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Original poster

What age did you all stop breastfeeding?

423 replies

flawless29 · 01/11/2023 10:19

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!

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TheLoveIsReal · 01/11/2023 21:00

Beginningless · 01/11/2023 20:59

2 and a bit years for one and nearly 4 for the other. If you told me before babies that I’d feed a child til 4 I’d never have believed it! It was what she needed though.

You are aware comfort is a need, yes?

Toottooot · 01/11/2023 21:02

1 week and perfectly happy that I gave my child ‘the best start’ by stopping when I did.

DrJump · 01/11/2023 21:02

DS1&2 were 4ish and DD was 3ish.

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gamerchick · 01/11/2023 21:02

2pence · 01/11/2023 20:59

@gamerchick not at all. I often breast fed absolutely for my own convenience. It's far easier than sterilising bottles.

Also handy for getting kids to sleep.

Unless unwell, toddlers don't need breast milk.

Wtf has sterilising got to do with natural term breastfeeding?

2pence · 01/11/2023 21:07

Sorry, no idea what natural term breastfeeding is. Only know that what worked for me. And OP is asking for different opinions and experiences.

I gave mine. There's no shame in stopping breastfeeding when you and baby are ready.

My opinion may be different from yours @gamerchick but that doesn't make it wrong.

Is there a reason you're so touchy. Have you been criticised for breastfeeding "too long" in real life?

Sexnotgender · 01/11/2023 21:09

DS - 18 months
DD - 2 years and a couple months

Vivi0 · 01/11/2023 21:09

I fed DS1 until he was 4. Still feeding DS2 who is 3, although only at bedtime.

Echobelly · 01/11/2023 21:09

I never got BFing working with my oldest, with DS we kept going until about 10 months... I was planning to wind down at about 11 months, partly as we were going on a big holiday just after his first birthday and wanted to end the one remaining night feed, but as things panned out he started sleeping through and just naturally seemed to lose interest in it at the ten month point.

TheLoveIsReal · 01/11/2023 21:10

2pence · 01/11/2023 20:59

@gamerchick not at all. I often breast fed absolutely for my own convenience. It's far easier than sterilising bottles.

Also handy for getting kids to sleep.

Unless unwell, toddlers don't need breast milk.

You are aware comfort is a need, yes?

TheLoveIsReal · 01/11/2023 21:11

Sorry @Beginningless, quoted wrong post.

Enderunicorn · 01/11/2023 21:11

3.5 although between 3 and 3.5 it was very infrequent.

Gowlett · 01/11/2023 21:13

Just before 1st birthday.

StopStartStop · 01/11/2023 21:13

I'd have been about twenty-eight. The baby was four years three months old.

DearRose · 01/11/2023 21:15

22m ish. He just wasn't bothered any more, would bob on and off the boob all the time to chat, poke me in the eye etc... He never asked for milk after we stopped. Not even the first day.

Elzibells · 01/11/2023 21:20

3.5 years here. We struggled alot at the start but in the end it worked out. It was a brilliant regulation/reconnection tool for DD in toddler years, massive source of comfort to her. Weaning was child led and extremely gradual, it took quite some time, but this also meant it was a calm and gentle end to our journey.

princefamilypaper · 01/11/2023 21:21

I was prescribed the combined pill while breastfeeding and it stopped my supply so I ended up stopping suddenly at 10 months. I wanted to do at least a year/18 months but because it was a gradual decline in milk my daughter wasn't bothered and wasn't a big issue at all for her when it ended so that was nice in a way but I was really sad.

Reach9kat · 01/11/2023 21:34

9 months with my first. He was big it was hurting my back, feeding awkwardly. He started walking, had loads of teeth and I just wasn't enjoying it anymore. Switched to formula no bother. He honestly didn't care that we stopped boobing. Meant dad could actually help with bedtime and during the night. Yeay! Currently got a 7 month old and have started giving one bottle of formula a day to him but currently happy still breast feeding.

YorkshireIndie · 01/11/2023 22:02

DC1 was 2yrs 1wk but that was only because I got hospitalised. I was ready to give up sooner than he was

Currently feeding DC2 but she is only 15wks. Hopefully get to a year

cakecoffeecakecoffee · 01/11/2023 22:35

DD was about 3 months. I had PND and feeding wasn’t going well.

DS was 2 1/2 years. No PND and he fed really well.

Simd1 · 01/11/2023 22:37

DS1 - a few days
DS2 - 21 months

lorisparkle · 01/11/2023 23:32

17 months for all 3DS. I stopped when pregnant with ds2 and then ds3 because I did not want to tandem feed or want them to link me stopping with a new baby. With ds3 I stopped at the same age to make it fair!

Onthelastdayofseptember · 01/11/2023 23:58

Dd 1 stopped herself around 15 months (may have been as I was pregnant).

Dd2 was just 5 years - only at bedtime for last 2years though. Nice gentle end for us both.

Interested that quite a few natural term feeders here. No one in real life knows I carried on so long, as it was generally at night and I kept quiet about it as feel there is a stigma. Which is a shame as it was very positive for us both.

Flyingalone · 02/11/2023 00:03

I stopped at around 2 months.
He was taking well to formula, my own milk started to dry up a bit (I was very stressed with a colic baby). And I wanted husband to do more nights with the baby.

At times I wished I BF for longer but I'm prob romanticising the memories.

2 months is a great effort and has given him plenty of nutrients as a head start.

SpringingJoy · 02/11/2023 00:05

Dc1 7 days
Dc2 7 days
Dc3 3 years, 4 months

jadey1991 · 02/11/2023 00:30

Daughter 1 stopped at 6 months
Daughter 2 stopped at 3 years
Son stopped at 12 months