What age did you stop breastfeeding?

[DaughterofDawn]

Mine is 15 months and we’re still going. Funny while I did have the long term goal of going till 2 (per CDC recommendations) there were many times in the beginning I didn’t not think I would get this far and often I don’t even think about it anymore.

At 3 months I swore I would stop at 6 months because it was so awful and painful and the sleepless nights and crazy hormones made it seem like it would never end! But now it does not hurt and she’s night weaned and everything is just so easy and it’s actually a great parenting tool for calming her down when she is hurt or sad or I need a reason to get her to slow down and fall to sleep.

But I’m curious how common it is to get this far? I’m american and my family thinks I’m weird and is a little creeped out. My mom is very supportive though. She breastfed all of us into six months and then her doctor told her to stop and wean us. My sisters didn’t get passed two months with any of their children because they were rushed back to work and then it was difficult to maintain their milk supply.

I live in canada but the reception seems to be mixed. Some women think I’m hero and others are politely uncomfortable. I don’t really have any strong feelings one way or the other though so feel free to speak your truth.

I don’t breastfeed publicly. I tried once and hated it and never did it again.

Once upon a time I never would have imagined breastfeeding this long and probably would have thought it was weird and disgusting too. But I don’t feel like that at all anymore. I feel like it’s kind of strange to not breastfeed this long actually as it is really convenient. You know assuming nothing gets in the way such as life/work/health problems I very much see my child as still a baby. Yes she is a toddler who can speak but she definitely still needs lots of love and attention and breastfeeding is a calm safe place for her to be.

With DC1 I fed to 22 months although he did have food and cups by then of course. Would have kept going but he weaned himself halfway through my next pregnancy.
With DC2 feeding has been super easy, we’re at 11 months and I wish I knew how to get her to take a bottle as she comfort sucks through the night.

Hi op I'm 6 months into breastfeeding journey and in the sleepless nights and pain stage he's just constantly yanking off the boob. I'd love to get as far as you and well done on getting this far. I want and aiming to do it til year and a half alongside food and normal milk x

We stopped at 16 months and 18 months. Both kids would probably have carried on but I'd had enough. Go for as long as it works for you both, I say!

DD1 was 16 months. Milk dried up as I was pregnant.
DD2 was 2.5 years

In total, I was eith pregnant, breastfeeding or both for 5 years continuously.

I did it solely because it worked for us. Hardly anyone knew.

The only time I think it's a bit weird (or shall I say, unusual) is if the child is maybe about 4 or older. My son is still breastfed at 9 months and I think I'll continue to breastfeed as long as he wants. Like you, I like how quick it calms him. He's also fed to sleep (a habit which we got into that I'm unsure how to stop!)

@LT2 my 9mo also feeds to sleep but recently I've managed to pump milk and DH gives he a bottle to sleep. Not ideal still as it's still feeding to sleep but my hope is that we'll cut down the amount in the bottle slowly or move onto water or milk maybe. Just no more bedtime boobies! Might giving a bottle work? It can still be BM :)

It's probably not that common, but not at all weird imo. I fed both of mine to that age or a bit older. But other people outside of my family wouldn't have realised, because at that age it wasn't an all day and all night thing.

I stopped with DS2 the day before his third birthday. My choice. I was done.

I stopped at 12 months, but DD wasn't interested really for the last month. I might have carried on longer if she had been. At the end of the day, I'd say do what suits you, your family and your child and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

I've done up to 2 and beyond with the older one. It's funny because if you'd told me 10 years ago that I'd do that I wouldn't have believed you for a minute.

First was 3. Stopped due to pregnancy. Second was 4.5. I didn't set out to go so long with either. It was hard going. Was pregnant or breastfeeding for 9 years non stop. But for both of them breastfeeding was their greatest source of comfort and their absolute favourite thing. To stop would have been harder.

@goodmorningsunny he refuses bottles- formula or breastmilk. Been trying since he was about a few months old. Tried again yesterday (with formula) and he just turns his head away😔 that was my thinking - getting him to sleep with a bottle, so at least others can get him to sleep!

Dc1 suddenly didn't want bf from 18 months, was a bit of a shock as it just stopped over night.
Dt were 12 months, I weaned them off as it was exhausting, they were getting to big for tandem feeding and I was due back to work. I'd have liked to have fed till at least 18 months but could see it wasn't right for our family so stopped.

I fed my eldest until he was 2yrs2 months. I was pregnant with our youngest at that point, and starting to struggle.

youngest was around 3 when I stopped. By then, it was only a quick bedtime feed.

DD will be 4 in December and we're still going. I had always intended to do 6 months and hoped to make a year. I nearly weaned at 15 months because she was getting wriggly and making me uncomfortable, then lockdown hit and things changed. For one thing it was the only time I got to sit down with a cuppa in peace!

If you'd asked me before I had her I'd have said no way would I feed a child this old. It felt a bit weird etc. But now we're here, and she's mine, and it feels nothing but natural.

I've not had many negative comments although about a year ago my parents were gently dropping hints that they thought we should stop. I had a conversation with them and they dropped it. I suspect both they and my in-laws think it's weird but they have all kept their opinions to themselves.

These days I don't advertise the fact that we're still going, but I don't desperately try to hide it either. It's generally only mornings and evenings now unless she gets hurt or is unwell. We night weaned at 14 months because working with that much broken sleep was nearly killing me.

Don't let other people influence what feels right for you and your child.

DS1 was 15 months, but I was pregnant with DS2 and he self weaned when my milk dried up.

DS2 was just turned 3 years. But at this age it was only in the morning and at bedtime, it stopped because once he was 3 I never offered again and pretty soon after he never asked.

I am now pregnant with DS3 and plan to breastfeed until at least 2 and then try out the 'don't offer, but don't refuse' approach again but earlier.

It's nobody else's business what you do, it's your DC, and from my experience, once they're older nobody really cares or asks about breastfeeding anyway.

Also in Canada but I'm British. Just stopped BF and my DD is 3 in 2 weeks. Like you I wanted to get to 2 but never thought I'd feed for this long, I think I just assumed she would want to stop at some point. I also thought a new pregnancy would dry up my milk but sadly I had a MMC and haven't conceived again. She still asks to BF daily. I am sad to stop but also relieved - very strange mix of emotions! I'm very passionate about BFing and was completely open about BF in public until she was about 15months and then felt awkward, more recently she only fed in morning or when I got home from work and always in the home. I started feeling like I had to hide it when family visited so probably a sign it was time to stop!

2 with my first, 4 with my second. Years. It did not feel weird to me or my children, although I accept it's not the cultural norm.

I fed anywhere and everywhere, but I'm surrounded by people who do the same. I'm always really shocked when I read stats about the number of British women who feed past aged 1 or whatever, and think I must know all of them then!

Both of mine were between three and four.

All mine between 22 and 24 months. Completely normal where I come from. The attitude towards breastfeeding in the UK is quite frankly weird

2yrs 1wk as I was hospitalised and taking medication that would have been harmful to his teeth. He would happily have continued but I am happy we have stopped.

2.5years and still going which surprises me. We had a very difficult start with tube feeding and me having to hand express, throw in numerous bouts of mastitis and a dairy allergy, I was sure we would be lucky to get to 6 months, especially as I returned to full time work. But here we are, still going, with him very much boob obsessed.

But yes OP, I find the same, the vast majority of people are uncomfortable with him feeding and I've had many people say its inappropriate too and disgusting etc. But I've also had some very supportive people too, such as his Consultant his dietician and epilepsy nurse.

breastfed on demand until 1y/o, then he started nursery and I only breastfed him to sleep (nap, bedtime and night wakings), until he was 2.5y/o

If you can find La leche league face book groups you'll find many women feeding way beyond 1. The north east groups are huge and v supportive. They have meetings too.

I fed till 3.5 with number 1 and 4 with no 2. Both were night weaned younger though, around 2.5-3. It meant that I coslept but both transitioned to own beds (made a big thing of it) and slept through the night brilliantly thereafter.

With older ones it doesn't happen as frequently. It's worth reading about nursing manners etc; some women are v strict around when and where.

I found it a useful way to teach being gentle and calm and deal with tantrums as they'd calm and then listen to your reasoning (except no 2 wouldn't feed during or after a tantrum.) I worked part time and they coped well without during the day.

It's hard dealing with people who don't get it; Tamara Ecclestone has been a good poster girl for it and two famous footballers fed beyond 4. So I dropped those in when I could!

graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/wellness/tamara-ecclestone-breastfeeding-four-years/

Funnily enough I'm in an area where a large number of mums extended bf. Some were gps too. One is also a consultant paediatrician. Lots of people championing it.