Breastfeeding past 12 months?

[TheEllisGreyMethod]

My DD is 14 months and not a great eater, she still breastfeeds about 3 times a day when I'm with her, mainly to sleep and her nap and once overnight. We went to a party Xmas eve and I took her for a feed as she was tired to which my friend exclaimed 'surely to God you're not still breastfeeding' I just replied i am aiming to do extended breastfeeding until 2 as per WHO. Im not really, I'm just going with what DD wants and needs. But it's left me feeling really funny, like I'm doing it all wrong and I shouldn't still be breastfeeding? Any advice from anyone else who has fed past 12 months?

I have a friend like this and my baby is only eight months!! I just reply it’s got amazing health benefits still so will continue for as long as I can! How dare they judge , imagine if it was the other way around.

It's perfectly normal OP. And none of anyone else's business. I fed all three of mine for 2 years plus - by two years it was just a quick morning and bedtime feed but at 13/14 months I was still breastfeeding in public with no worries.

Ignore any snarky comments. I say bloody well done -Breastfeeding is one of the very best things you can do for your baby.

It's sad that breastfeeding rates are still so low in this country.

I fed DS until he was nearly 2 and I swear I had comments about him still being bf from 4 months onwards, even from those who would have said they were pro breastfeeding. He self weaned, was very self confident and well adjusted. I swear bfing through him going to nursery full time and the 1-2 phase kept him way healthier

I breastfed my 8 year old until she was nearly 3, perfectly normal to breastfeed a 14 month old

You’re doing a great job! Ignore stupid questions like that, you obviously are still feeding her and it’s a normal natural healthy nurturing thing to do. We live in a formula feeding culture now in the U.K. but peoples issues about normal infant feeding are theirs and not your problem.

I fed DD till she was 3 and DS is still fed way more than 3 times a day at nearly 2. DD self weaned and I hope to carry on until DS does the same.

It’s perfectly normal. I fed my first until nearly 3 and my second was forcibly weaned at 4!

Ignore ignore ignore. None of their business, and you are doing what works for you. I fed mine until 10 months, milk dried up when I was pregnant. And the second was 22 months when he stopped feeding.

What you're doing is perfectly biologically appropriate and in line with both the NHS and WHO guidance. I think they both know better than your "friend".

Ignore her and keep doing what is best for your child.

There's an excellent group on Facebook called Breastfeeding Older Babies and Beyond. I'd really recommend it for solidarity and support.

I have a 14 month old who is a snack feeder round the clock. My older child naturally weaned at 12 months, which I was happy with. I have no issue feeding dc over night and in the morning and before bed, but I would quite like to stop the day feeds, but I haven't put the full effort in to do so and my dd loves it. I wasn't embarrassed at feeding a baby in public, but I do admit to feeling a bit awkward feeding a toddler in public. I'm having to express at work as my boobs are just too uncomfortable after a whole day away, so I'd love to be able to stop that too! I also want to not have to wear breast feeding friendly clothes.

You just do what you want. It's a very personal thing and it does have health benefits for mother and child.

Please ignore your friend. I'm still breastfeeding my 2.8 year old

And 1 year old

I fed my first until he was almost 2.5 and aiming for 2 years with my second too.

People will comment. It sucks but almost everyone will comment on your choice to feed your child. You just need to brush it off as you will get more comments.

It’s bonkers - there’s a huge push on encouraging breastfeeding, but people don’t like it if we breastfeed for what they think is too long.

I have 3. All have been BF past 1 yo. Perfectly normal.

If you don’t pump during the day your supply will adjust as necessary. I work a 4 day week. On working days, I only feed before and after work and overnight. On non work days, I feed throughout the day and overnight. Have done this with both my children and it’s been fine. I was engorged after the first few days back at work but no issues since.

Breastfeeding peer support worker here. Part of a large community of c250 bf mums in two counties. Over 50% are feeding over 2 year olds at least once a day. Many at tandem feeding toddlers and babies over 3 too including me. It's absolutely fine OP. Join a bf support group online.

It's fine just ignore the detractors breast feed your baby as long as you want to . It's good for her and for you.

My DD is the same age and similar in that she feeds morning, night and on average once in the day if she’s upset/tired. I can’t explain why but recently felt embarrassed to still be BF, but this thread has made me feel much better. PPs are right that it’s still
so beneficial to feed at this age, and other people’s judgement is their own issue

@YellowDiamondsInTheSky thank you. I did try to not pump at work, but was so uncomfy by about 3pm. I am planning on trying again when back at work after the Xmas break and am hopeful that it might be ok this time. Would be amazing to get some time back!

Ignore. I'd advise a really confident response like yours always works best so that there's no room for it to be a discussion.
You're still breastfeeding?
Yes, I love that one on one time with her
Yes I'm going to until she's 2 or self weans

www.instagram.com/heysleepybaby?igsh=bmxkbTgwYm90Ynhy has some great content on just being true to what is right for you, whatever that is.

The more confident you are in it and how happy you are with it the less likely they are to be able to continue their judgement as you've shown them up.

I breastfed until 19 months/last month. I think I would have carried on but my milk dried up due to only feeding once per day before bed.

I miss it. Bedtime has gone from a 10-20 minute routine to an hours-long battle and I'm losing approximately 3 hours every evening to the carnage. In fairness he's been ill and is now teething but I know it would have been so much easier if he were still breastfeeding. My partner and I do share/tap in and out of these evenings by the way, it's not a solo mission.

I think some people don't want to breastfeed and think that everyone feels the same way as them: they want their body back, they want to be able to drink etc, they want to "share the burden" of feeding, they think it's "just milk", the list goes on. I once had a woman tell me she stopped at 7 months because the 2 year guidance was only for developing countries and didn't apply in the western world 🫠

All that to say that you should do what's best for your baby and for you, because you're the one living with the choices you make. I bet your friend isn't giving this as much headspace as you are!

I breastfed for 3 years, most people are surprised once it goes passed 6 months because it's not seen as the norm. Ignore your friend.

I also remember seeing a mum breastfeeding a baby maybe about 1yearbold and thinking "my goodness he's huge". Ofcourse my own DD had been many times bigger (in fact in age 5 clothes as she's very tall) but once you stop and it's not your baby it doesn't register the same as it's still unusual.

You're doing fine Continue as long as you and DC are still happy to.

A lot of people in the UK have a weird thing against breastfeeding past 12 months (some even past 6 months) - not sure why this would be, although the UK does have pretty low BF rates in general. I moved to Germany and it is entirely normal here to breastfeed into toddlerhood. I fed three kids each to 4 years, 2.5 years, 3 years. Just what worked for us at the time.

I think it helps to know that you might encounter the "It's weird now, they're too old" mindset because it can be a bit baffling if you've been in a bubble of other new mums where they all know about the current recommendations. Whereas if you know it's just the other person who has an outdated view, you can more easily ignore them, or avoid the topic and let them assume you have already stopped - whichever is easiest at the time.

I used to go to my local La Leche League meetings which were nice because I wasn't the only weirdo in the room still friends with most of them 14+ years later as well. Whereas I've lost touch with more of the people who thought it was weird that I was "still" BF.

I defo found the period between 12-24 months awkward in the UK. They are too young to be subtle about it but older than the "normal age" and it can feel really embarrassing to be doing something outside the social norm.

However, for every surprised comment I received I will say that I experienced very little open hostility and mainly supportive comments.

Mama, you feed your baby! Wherever and whenever she and you want.

Your friend is wierd for feeling she has a right to comment anything at all on how YOU feed YOUR child

I’ve fed past 2 - the WHO recommends at least to age 2! I just ignore any comments - I’m doing what’s best for my kids and if that makes someone feel something uncomfortable then that’s up to them to reflect upon! Haven’t really gotten much comments tbh - I think some women who haven’t breasted have feelings about it but I feel like that’s more about their own stuff.