Breastfeeding children at the age 2 years and more

[Eva65]

Last time an old doctor told me that if I decided to breastfeed my baby longer than two years it will substantially increase his immune system because it is still created at this age. This was naturally for human to breastfeed until the mum had the milk, even after the child was five. We changed this practice in XIX century because artificial nourishment occurred. The practice of giving children different food than mum’s milk was developed by nutrients producers. Breastfeeding after the child is two years old influences positively on it’s relation with mother. What is your opinion on this matter? Have you ever met mothers breastfeeding the children at that age.

I think how people feed their babies is nothing to do with me. Each to their own, we are all just doing our best for our babies. I'm breastfeeding my 9 month old and will give up whenever I want, probably under 2 but if someone wants to continue for longer, or formula feed or do mixed feeding then who am I to judge?

Just curious what you hope to get out of this thread. I can sense it spiralling into a massive breastfeeding / feeding in general argument...

I couldn't breastfeed beyond the first few days despite trying my best and really wanting to. DS is now 2 and I can't imagine breastfeeding him as he's a big boy, loves his grub and has a full set of teeth.

But if someone else wants to breastfeed beyond 2, who am I to comment?

Op this sounds a bit like you're writing an article

Your boobs your choice.
Each to their own.

I've met people still bf at 5 but I got the impression they got comfort more than nutrition. I believe we would naturally wean around 6/7 years old.

Not for me but whatever you want is up to you

Of course they get nutrition. Breat milk is breast milk

In my gran’s time in rural India (twenties and thirties) it was very rare for women to survive childbirth and often the ones that did would breastfeed three or more (male only- females were put on goats milk) babies at the same time from within their family / community. It was done until the child grew teeth or the milk ran out — usually any time between 6 months to a year.

The World Health Organisation recommenced all infants should be breast fed until at least 2 years old.
It’s nutritionally tailored to meet he individual child’s needs, so yes, scientifically speaking, it’s the best thing for them to have.
But doesn’t always work out that way does it. I’d happily have fed mine for that long if life had worked out that way for us I don’t think breastfeeding a toddler is “weird” or “inappropriate” - it’s normal in most of the world. It’s just often not sustainable for that long for lots of mums, working mums in particular!
However people choose to feed their babies and for how long is entirely up to them! I know people who formula fed from birth, and I know people who’ve breastfed their DCs past toddlerhood until they naturally self weaned at 5. Whatever works for that mum and child is fine with me! Personally, I bf DC1 for 4 months, then moved to formula. Can’t remember how long I bf DC2 for, but medical necessity (separate issues for both me and baby!) meant we had to move to a prescription formula, which he still needs now at 2 and a half because of complex dietary needs. I’m pregnant with DC3, and will bf from birth again, and then just go with the flow - I’m happy to breastfeed for as long as it’s working out for both of us, whether that’s a few months or a few year, who knows!

Why I wouldn’t BF as long again, DC has Enamel Hypoplasia, (lack of enamel on teeth causing brown stains, teeth chipping off)one of the suspected causes is BF, fortunately only a mild case and composite veneers have sorted but his confidence took a serious dent whilst we sought advice/treatment. I would still BF but not for so long.

I have very recently stopped breastfeeding dd at 2.5. I’m pleased I bf for so long but it wasn’t because I thought it was better than anything else, I literally couldn’t be chuffed with the tantrums when I tried to stop!

She gradually weaned herself off, going longer stretches between feeds. She still asks occasionally, but I just remind her she doesn’t have it anymore and she’s fine.

It worked for us and that is all the matters really.

I found it was more from comfort than anything else after about 18 months. After she turned 2 it would literally be for less than a minute a couple of times a week unless she was ill, in pain or teething. Once she stopped teething she decided to stop breastfeeding which coincided with her third birthday.

She has never been seriously ill, recovers from colds etc quickly. Her speech was early and clear apparently bf strengthens jaw muscles that help this. She never really suffered from separation anxiety possibly because she spent that 1:1 time with me. Had a very varied diet at a young age but shes 10 now and isnt interested in half the lovely things she used to eat. But who knows these things could be a coincidence but we'll never now.

No one really knew I fed her so long as she was older and could be told to wait until we got home. She has always been very tall for her age so was probably the size of a 6-year-old when I stopped and looking at children that age/size now it would seem very odd, however when its your child they still seem like the tiny baby you came home with.

It isnt convenient for most mothers to breastfeed past a year due to having to go back to work or having other children or partner. I was a single parent with no other children and for the first 3 years was unable to find suitable work, therefore, it was easy to continue. What ever a mother decides is right for her family.