what's the longest you've breastfed for?

[weightstrugglinmum]

Hi all.

I'm just wondering what the longest times you have breastfed for? A friend has mentioned today that she still breastfeeds her 4 year old every night before bed, just got me thinking thats all, and out of curiosity I thought I'd put it out here, to hear about people's experiences!

Bf ds1 until 16 months, DS2 until 9 months, Ds3 until 18months and dd until 3 years !

I'm still bfing my 16 month old about twice a day, trying to wind it down but he's having none of it!

Although I should add that the last year of feeding dd was only at night, more of a comfort thing I guess.

16 months was the longest of my 3.

My 4 year old nurses at night.

4 years and 9 months I think was when we stopped.

22 months. 12 months with DS2 at the minute, not sure how long we’ll go for. He’s a biter!

I did a straight run of 4 and a half years. Two children.

just turned 3.

22 months with eldest youngest is still going strong at 17 months though!

12.5 months with DC1, it was my choice to stop.

3.6 years including tandem feeding for 9 months.

Over a total of more than 10 years - DD1 stopped at 4 years old, DD2 at 2.5 years old and DS is still going at almost 5 years old - but very little now! I would be totally fine with stopping now!! Just being guided by him.

One kid - 4 years 3 months.

All kids combined - 6 years!

13 months 12months 11months and feeding a 6 month as you can tell I aim for about a year!

6 months then I'd had enough

Just stopped feeding DD at 16 months

26.5 months, I’d have carried on but DD was ready to stop. It was nice to be led by her.

I'm still breastfeeding my about to turn two year old , she wants it first thing in the morning , right before bed or if she is hurt / stressed by something.

I don't really see a reason to stop as it makes sure she's getting enough hydration/ calories even when she's being fussy with food or drink and she's never been ill or needed antibiotics (not sure this can totally be put down to BF or just luck but I don't know a single other toddler who's not been poorly yet so I don't want to change something and break our streak haha)

Wow all, so great to hear some great responses, its not something I've ever really heard talked about, breastfeeding beyond say 6 or 12 months, and certainly into more early years, so it's so good to hear people's experiences. My son stoped at 11months because he had an infected eruption cyst whilst teething (required a hospital stay), and I was so gutted.

Both my DC weaned themselves at just over 12 months.

DGS is still BF on demand day and night at 3 years 2 months.

Sadly lasted less than 2 weeks, but swapped to expressing, did that almost 8 months, stopped due to rsi in both thumbs

It’s really common in parts of the world to bc wean much later Extreme breastfeeding: Should children be nursed for years? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18032390

personally I stopped when dc were about 2 but you wouldn’t get judgement from me. Some kids would love a milky cuddle at bedtime.

@Hummusanddipdip
Well done for expressing for so long after breastfeeding stopped, I tried for a month or so afterwards but my nipples just got so sore and my supply just dwindled.

3y2m for DC2. Still breastfeeding DC2 at 14m, planning to continue to about the same. For every 12 months a woman breastfeeds, her risk of breast cancer decreases by 4.3%. Plus a study showed that women who breastfed multiple children for more than 31 months reduced their ovarian cancer risk by up to 91% compared to women who breastfed for less than 10 months. So just trying to reduce my cancer risk as much as I can.