When should I stop breastfeeding

[Tiegs]

Hi everyone
My baby has just turned 1 and I have been breastfeeding exclusively since he was a newborn . I'm not sure when is the appropriate time to stop breastfeeding.
I have people asking me questions like " don't you feel weird that he has lots of teeth and you're still breastfeeding " or don't you think he's too big to still be breastfeeding .

My answer is no why should I need to stop if it'd still good for him .

My question is when did you stop breastfeeding or when do you think is the perfect age to stop breastfeeding ?

I don't remember very much negative feedback tbh. My stepdad made it obvious he didn't approve, but I didn't let that stop me feeding at my parent's dinner table! We're either all welcome as we are, or we won't come!

The most judgemental (frankly hostile) response to me feeding was when my twins were about 3 months old. I went with my mum to the cafe in Beales department store to feed them and get lunch, and the second I started feeding all these middle aged well-heeled ladies shot me daggers! Some of them muttered and grumbled and left the cafe! I have no idea why as I was a bit of a pro at feeding discretely, and surely there's nothing contentious about feeding a three month old! But there you go; nowt so queer as folk.

I have fed on planes, trains, shopping centre floors, at the side of the swimming pool, at the top of a mountain. You do you - let the judgemental buggers worry about their own worries.

I fed mine for 2y (self weaned when I was pregnant, I think the taste was affected by pg hormones) and 4y. If I had any comments I would say that the WHO recommend bf for at least 2 years and explicitly say that this is not just for babies in undeveloped countries. Also that bf reduces rates of breast and ovarian cancer. (Didn't stop me getting breast cancer though!)

I fed dd1 for 14 months. I wasn’t producing much anymore so tried a cup of cows milk and she slept brilliantly so I just stopped. Feeding dd2 still but I have had enough really so told her we’re stopping next week when she turns 4! Not sure it will go down well…

I fed till 3.5 and 2.5 years. I limited it to morning and bedtime then just bedtime after 12 months. First child pretty much self-weaned at 3.5, it was a very gradual and not on purpose weaning. I didn't feed as long the second time as I didn't like breastfeeding anymore, she was keen to continue but I wasn't so I set a date, felt 2.5 years was enough, explained she was getting bigger so could have cows milk from a cup instead and got DH to take over bedtimes for a bit. You will get strange comments, they just don't know much about breastfeeding, you can choose to educate them or just ignore them.

Mine are all in their 30s now. I didn’t want to be breastfeeding walkers so I tailed it off when each child was 13 months, they all walked at 15 months.

I have a younger one too (just turned 3) but I think once supply is established you can just keep going.

The almost 6 year old probably asks 3 times a week. I’m gradually phasing it out but he’s persistent.

Mine didn't naturally wean but by the time we did we were more or less Donna to one feed a day, the bedtime one. I went out for a few evenings and they just accepted it.

Thank you yes definitely people love to judge or stare whilst we breastfeed I simply couldn't care less if people don't like it don't look at me whilst I breastfeed then

Thank you all for your advice and feedback I really appreciate it 🥰

Well done for exclusively breastfeeding for 1 year! It’s so much work! I don’t feel like women are congratulated enough for EBF! And to answer your question, keep going until you or your baby decide it’s time to stop. I breastfed my first for 28 months because she took a while to wean and now still breastfeeding my one year old but I feel ready to try night weaning, if possible!

if you fancy some company and a little laugh, my sister and I started a podcast for exclusively breastfeeding women! It’s available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5lPL21TgLZGzUGKA32vJqI?si=qyl97yDUSqWoZbFN12tXqg

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-laughing-cows-podcast/id1813624012

all the best!