breastfeeding - when to stop?!

[honey2theb]

my dd is 12 weeks on monday. awwwww. I am really enjoying breastfeeding. i was worried i may find it weird to be honest, as a few friends of mine had babies the same time as me and decided to bottle feed. But it was the best thing i ever did. ive had no problems at all, and really enjoyed the bonding with dd. so when do i start weaning her off booby?? shes had a bottle a day since she was about a week old, but lately seems to be refusing bottles for breast. she was a large baby, and has followed the 91st centile, so shes doing really well on my milk. i just wanted to know generally when some other mams have stopped.

thanks
honey xxxxx

i fed dd3 till she was over two years old.

she just used to cuddle up on my lap for feeds. now she goes and cuddles dh i think i have been cast away lol.

what sling did u get?

freedom sling? just ordered it. is it any good?? it looked great! dd loves to be carried when we go shopping - and i love shopping, so thought it would be a good idea!

looks lovely. i couldnt get on with breastfeeding successfully in one like though, but found the moby wrap sling suited me better. i fed dd3 walking round markets, at the hospital and round ikea as well.

lol, i love ikea!! will have to try it!! am going to google the moby sling.

dp liked the look of the freedom sling too, so i think hes planning on using it, bless him!

honey - i never quite managed to get dd to feed while in a sling but used it to cover us. great idea and one you get into feeding out n about - there is no looking back!
dp used our sling all teh time but is more into his babyhawk now!!

BF ds til he was 18 mths and dd until she was 4.5 years old!!!

I weaned my ds because I did everything I was told, was the norm. However, when my dd came along we did as we pleased or should I say as she pleased!!! I wanted to stop but she did not so I had to do as I was told.

She would just say "feed". From the age of 3 yrs it was only morning and evening. By the time she was 4 yrs I insisted my dh put her to bed to help her not think about it. She eventually stopped altogther about 4 months ago but drinks huge beakers of cows milk.

Feed for as long as you and baby are happy to. Good luck

berolina - when staff in shops tell me they have a chair in the toilet to feed the baby i always look at them in a puzzled way then say

" what?? Oh, you thought i wanted to change the baby!!! no i want to feed him!! [ laugh ] imagine eating in a public toilet, that's so unhygienic, imagine your other customers having their coffee in the toilet [laugh] "

..embarassed employee slopes off from crazy woman

Honey - you are mad to think of stopping now!!!! . the first 12 weeks of Bf are the very worst bit - the best is yet to come. you have stuck out the really really hard work bit - reward yourself and your baby with the joys of Bf for ages to come

give yourself a pat on the back ( but secretly, so as not to upset your formula feeding friends...its a very ...sensitive issue)

and buy yourself some nice treats with all the £££££ you are saving. i have 3 magazines on subscription and dont feel guilty at all

I am BFing DS at almost 7 months. I had planned on just BFing till 6 months but we both enjoy it plus i could not be bothered with the sterilising/ formula faff as babies can't have cows milk as a drink till they are 1. Now he's started on some solids he has been feeding a bit less which is quite nice.

I still BF DD 15m. Morning and night then at nap time if we are at home as I work PT. Some days she will ask for more, especially if she is feeling poorly.

That is the main advantage to me atm. She has just cut 4 teeth in 2 weeks so has been really off her food, giving her extra feeds mean I know she is still getting a balanced diet. It also helps if she wakes at night as I can BF her back to sleep in 10 or 15 minutes rather than spending 2 hours trying to resettle her

As for position - well tbh most of the time she lies on my lap but will sometimes sit up and move my breast up to her mouth, she holds it like a bottle - a bit odd at first but she finds it comportable!

Keep going as long as you want to, I intend to let DD self wean.

I was thinking about you again while I was feeding dd tonight! You asked what position you feed a 2 year old in - well you don't just suddenly feed a 2 year old! They grow day by day so thier position will adjust as you go and you'll get a few months down the line and wonder how you managed it when she was so tiny! Hope it's all going ok

I think you should bf your baby as long as you feel happy doing it. There is no right or wrong answers, and maybe bottlefeeding is the best thing for your friend, but not necessarily for you.

I bf my son until he was about 2.5 years old. It felt the right time to stop and weaning was fairly easy. I have other friends who have bf their children unti 5 years old.

The world health organisation recommend exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months and then bf until the age of two years old. However your child may have other ideas.

Anyway congratulation on the birth of your baby.

thanks again for your replies. you've given me a lot to think about, and i know i def dont want to stop yet.

I'm glad i found this site, people ar so helpful. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

my advice si stop when you both want to stop

I fed DD1 until 12 months, DD2 15 months

16 mths and still going strong. He drinks cows' milk too (when he nicks his sister's sippy cup)