Breastfed 2yr old - 2 nights away - any experience?

[daysfilledwithdappledlight]

My little one is 2yrs,3months.

We breastfeed at bedtime only, has been this way for about a year and I don't imagine there's much milk there it's also a comfort.

I often miss one bedtime a week, sometimes 2 a week for work, but I've always made sure they're not consecutive as didn't want any last drops to stop. She's self weaned herself down to this pace and I'd love her to decide to stop when she's ready (within reason for me!)

Has anyone had this bf routine at this age?

I have the opportunity to be away for 2 nights. I'd be back just intime for bedtime on the 3rd night. My worry is, if she's still breastfeeding at bedtime then, will 2 nights in a row put an end to whatever milk there is left?

Pumping was only successful for me up to a year when supply was plenty, I definitely don't think I'd get a drop if I tried now...

I know everyone is different and so no way to know for sure but if you've got this far, I would love to hear from anyone that's been in a similar situation and what the outcome was. Thank you x

I think your milk will be fine after 2 nights, especially if you’re used to occasionally skipping one. It might be what prompts your dd to stop though, so it’s how you’d feel about that. Not a guarantee of course but my three all self weaned and my eldest was in a similar way to what you describe. Down to just a bedtime feed and then I missed one or two due to work and she never went back to it. I was fine with it, and she was too, but it was unexpected. She was 15 months.

Mine self-weaned at 2, but by that stage I would have just gone away and whatever happens happens. I was ready for it to end by that point- not fed up with it, just accepting that it was going to naturally come to an end soon.

She's used to the odd night without it so she'll be fine, it's more that you have to be at peace with it. I don't think two consecutive nights would stop your milk though. I'm sure my son was on and off and sometimes taking a cup of milk instead. I imagine there were consecutive nights of no breastfeeding in the run up to it ending.

I'd just focus on soaking in each night with her in the run up to your night away. Cherish it all and remind yourself it might be the last- that would be the case even if you weren't going away anyway.

My milk never actually dried up in the 6 months between stopping breastfeeding ds1 and getting pregnant again. As you have breastfed for so long, you will most likely be fine to carry on if you want to.

Thank you for these replies. Really appreciate it.

I really would like to it be on her terms as it has been so far and that's been a real privilege. I don't want to cause that so I need to sit with it as if this prompted it to end I'd be pretty upset.

"I'd just focus on soaking in each night with her in the run up to your night away. Cherish it all and remind yourself it might be the last- that would be the case even if you weren't going away anyway."
This totally made me well up and is so true. Thank you. Ending it on her terms does mean I'll never know when the last night is and I'd never thought of that. And expect it to be in the next 6months seeing how long we've been down to 1 feed. Bizarre how emotional that's made me! I only ever planned to do it for 6months and somehow we're here.

I went away for 3-4 nights a few times when my DD was about 2yo (work trips). She resumed BF as normal each time when I came back!

I was equally as worried and emotional about it as you though, OP! So I was really relieved.

Ahhh thank you for that. Didn't imagine it would feel so emotional / feel such a big deal!

Just don't want me going away to be the thing that causes her to stop...

It's hard. I remember sensing it was coming to an end but had no idea when that would be. I treated each night as the last night.

Whenever it ends, just remember you'll have had this wonderful time together. And the gorgeous cuddles don't stop. I still cuddled and rocked my son to sleep for a long time afterwards, and still sometimes do at 3. They stay little for a good while yet

I went away for 3 nights recently and thought it would likely be the end of my 2.5yo's bedtime breastfeeding, but it didn't. I think it takes quite a while for that last bit of milk to go.

My son (3 1/2) is similar, mainly bedtime although mornings too if he can! I did my first 2 nights away in the summer when he was 2y 11m and worried the whole time I was away because I never felt full. Came home, normality resumed and there was still milk!

Great work on feeding for this long too 😍

Around the age of 2 my boy started to skip the odd night, we were also feeding in the morning and he skipped some too. Then he would skip 2 nights or 3. After that he tried but I don't think he was bothered anymore and stopped. He asked for milk about a week later so I told him it was gone and he was fine with that. I think if they are already used to skipping a night then 2 nights won't make any difference.

Oh and it took ages for my milk to actually dry up so don't worry about that.

Buy some wonderful story books while you’re away or order if you don’t get chance to shop. Ease into this new phase with lots of cuddles and cosy story times.

DD refused to feed for 3 or 4 nights when we were away from home but then went back to feeding until just after turning 3. Tangentially DS spent almost 3 years having 1 feed a day until almost his 5th birthday! So it may well continue for some time!

I was still producing milk 18 months after I finished feeding DD when she turned 3, your milk will be just fine.

Thank you for all these incredibly helpful replies. I couldn't find information on this anywhere on the internet, so helpful to hear from people that have had past experience, thank you!

I went away for 2 nights when my eldest was around 2 and a half. She was having a bed time feed still at this age, maybe even a morning one too still. Being away for 2 nights was not a problem. She carried on bf.

I had to go away with work for 10 days when my youngest was nearly 3 and still breastfeeding morning and night.It was on another continent so no chance to pop home at the weekend or anything. I assumed that would be the end of breastfeeding but the day I got back he just carried on as if nothing had happened and continued until he self weaned 7 or 8 months later. I could probably have used the break to encourage him to stop if I had wanted to but I was happy to go with the flow. I really wouldn't worry about 2 days away at this stage. Hope you have a nice trip.

I go away 2 consecutive nights once a month and was so worried the first time. My littlest is 2y 9m and she is fine with me being away a couple of nights. She skips the occasional morning feed anyway so i try to prepare myself that any time could be the last even when I’m at home!