What age did you all stop breastfeeding?

[flawless29]

To all breastfeeding mamas, I have a 7-month-old and I'm just curious: at what age do most of you stop breastfeeding? I realize everyone's journey is unique, which is exactly why I'm reaching out. How long do you think we should breastfeed to give our little ones the best start? Thanks!

Over stated perhaps though I was more worried about type 1 diabetes reduction risk - also a worry in my family.

This highlights there’s no increased benefits either way then as I’ve had exact opposite experience with my two children who are now both teens. As you say maybe bf makes no difference and it’s down to the individual so why do they keep insisting on doing it after 2 years…? (Even upto arguably but let’s focus on the ones who keep doing it 2-7!!!?) pointless and only suits the mum nothing to do with the kids.

Ds 16.5 months - a very gradual and gentle cut down.
Dd - I wanted to feed her until she was a similar age but she decided herself to stop at 1! She loved bf and never had any issues so it was a big shock!
Only ever bf and never used bottles.

Again, I’ve had my own experience of both and highly recommend formula feeding in every single way. As for breastfeeding past age 2 I’m very against it. If that triggers you I’m sorry but it’s likely to be due to the fact you know I’m right it serves no purpose to that child, only to the needy mum who now can’t get her kid off the nipple so claims she’s doing it for health benefits. In fact she can’t get the child to do what she wants ie stop

Did they not teach you on your doctorate, @Mumbuns, that human perspectives are highly biased, and anecdotes are not the same thing as data?

Apparently not judging from subsequent posts 😂

What's your doctorate in @Mumbuns?

Don't rush, I'll give you time to Google.

My LO stopped himself at 16 months. We were only feeding twice a day (morning and evening) and he just wasn't interested.

At population level they can see differences in health between bf and ff populations - less hospital admission of babies less frequency of diseases etc.

It's hard but not impossible to separate out from other factors - like social economic and methods for doing so much argued about etc - for individuals it would be impossible to find and account for everything affecting them - hence it being risk reduction that is talked about.

Op is in very small group in UK to have got to 6 months bf let alone past it and if she wants to stop bf or not it should be entirely up to her.

Genetics absolutely do hence my above post. I think I’m fairly academic. I’m not sure how you equate one to the other here.

I agree it’s her choice entirely. My advice to you OP is to stop at this point. Sone will say you should feed until your child is aged 7 and that will give huge benefit to their health which apparently over rides the significant mental and emotional damage you would be doing by sticking a boob into your 7 year olds mouth.

Still feeding 13mo here. Had no intention to go on so long but she still wants it and it works for us so happy to continue.

That’s interesting. Is the claimed benefit to the mum or child re type 1 diabetes? And is the benefit only if fed up until age 2 or does the risk reduce further if fed until 4 and reduced further again if fed til 6/7? I’m interested to know as I’m unaware of this. Thanks

Well I prefer breastfeeding out the two

That’s great. Glad it’s working for you. Hope you see your adult children benefit from this. It’s been the exact opposite in my experience but again I appreciate that’s my experience. I just don’t think those feeding school age kids are being honest as to the real reasons.

LOL. Ok then, that's that sorted.

Dd self weaned a few weeks after her 3rd birthday. I was 6 months pregnant & think my milk tasted funny, as she kind of just stopped, she was only really having milk before bedtime at this point anyway.
I’m currently bf my 9 month old ds & intend to bf for as long as he wants to.

If only it was. Sadly there appear to be a few who think it’s ideal til 6/7. Worrying

Why would that be worrying?

Natural self weaning occurs between 2 and 7.

5 months DC1, 3.5 years DC2.

DC1 was a constant battle to breastfeed and I was proud I made it that long. DC2 just took to it so well and didn’t want to stop. Once we got past 18 months or so we started getting funny looks/ comments, but I always felt that as long as both me and DC wanted to continue we didn’t care about anyone else’s opinions!

As i read somewhere else- you only ever feed the child you fed the day before- it doesn’t feel weird when it’s your own baby. It came to quite a natural end- just at bedtime for s few months then gradually stopped completely.

I can see absolutely no difference between DC1 and DC2 though- in fact DC2 has always been the sicklier child!

@Mumbuns surely you do know, that in any study, there are exceptions to the rule - which in this case, is your children? Because you're children were 'the other way round', doesn't mean breastfeeding is as beneficial as studies have proven.

Wow - there’s an impressive argument.

What happens the day after a child’s second birthday that makes it suddenly ‘weird’ when it was fine the day before?

Most data/research I've seen focus on first months - but in ff societies finding data beyond that is going to hard as so few bf past that.

You keep going on about 6 to 7 years never met anyone who bf that long - never heard about it except in ant bf articles or odd poster on here. I have said longest I've ever met in RL was 2.5 years - I only got first past 12 months.

https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/diabetes/breastfeeding-protects-against-type-1-diabetes-but-cows-milk-may-up-risk-04-10-2021/

Those breastfed for at least six to 12 months were 61% less likely to develop diabetes than those breastfed for less.

Meanwhile, those given only breast milk for the first two to three months were 31% less likely to develop the condition than those who were not exclusively breastfed.

This is one of few suggesting getting to 12 months helped - also delaying cow milk introduction/limits and weaning age and fruit.

There were enough might helps combined with risks in my family to try bf - but that probably doesn't apply to the flawless29.

Bf does reduce risks of type 2 diabetes I think in mother's but most of that research seems to focus on gestational diabetes which won't apply to all also reduces breast and ovarian cancer - though other lifestyle things do as well.

DD is one now, would love to get to two. BF’ing has been one of the loveliest things I’ve done.

And the poster above it seems

Interesting I shall take a read later thanks. Again is there even a need at all after 2 years surely not