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Original poster

Why do people breastfeed past 1year old?

420 replies

Mommabear20 · 15/01/2022 14:07

Not a bashing thread, I'm genuinely interested in peoples reasons!

My DD was formula fed and once she was a year old and could drink cows milk, she stopped formula completely and no longer uses bottles at all.

So my question is, if you have breastfed your DC past 1 year when it's no longer needed for their nutrition, why do/did you continue?

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Tee20x · 15/01/2022 14:23

Just makes life easier. You don't hit the 12 month mark and say right that's your lot & hide your boobs forever more.

Like others have said;

  • easy way to calm them down/put to sleep whatever
  • lifesaver when they're ill and not eating as it makes me feel like at least they're getting some form of nutrition
  • DD can't have cows milk as a main drink as allergic and breast milk is a better alternative than oat/soy I would imagine
  • not inconvenient really. DD only feeds in the morning and at bedtime & maybe sometimes during the night. But again Cba to nightwean yet and isn't doing anyone any harm.
Fallagain · 15/01/2022 14:24

I also deliberately wanted to bf until after I had my covid vaccine to pass on some antibiodies.

SunsetInToulouse · 15/01/2022 14:24

Surely it's more natural for a human child to drink human milk than it is for a human child to drink cow's milk?
I carried on beyond a year, and I saw no reason to stop and provide DC with milk from another species!

Interested in this thread?

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1 year olds Families General parenting
CiaoForDiNiaoSaur · 15/01/2022 14:24

Because I wanted to.

Because dc wanted to.
Because there are still nutritional, and other, benefits.

waterlego · 15/01/2022 14:25

We were both happy, there didn’t seem to be any good reason to stop at that point. It ceased to be his main source of nutrition from that age, but remained the best way to comfort him, especially if he was ill or in in pain, and was the easiest way get him to sleep.

Fastforwardtospring · 15/01/2022 14:25

DD never accepted cows milk, never had a bottle, was easier to keep going as was only morning and night feed, she stopped at 2 1/2, DS started refusing feeds at 19 months and already having cows milk from a cup, I let my DC lead the way. To this day DD isn’t keen on cows milk, cheese, etc, she’ll have a bit but that’s it.

Wasabiprawns · 15/01/2022 14:26

If you get to a year it's probably easy and therefore really easy to continue

Hugasauras · 15/01/2022 14:26

It is strange how people think cows milk, milk designed for calves, is nutritionally better than human milk designed for humans! And how it's odd for a slightly older baby to continue to drink milk that is tailor-made for them v milk from a random cow that you buy in the supermarket Confused I guess it's just the method of delivery that people struggle with.

SalsaLove · 15/01/2022 14:26

People? Surely it’s women who breastfeed?

ancientgran · 15/01/2022 14:26

@Lancssss Actually it seems so obvious I wasn't sure if I should say it but then I thought that is actually the reason so why not.

stargirl1701 · 15/01/2022 14:26

When I started bf with DD2 it was all about the physical health benefits of the milk - her reduced risk of allergies, asthma and eczema. I also knew it would benefit me in terms of reduction of cancer risk.

I ended up bf until DD2 was five and half years and I saw through that journey how it was really a holistic parenting approach rather than a milk delivery system. DD2 seems to have much better mental health and a more secure attachment profile than DD1. I can see how the toddler gymnastics are the building blocks of proprioceptive development. Once bf shifts from on demand, I can see how it is basis of learning bodily autonomy and the give and take of relationships.

It was hard to get started in the first couple of weeks, the period from 12-24 months was horrid as I was still bf on demand day and night but back at work. From 2 years onwards it was a dream though.

It is one of the things I am most proud of in my life.

DD2 was diagnosed with 11 food allergies between 6 months and 12 months. I worked with the hospital to introduce each food allergy into my breast milk and she is now only waiting for a nut challenge allergy and she will be allergy free.

Classicblunder · 15/01/2022 14:27

I am still breastfeeding my 2.5 year old. Mainly, and I am not trying to be facetious, it's more that I haven't had a good reason to stop. He feeds most mornings and when I put him to bed (obviously not when DH does), if I am away, he is fine. It is easy and convenient and a nice way to bond. It would upset him if I suddenly stopped and I have no reason to do that

miltonj · 15/01/2022 14:27

@WhiskersPete

The WHO recommends doing it for a year as it's good for them

WHO recommends 2 years as there are proven benefits for mother and child including immunity and gut health an lowers risk of breast and ovarian cancers for mother. There was research on this published just last week.

Yes i miss typed. I meant 2 years.
MistyFrequencies · 15/01/2022 14:28

All the reasons people have posted above. Also, my boy was really sick at 2.5years, breast milk literally kept him alive. ...he wouldn't take anything else, pulled out every tube the hospital put in etc. So I'm forever grateful I let him decide when to stop. Which he did at 3 years old.

Yxzl · 15/01/2022 14:29

It was the path of least resistance. It's not just nutrion for toddlers, it's hugely soothing and comforting especially for illness/sleep/tantrums. I weaned at 3 and 2 because they chose to wean themselves but I know of children who've weaned later. I gave cows milk in a bottle too and they still wanted breast.

At 1 there aren't many parallels to be drawn with ff, it's more about bonding and comforting as they get older. Also the WHO recommends breastfeeding to supplement weaning until 2 so perhaps you could research their reasoning if you want a more scientific answer.

Covidclaire · 15/01/2022 14:32

Because it was easier than stopping.
We were in lockdown so it wasn’t like I could go anywhere on my own.
It was free.
It saved on the washing up.
I didn’t have to go downstairs to get milk for them in the morning.

I think it’s more interesting to ask why people stopped given it’s actually a lot easier and less hassle to continue. I expect it’s mainly down to circumstances, e.g. needing to go back to work. When I went back to work after DC2 I was working from home with a nanny looking after the kids from my house. So there really was no need to stop BF. I could feed in the day if I needed to.

Diggersaursarethebest · 15/01/2022 14:32

They still need milk for nutrition at 12months. It’s just from that point it’s safe for that milk to be cow’s milk or formula or breastmilk. Breastmilk still has all the same immune benefits for a toddler as it does for a young baby and it starts being less of a commitment because they feed less often and eat more food and your milk supply gets more flexible - many women find they can skip feeds or do extra feeds with a toddler without any issues.

PinkestMoon · 15/01/2022 14:33

-because there are health benefits to both mother and child
-because breastfeeding is hard work to establish and, once it has been, it feels worth the long run
-because it is pure comfort for a child in a world where that is scarce
-because, although questions like this are based on a sense that it's unnatural to breastfeed longer term, it's not and should be more normalised

Ozanj · 15/01/2022 14:33

@Mommabear20

Not a bashing thread, I'm genuinely interested in peoples reasons!

My DD was formula fed and once she was a year old and could drink cows milk, she stopped formula completely and no longer uses bottles at all.

So my question is, if you have breastfed your DC past 1 year when it's no longer needed for their nutrition, why do/did you continue?

Because I personally believe that while a toddler needs milk human milk is preferable than animal / artificial alternatives.
Diggersaursarethebest · 15/01/2022 14:33

It’s so helpful when they’re ill and refuse to drink or eat anything else too.

SecretWitch · 15/01/2022 14:34

I breast fed my daughter until she was three. I had no specific plans to do so. We both just enjoyed the time together. My other two children stopped bf in much shorter time.

Classicblunder · 15/01/2022 14:36

I think it’s more interesting to ask why people stopped given it’s actually a lot easier and less hassle to continue. I expect it’s mainly down to circumstances, e.g. needing to go back to work

My DS went to nursery at 12 months, didn't affect breastfeeding at all, he was down to morning and evening anyway.

BendingSpoons · 15/01/2022 14:37

DC wanted to carry on and I was happy to carry on.

Breastfeeding continues to help with:

  • Hydration when ill. DD will feed when reluctant to eat and drink
  • Immunity passed on. I also think it sometimes protects me against his bugs as I am exposed to a bit of it early. (Not sure if this is possible scientifically)
  • Comfort when needed e.g. hurt, upset. I can comfort in other ways but this is the quickest if he is really worked up. Particularly useful if he wakes at night from a bad dream etc.

I work and sometimes go away for the night and DS is fine without, so there is no real downside for me. (I have limited feeds at points, so he can't feed whenever he wants.)

wishing3 · 15/01/2022 14:37

Because my daughter bloody loves it and relies on it and would be really sad and confused if I didn’t breastfeed (main reason)
Because it’s how she gets to sleep calmly at night
Because it’s convenient
Because it’s still recommended as of benefit by the WHO
Probably in that order! I’ll miss it when I stop but will be nice for her dad to be able to put her to bed at some point hopefully!

Svara · 15/01/2022 14:37

It's recommended for at least two years, so I think the question is why stop early? Obviously if you do stop it is for a reason, and not judging that, but if you have no reason to stop then you would continue. Nothing magically happens at one year old that makes breastmilk lose its value.