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!

Toddlers need milk alongside food. My eldest refused to drink cows milk or eat cheese. So I doubt he would have got enough had he not been breastfed.

It's recommended past 1 tho

No, the recommendation is two years of beyond.

EBF is up to 6 months. From 1 to 2 you can supplement food with formula etc. There is no need to breastfeed after 18 months.

No, breastfeeding until 2 or beyond is the recommendation, alongside solid foods from six months.

@Tinklyheadtilt

https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_2

Not sure where you are getting 18 months from.

'From the age of 6 months, children should begin eating safe and adequate complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years of age or beyond.'

This is your opinion, and is contrary to official recommendations "From the age of 6 months, children should begin eating safe and adequate complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years of age or beyond."

https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_2

People should of course do what is best for their family and situation, but you're incorrect in your opinion. Plenty of people on this thread have also reported the personal benefits they found from long-term breastfeeding.

They don’t need antibodies and immunity support from their mothers whilst their own immune systems are still developing and isn’t a completed process until they are 2 years old?

That’s the main reason why breast milk is recommended until the age of two: for the health benefits.

UP to 2 years, UP to. Not you must do it to 2 years. Why do you think most people don't until that age?

I haven't back read 15 pages, but if breastfeeding provided "all the nutritional requirements", why do we have to give BF babies vit drops and no Formula fed? I have read in the past,BF is recommended for 7 years. I imagine most women are long back at work by this point.

14 months and only stopped then because I had terrible mastitis after a nasty incident involving new teeth. Eek!

Yes, up until the toddler is 2, then beyond if mother and child wish to continue. Where did you find 18 months? Do you have a link?

22 months with the first, currently on 16 months with the second but combi fed from 7 months. Currently have mastitis again so may not make it to 2 years.

Here is an NHS link too

https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/labour-and-birth/meeting-your-new-baby/breastfeeding/#:~:text=If%20you%20choose%20to%20breastfeed,beyond%2C%20alongside%20eating%20other%20foods.

19 months still going strong!! Thought by 1 we’d stop but my son had other ideas 😂

Neither of my breast fed children ever had a vitamin drop. I may be wrong and things may have changed since I breastfed but I think the only vitamin drop that is sometimes recommended is vitamin D and that’s only because there’s very little sunshine in England so the mothers usually have low levels of it themselves.

Vitamin drops aren’t given orally to formula fed babies because the vitamins have already been added to the formula powder.

Formula is completely artificial - there is nothing natural about it. Everything a baby “needs” is just compiled together in a factory and then filtered into a tin. Including vitamins.

Children usually have multi-vitamins up to the age of 12 so it’s hardly a formula versus breast milk issue.

DC1 - 6 weeks
DC2 - 3 months
DC3 - 17 months
DC4 - 13 months
Dc5 - 14 months

Definitely someone being triggered like. Most entertaining....

Every one in the UK is recommended to have vitamin D drops through autumn and winter but they don't.
The difference between breastfeeding and formula feeding from that point of view is you give a drop on your finger if breast feeding and if you are giving 500ml of formula they have added enough vitamin D to the formula to get what you need. Once you give below 500ml of formula you need to give a multivitamin - vitamins A, C and D should be given to young children.

Having breastfeeding for 10 months and formula fed for 14 months with the same child the vitamin D drop given every morning was a hell of a lot easier than making up the 500ml of formula for her to get the recommended amount of vitamin D!

I never said it's compulsory. In fact, I said the opposite. I was simply correcting you as you stated breastfeeding beyond 18 months has absolutely no benefits, which is untrue. As you've seen, the official recommendations state up to 2 years AND beyond, and several mothers here have shared the benefits it's had for their children.

How about you accept different mothers might do things differently to you and that is what is best for their children? Just like FF or BF for a shorter period of time was best for you and your children.

Not exclusive breastfeeding until 7! I work part-time and still breastfeed. It's not like they're still nursing every 2 hours😆 my son has cows milk when I'm at work (he doesn't have a lot. He's not keen. So it's good I still breastfeed him!)

@Nannyfannybanny it's because we artificially put the vitamin D into formula milk. They still get the supplement, it's just added to the milk. No different. They get it supplemented either way.

@Delphina17 because as you can see from many of the patronising and insensitive comments on here, those who BF for longer are often horribly self-righteous and boastful with a distinct hint of viewing themselves as superior.

It doesn't bloody matter, do what's right for you.