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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

How long did you breastfeed your children for?

94 replies

WildOnce · 17/04/2022 19:35

I’m interested because I breastfed my first till nearly 3 (boob monster) but with DS2 I am keen to wean by 1. He is 6 months now and a bottle refuser otherwise I might try earlier. I get no child free time and am v tired by the nights but feel guilty about breastfeeding my first for so much longer.

OP posts:
Mummyme87 · 17/04/2022 20:31

DS1 3weeks, we were both poorly post birth, he had meningitis and was NG tube fed, however he never once had formula until 2-3weeks which I’m very proud of as I think it helped his tummy against the antibiotics. I had 100ml ebm frozen when he was born and got him off the tube on to the boob. Unfortunately we just struggled, I developed PND, he was huge, it was red hot heat wave and he just wouldn’t bloody feed enough. So I stopped.

DS2 I breastfed until 2.5yrs. Stopped when I was in hospital with ectopic

apocketfullofposies · 17/04/2022 20:31

DD just about got to 13m, she had lost interest at 10m when I fell pregnant again. I was devastated and we kept going properly til her birthday and then had stopped by 13m.

DS we're 12m in and he's more of a boob monster than ever! Apparently his dad was hard to wean too 😂

Twitterwhooooo · 17/04/2022 20:33

Until I felt ready to stop, which was different for each dc.

Hoowhoowho · 17/04/2022 20:34

DD1- never directly breastfed but had some breast milk until her death at 3 months

DS- self weaned at 15 months

DD2- still going at nearly 3.5yo, will be happy when she weans to be honest.

MrsAvocet · 17/04/2022 20:35

Until self weaning - between 3.5 and 5 years each.

littlegiant · 17/04/2022 20:39

DC1 - 3 months but it was killing me
DC2 - still feeding to sleep and through the night at 2.5 years old.

Would actually love any advice on quitting this as he is a terrible sleeper and relies on me a lot for sleeping.
I want my life back!

Lazypuppy · 17/04/2022 20:42

6 months, so stopped as we started weaning.

I was ready to have my body back, and cant cope with idea of older baby/toddler grabbing at my top etc

SummerBluez · 17/04/2022 20:44

10 months with my first, not at all with my second.

comfortablyfrumpy · 17/04/2022 20:45

4 and 3 .

MakeMineAdoubleChocolate · 17/04/2022 20:46

Dc1 until 15 months
dc2 until 18 months
Dc3 until 16 months
Dc4 until 18 months
And dc5 is currently 16 months and still breastfeeding but I reckon I might stop within the next two months as its all the time still and I think I am pregnant :)

Ululavit · 17/04/2022 20:48

14 months (I thought stopping would help with PND, wrongly) and 2.9 (I stopped offering, we were down to one feed at bedtime and had been for well over a year).

Housetreecar · 17/04/2022 20:49

6 months each. Hated every second and if I had my time again totally wouldn’t have bothered at all. I’m yet to be convinced that in a time of hygiene and formula there’s any significant benefit. All kids now teens, not a clue how their friends were fed. I firmly believe a healthy food diet is far more significant long term than breastfeeding

hopperrock · 17/04/2022 20:49

5 months with both of mine. I take my hat off to people who keep going into school years - 5, 6, 8 years, amazing!

hopperrock · 17/04/2022 20:50

Sorry for your loss @Hoowhoowho Daffodil

drunkenflamingo2 · 17/04/2022 20:50

10 months, I'd have carried on for longer but needed a new hip urgently and he was so big I could no longer hold him.

89sammy · 17/04/2022 20:51

1st - 2 days
2nd - 1 year

Boating123 · 17/04/2022 20:52

Between 1 year and 13 months for my DD and DS.
I was ready to stop by then and didn't find it too difficult to stop breastfeeding.
I gradually reduced the breastfeeds from 6 months.

Tootle10 · 17/04/2022 20:55

DS1 was 3 years 8 months, self weaned.

DS2 was just over 2, again he self weaned but I was pregnant and ready to stop so I did a bit of 'don't offer, don't refuse' and also changed bedtime routine so that it didn't always include a feed (although would if he asked).

Still feeding DD (4 months) and will continue as long as she wants.

I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 7 years now and I think it will be bittersweet when this stage is over (I'm not planning any more children)!

user1487194234 · 17/04/2022 20:55

13 months for 2
4 weeks of hell with the other one

Swimbikerunmummy · 17/04/2022 21:01

5.5 years. Loving seeing others who did similar!

starsinthegutter · 17/04/2022 21:06

3 yrs and 5 yrs

AHungryCaterpillar · 17/04/2022 21:07

Won’t bother saying on here as got too much judgement last time!

sanityisamyth · 17/04/2022 21:07

6 months. He refused to be breastfed once he'd had a bottle and I couldn't express due to stress. Was gutted.

Mamabananananana · 17/04/2022 21:08

13 months and counting
No doubt will have to stop once im back at work full time Sad

MajorCarolDanvers · 17/04/2022 21:09

10 months for my first and regretted stopping as early

16 months for second - about right for us

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