on cows milk as a drink so I continued with that.

Scottishskifun · 25/04/2021 19:11

22 months he self weaned as my milk dropped due to 2nd pregnancy (MMC in the end)

He had cows milk as a drink from 12 months at nursery and at home but he would still ask for mummy milk.

Would have probably stopped shortly after 1 but covid struck and all the information was that BF gave baby/toddlers antibodies so we continued til he stopped.

Wouldn't have stopped before 1 as past the 7 month mark when he was on solids would have been way more faff to switch to formula but he cut down feeds to 5 a day.

JaninaDuszejko · 25/04/2021 19:12

DC1 15 months because my milk dried up when pregnant with DC2.
DC2 2years, 10 months because my milk dried up when pregnant with DC3.
DC3 4 years. Had a CMPA and wouldn't drink the soya milk or eat any dairy substitute. Grew out of the allergy a few months later but still very fussy about dairy products.

artyone · 25/04/2021 19:13

5 years with DC1
4 years with DC2

They didn’t self wean I persuaded them to wean by reducing to once a day and then reducing the length of time and then saying no more. I had just had enough really.

DC 3 is only a few weeks old so who knows.

No need to switch to anything as they were already eating and drinking plenty of other things.

GrumpyHoonMain · 25/04/2021 19:14

I want to keep going until 4 as he has allergies but will see. He’s 16 mo now and I offer cows milk in food in addition to feeds.

whyhell0there · 25/04/2021 19:15

Just over 3yrs, mainly because it was the easiest way to get him to sleep!! But also appreciated the immune system benefits and I knew he was getting adequate nutrition even if he was being picky about food.

I went back to work at 11 months though and didn't pump or introduce formula (well, I did try but he refused to drink it) - I just fed him when we were together & my body adjusted. He also had cow's milk from 12 months or so, in cereal etc.

Calmestofallthechickens · 25/04/2021 19:16

Stopped at 18 months because I was pregnant again, I started to find it a bit aversive, and also I wanted a break between weaning the toddler and starting feeding the baby so there wasn’t any jealousy about it. Toddler just had cows milk.

Second is now a year and I am conflicted, I would like to stop because I think she would sleep better, but she still seems so little to be weaned!

imaginethemdragons · 25/04/2021 19:17

8 months with first because I was going back to work and desperately needed sleep. Formula until 12 months then cows milk.

3rd birthday for second child , because it was a nice time to stop.
Thoroughly enjoyed breast feeding. Was sad to stop.

Juanbablo · 25/04/2021 19:18

15 months. Offered cows milk but he would never drink it.

DramaAlpaca · 25/04/2021 19:18

DC1 at 9 months. I was 12 weeks pregnant and I'd had enough, tbh. He'd lost interest as well, I think my being pregnant affected either the taste or my supply.

DC2 at 8 months. Again, that was long enough for me, and for him too as he'd lost interest.

Both were on a good mixed diet by then as according to the guidelines back then we'd started weaning earlier than it's done these days. Also, personally I really dislike breastfeeding when they get teeth. We switched to formula and a little cows' milk.

OP, it's fine to stop breastfeeding whenever YOU want to.

whyhell0there · 25/04/2021 19:19

Oh, forgot to mention why I stopped - it started making me feel physically sick... Aversion, I suppose.

SteveBuscemisRheumyEye · 25/04/2021 19:20

4 years. Self weaning just did not happen, plus I filled for diverse when she was 3, which almost certainly affected her sense of security

Moirarose2021 · 25/04/2021 19:20

3 years 4 months, stopped because I had enough, all touched out by then

MoonBaby1 · 25/04/2021 19:21

Still going at three. It’s cheap, easy and convenient Grin

Coachee · 25/04/2021 19:24

At 2.5 years old. I had had enough! I never intended to be an extended breastfeeder but DD was hard to wean off. She’d never had a bottle or any formula but had oat milk in a cup at nursery (she had a dairy allergy which she’s almost grown out of).

If I have another child I am stopping at a year! I’d naively thought that’s when it would naturally come to an end (and heard this loads from friends) but it just didn’t!