When to stop BFing?

[chinchillaaa]

I asked my HV about this but she massively avoided answering the question.
My daughter is 11 months old and EBF, total bottle refuser, will drink water out of a cup but not milk. This means all her milk-as-a-drink comes from breastfeeding alone. So my question is this, assuming she eats a good diet with plenty dairy in the form of whole milk porridge, yoghurt and cheese etc, when can I stop breastfeeding? Meaning she would have no milk-as-a-drink at all?
I would love to hear how other people managed the same situation!!!

I gave up around age 2 (my choice).
The answer to getting them to accept cows milk was 30 seconds in the microwave and half a teaspoon of hot chocolate powder. Very weak, lukewarm hot chocolate had similar level of sweetness and comfort to breast milk

2 of mine never really moved to cows milk/other milk in a cup - one was was 20 months the other over 2. Both only had one bf a day after 12 months. Can you taper her towards 12 months and then stop just so you feel assured you followed the guidance. But if she eats diary etc and a varied diet - it won’t matter.

Yep you can

Mine was a milk refuser entirely, she never drank cows milk and still doesn’t. As long as they have enough calcium in their diet it’s fine to stop.

Calcium comes from loads of sources - cereal, white bread, veggies as well as dairy and it’s actually not that difficult to get their full dosage without milk. So if she’s happy with milk in cereal and yoghurt too then you’ll be fine.

I think after 12 months you can stop if you like. Mine was a bottle refuser. Once I actually stopped at 16 months he started having a cup of cows milk morning and night but he wouldn't do that while I was still feeding him!

It is fine to have your calcium in other ways e.g. in porridge. Ideally until 12m they are having some breastmilk or formula for the added nutrients. You are nearly there, so I'd think you are fine to start reducing feeds over the next few weeks.

I went to around 21 months - DD refused cows milk as a drink so I didn't bother pushing it. She had (still has) milk in weetabix at breakfast, cheese and yoghurt every day so I think that's enough from what I read. I gradually reduced feeds over time (can't remember when from!)

21 months DD1 and just short of 2 for DD2, both were bottle refusers, DD1 has never drunk cow's milk she despises it.
Although I BF to that age, at a certain point we stopped out of the house feeds and in the end it was just bedtime.

My daughter fed until 14 months, possibly 15, but weaned herself in all honesty. She didn't touch cows milk until she was 2 and even now isn't a huge fan. She just had yoghurts and porridge instead

You decide. I stopped the night before the fourth birthday. I was done! I had my three years to reduce the chance of breast cancer. My doctor warned me they don't want to stop. For me I continued because of night waking. It was easier than stopping.

I BF until mine was nearly 2, and she wouldn't accept cows milk as a drink until then. With my next one I am intending to stop at around the 12 month mark, as I am more confident about life with BF - with my first I was worried about getting rid of her ultimate comfort thing!!

Thank you all so much for the replies! She currently feeds first thing, mid morning and bedtime, but she has skipped the mid morning one a few times with no ill effects. I think I’ll work towards dropping that one over the next week or 2 then the morning one after her first birthday.
@Hopperhead that gave me a giggle, I thought I had tried every trick in the book to get her to drink milk but that’s a new one! I will be giving that a go once I’ve stopped BFing :)

DS stopped by himself in the day about 18 mo, but would take milk in cups etc in the day and I then very gently persuaded him to stop at night over the next few months.

I was lactose intolerant as a toddler so had to stop drinking milk almost as soon as I’d started it (formula or breast milk never was a problem, just cow’s milk as a drink, and the whole issue was actually related to ear infections and antibiotics messing with my gut health), and absolutely hated lacto-free milk so had to get my calcium from other sources, and was taking calcium tablets as well. I’ve never had any issues whatsoever.

Milk isn’t necessary as long as the need for calcium is filled 😊

I'm still going at 13 months but mine only takes sips of cows milk here and there. I'm not concerned. Whenever I decide to stop bf I know he likes full fat Greek yoghurt, any kind of cheese, and whole milk in his weetabix. He'll be getting plenty of calcium I'm sure.

Warming the milk might help too

Thank you all for sharing your experiences it’s very reassuring!