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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding toddler

23 replies

Seca · 07/10/2007 02:24

Just wanted to hear from other mums who have continued breastfeeding their kids beyond 12 months of age. I am still breastfeeding my DD aged 17 months and hope to do so until she is aged two. It is my choice as much as hers but I am copping a lot of criticism for doing so.

OP posts:

OverRated · 07/10/2007 02:41

Yes, I breastfed DS until he was 18 months old when I was forced to stop suddenly due to illness. I didn't plan on it but he wanted to and I had no objection. He is now 2 and I miss it from time to time. I did get lots of and looks but I didn't care. It was what DS and I wanted and we were the only two who mattered.

There are lots of MNers who breastfeed toddlers - have a look in the archives for more threads.

kiskidee · 07/10/2007 04:36

I am bf my 2.5 yo. I don't get criticism or comments (to my face anyway) as i have a sneaky suspicion that its because I am 'forren' and look 'forren' so people are more concious of not offending me iykwim.

if you do a thread search in 'breast and bottle feeding' this topic comes up ever so often.

I always recommend this link which always reassures me that I am doing the right thing when i reread it.

shouldalistenedtomymum · 07/10/2007 05:37

Still breastfeeding ds aged 15 months. Do get comments & looks sometimes, but just ignore it. It's nobody else's bl**dy business. I was getting those comments when he was only 6 months old. When he's ready to wean then he will.

Mind you.....don't want to be bf'ing a 12 yr old !

danceswithbaby · 07/10/2007 21:21

I'm still b/f my dd, who's nearly 20months. I said I would keep going until she's 2 but tbh, she's nowhere nearly ready to wean. At the mo, she's feeding like a newborn again. I like the idea that she'll eventually self-wean, that would be so satisfying.

I'm sure lots of people think I'm some sort of pervert, but most keep it to themselves. For those that don't, I've got plenty of responses prepared, which shut most people up.

jamila169 · 07/10/2007 23:15

Still Bf my 2.5 yo, stopped BF DS2 at new year (lactose intolerance getting out of hand) and he was nearly 3.5 , I'm sure he'd have carried on if he could as well.
Lisa X

moondog · 07/10/2007 23:17

Breastfed for 30 mths.
Never had a comment or a 'funny look' but had someone dared,they would have been told to 'snout out'.

Who is poking their nose in?
Tell 'em to fuck off.

TooTicky · 07/10/2007 23:22

I bf dd1 for 2.5 years, ds1 for 1.5 years, ds2 for nearly 3 years and am still bf dd2 at 2 years and a bit. Never had negative comments but mil thinks I am mad.

harpsicorpsecarrier · 07/10/2007 23:24

I fed dd1 till she was three and a half, tandem fedwith dd2, still feeding her now and she will be two next month.
I hav had the loveliest times bf toddlers, very close and bonded.
well done

hunkermunker · 07/10/2007 23:45

Hi Seca

I breastfed DS1 till he was nearly 17m and I am still bfing my DS2 who is 20mo and I can't see him stopping any time soon.

It's one of the very nicest things I've ever done and the only opinions that matter are mine and my son's. I've not had many negative reactions and any that I have had have been borne of ignorance, so I've soon put them straight (and they either shut up because they realise there's no point continuing or because they are utterly converted to my way of thinking - either way they shut up ).

I've actually been surprised how positive some people have been - people who I didn't think had much interest in babies/children, which is nice.

I'm sorry you've been getting criticised for it - I hope that MN will provide you with the support you need to feed your DD as long as you and she want/need.

chipmonkeyPumpkinNorks · 08/10/2007 00:07

I bf ds3 for 2.6 years. MIL used to comment about "giving that up" I used to look at her with a surprised expression and say "But he's not 2 yet!" as if no-one in their right mind would consider weaning before 2! She stopped going on about is before I got to "But he's not 3 yet!"

shouldalistenedtomymum · 08/10/2007 02:10

lol chipmonkey. Well done!

Glad to hear ther's so many of us out there. Feeling better Seca?

Tapster · 08/10/2007 14:34

I am still BF my DD at 11months and plan to go to at least 18 months (over the winter) and see how it goes. I am about to try ttcing again and I'm worried it could impact my fertility, I've read the kellymom stuff about how it shouldn't but being 37 I am a bit concerned. Not sure about tandem feeding yet - will cross that bridge if I come to it.

I get lots of looks now as my DD is huge about the size of an average 16 month old. She BF during baby signing on Friday and some of the looks I got could kill, I was laughing. Everybody says you are going to stop next month aren't you...

Walnutshell · 08/10/2007 14:57

Still feeding ds at a couple of weeks shy of 2 years old and will probably just continue until he self-weans, thanks in no small part to the education and support of some brilliant MNers. Do search for older threads to give you inspiration and support! Well done x

marram · 10/10/2007 20:13

How many times a day do you/did you feed your toddler?

I am feeding a 13 month old and we were on four a day and she has been wanting to feed about double that in the last month. Losing confidence that I am doing the right thing by demand feeding her as she is not eating as much solid food now.

policywonk · 10/10/2007 20:21

Still going with DS2, he's nearly 3. Showing no signs of self-weaning whatsoever. Sorry to hear that people are giving you a hard time.

policywonk · 10/10/2007 20:22

marram - at your dd's age, both my sons were bf-ing on demand up to ten or maybe even 15 times a day (lost in the mists of time). I wouldn't worry about nutrition - breast milk is as nutritious as just about anything you'll be able to get into a 13-month-old!

popsycal · 10/10/2007 20:24

Ds2 is 2 years 7 months and still feeding although I am considering 'encouraging' him to stop in the very near future. Well done to you for getting so far. And tell everyone else to mind their own business

beautifuldays · 10/10/2007 20:24

breastfed ds til he was 2, stopped cos i wanted to get pregant again. dd is 8 months and i will breastfeed her until she wants to stop as she is deffo the last baby!

CantSleepWontSleep · 10/10/2007 20:30

Hi Seca - I am still feeding my 20 month old dd. MIL is more anti this than anyone else tbh, and those that are anti can only be so out of ignorance. I generally answer 'when she's ready' when asked when I will give up, and point out that the WHO say that all children should be bfed up to age 2 (am now stressing at least age 2, as I suspect that dd will want to carry on longer!).

marram - I usually just feed twice a day, but dd has had a couple of (very draining) phases where she has wanted to feed pretty much constantly. The first co-incided with her getting 6 teeth, including 4 molars, and I suspect that her canines were having a shuffle during her recent phase. She still asks for it more than twice a day, but demand feeding isn't right for me at this age, so I stick with first thing and last thing which I know means that I will be happy to continue much longer.

marram · 10/10/2007 20:42

Thanks PW and CSWS. Will go with flow a bit more might still just be a phase - has gone on for month now and I am exhausted.

Sorry to crash your post a bit Seca. I am starting to feel the weight of criticism and folks saying that it should only be twice a day/ when are you weaning/ give her cow's milk in cup etc but gut feeling is that b'feed best thing for us still. There is a kellymom page which I found uplifting here

Original poster

Seca · 13/10/2007 13:01

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far to my initial question. It has given me a lot of confidence that I am doing the right thing.

Marram, I am breastfeeding my 17 month old DD up to four times over a 24 hour period but am trying to cut it down to two so I am not as tired.

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 13/10/2007 13:06

I bf ds until he was nearly 4 when he self weaned. It was one of the best experiences of my life actually. I also felt quite uncomfortable at times - I think the period from age 1 to 2 was the hardest as people assume that you have stopped / are just about to stop and get confused when they realise that you aren't. After that you are in the leagues of the mad and everyone just leaves you to it

Please don't let other people's ignorance spoil this lovely time for you. That is all it is - pure ignorance, not understanding how breastfeeding works and why it is good for babies and toddlers. I printed out this page and read it frequently when I was feeling put upon, and I went to LLL meetings where it was the norm rather than the exception to be breastfeeding an older child. Both things helped. There are loads of extended bf-ers on here - come and ask for support whenever you need it. You're doing something wonderful, enjoy it.

lemonaid · 13/10/2007 13:09

I'm still bf DS who's 2.8 (although come to think of it, he hasn't nursed since Friday morning). Normally only once or twice a day; I'm waiting for him to self-wean. As I'm pregnant at the moment we may well end up tandem nursing.

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