On the subject of BF'ing....

Mskharis

What is the norm? I thought after 12 mos, they should go to a sippy cup and be on cow's milk. Someone here said that they bf'd for 27 mos, idk, I just cant see myself bf'ing and my kid has a mouth full of teeth! Seems like it would be uncomfortable, but does anyone know what the doctors recommend?

BeckyS1211

I don't know when I will stop BFing, but a mouth full of teeth on my nip sure doesn't sound like fun!  At the very latest I for sure plan on stopping when baby is about 9 months because I will be back to work for the school year!

MrsGhappilyeverafter

I don't know what doctors recommend but I feel the same way.  I think any length of time you can do it is good for the baby.  I'm currently planning to stop at 6 months, but I'm going to see how it goes and possibly go to 1 year.  I personally do not want to go longer than that.

WearingRed

I don't know what the "norm" is but I plan on BFing till there are teeth that have cut through. And that will be the end of BFing. That doesn't mean the end of breast milk just of feeding from the breast after that I will try to pump.  And I think I will be on to sippy cups and straw cups by 12 months. (just one Future mom's opinion)

ETA: I know this time line might get messed up but which ever comes first seems to apply for me.

mrsmiller06

I think it is a personal decision as to how long you bf for. Personally yeah, as soon as there are teeth coming in, no way!!! I'd never heard of anyone bf'ing for that long before 27mos. My ds was off his bottle by about 1yr old and using sippy cups! I would talk to your pediatrician and your ob about what they think is best, but in the end it will be your decision when to stop.

Stellar1

AAP recommends 6-12 months. Any amount you do is great for the kid! Right now my long term goal is 12 months but as of lately I am going to get to 6 months and re-evaluate from there. I do LOVE bf'ing DD but I don't want to go over a year. I would like my body back to myself for a little bit before we ttc #2.I also can't see having my DD walking around, talking, and having teeth bf'ing. Just my personal opinion and I do know moms who bf their LO until 2 years or so.

Mskharis

Stellar1:

AAP recommends 6-12 months. Any amount you do is great for the kid! Right now my long term goal is 12 months but as of lately I am going to get to 6 months and re-evaluate from there. I do LOVE bf'ing DD but I don't want to go over a year. I would like my body back to myself for a little bit before we ttc #2.I also can't see having my DD walking around, talking, and having teeth bf'ing. Just my personal opinion and I do know moms who bf their LO until 2 years or so.

2 years or so? OMG, personally, I think thats insane, not just because of the teeth but I was also reading that after 12 mos, the cow's milk is the best for them for growth and other things. IDK, I guess to each it's own!

steve&heather

What do YOU want to do for your baby? Really, the only thing that counts is what you feel is best for your baby. 

DD was on cowsmilk from a sippy cup at 12 months. I was only able to BF her until she was close to 7 months as my supply dried up, she was FF until 12 months.

 

Mskharis

steve&heather:

What do YOU want to do for your baby? Really, the only thing that counts is what you feel is best for your baby. 

DD was on cowsmilk from a sippy cup at 12 months. I was only able to BF her until she was close to 7 months as my supply dried up, she was FF until 12 months.

 

I agree, but sometimes what you think is best, may not be the best thing. Depends on the person, IMO.

TayLynn

Here is the American Association of Pediatrics statement on BFing:

The policy recommendations include:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the first six months and support for breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child.

https://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/feb05breastfeeding.htm

 

So they recommend exclusive BF for 6 months (no water, juice, cereal, or solids) and then continued BFing after thant to 12 months or longer.

The maternal benefits of BFing come into play after 24 months of BFing.  This can be total BFing time between 2 children or just one child.

BFing for 24 months cuts the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes, and heart disease by as much as 50%.

It's great to attend a LLL meeting or some BFing classes while pregnant so you be educated and have a better chance of successful BFing.

GL

mrs.amandamm

You can BF as long as you want, some people BF their kids until they are 10... I would never go past 24 months, and that would be a stretch for me.

 After about a year, they don't NEED it anymore.  I quit a little over a year with my daughter.

Rachel&Joe

I am hoping to breastfeed for 2 years which is what is recommended for preemies.

after you breastfeed for a while, you seriously lose alot of the feeling in your nipples.  trust me.

Rachel&Joe

I thinks it's a totally awesome & selfless thing that one of the posters breastfed for 27 months.  That is really wonderful.  it's really depressing to me that you are questioning that.  breastmilk is definitely better than cow's milk--there is nothing detrimental about BF-ing at all.  sounds like someone needs to learn a little bit more about Bf-ing before judging others that may do it a little longer than average.

TayLynn

While it's true that cows milk can be given at 12 months of age, some families would disagree that BFing isn't still needed.  Bonding, comforting, and certain health aspects all benefit with continued BFing. 

While I'm not going to do extended BFing, I do want my child to benefit from it as much as possible and I want to benefit from it as much as possible too.  The lowered cancer and heart disease benefits are important to me.

Breastmilk is a living thing.  It constantly changes to the needs fo the child, whether it's needed immunities or nutritional changes.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/prepare/bf-benefits.html

American Academy of Family Physicians: "Breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is currently not the cultural norm and requires ongoing support and encouragement. Breastfeeding during a subsequent pregnancy is not unusual. If the pregnancy is normal and the mother is healthy, breastfeeding during pregnancy is the woman's personal decision. If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned. Breastfeeding the nursing child after delivery of the next child (tandem nursing) may help to provide a smooth transition psychologically for the older child."

Canada: "Breastfeeding exclusively to the age of about six months then continuing breastfeeding and complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond is the optimal method for feeding infants and young children."

WHO: "Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production."

TayLynn

All that to say...

ANY amount of BFing is great whether it's two weeks or two years and beyond. 

Just don't cut yourself and your baby short with pre-concieved notions.  Take the time to get educated and then make appropriate decisions for you and your family.

Having support is crucial to BFing success.  Surround yourself with supportive people.  GL!

rowanthefrog

I don't think there is a "norm" per se, but the AAP and the WHO recommends BFing until age 2.  I think a lot of people stop at 12 months or sooner, depending on the situation.

My goal was always to BF for 12 months and my son turned 1 yesterday.  I have been very surprised at how torn I have felt about stopping BFing.  I was really feeling very angsty about it.  I have ultimately decided to continue...for now.  I don't know how much longer I will go, but we are hoping to TTC again in November and since I still have not had a period I will most likely have to wean in order to TTC.

We are cutting back to just nursing in the mornings and before naps, it really calms him down.  That said, as he is getting bigger it is definitely getting more challenging.  He's stronger, he has teeth, he likes to move all around, etc etc.  These types of things may make me wean sooner rather than later, but right now we are just taking it week by week and seeing where we end up.

re: teeth - I can count on one hand how often I have been bitten by DS.  Teeth have really not affected BFing at all, they just slightly change the way they nurse, but there is no additional pain. 

A 

gypsywitch

Docs recommend BF at least to one year. After that point its up to mom. I personally think BF past a year is overkill and a person refusing to cut the umbilical cord. After a year, baby no longer needs Breast milk. You wouldn't keep giving baby formula after a year would you? No. I BF my 1st until 10 months, and then did formula for 2 months, and then she was just on solid food, and cups of milk.

easjer05

I don't intend to breastfeed for more than 2 years - actually I intend to wean around 15-18 months if all goes well - but I'm going to assume the WHO has some idea of what they are talking about.  Many of my friends breastfeed to age 2 -2.5 and their children are perfectly happy and adjusted.  It's a personal decision that has a lot of factors to take into consideration, and not something that should be judged.

Rosieoutlook

 I think breastfeeding mom's deserve nothing but support for the wonderful thing they are doing for their little ones. I hope I can breastfeed beyond a year!

carolinachica

My husband was allergic to everything as a child (including the dreaded peanuts, eggs and milk) and our pediatrician told us that nursing for 2 years would reduce Laney's risk of allergies by 75%.  

 

So, we nursed for 24 months.  Laney is 100% allergy free and didn't even have a fever until she was 2.5.   I certainly wouldn't have nursed that long if I hadn't been told she needed it, but I am very happy I did.  

 

Nursing is such a personal thing.   I highly recommend you just go with the flow and not set goals before you try it.  Breast milk is widely thought to be the best food possible for the entire first year of a childs life.  That said, if nursing doesn't work for you, it's best to do what keeps both mommy and baby happy.

TayLynn

gypsywitch:

Docs recommend BF at least to one year. After that point its up to mom. I personally think BF past a year is overkill and a person refusing to cut the umbilical cord. After a year, baby no longer needs Breast milk.

That's not really true.  While breastmilk isn't neccessary for survival, it does have benefits for both child and mother after 12 months.

Brooke_Lilly'smom

I'm the one who bf'd for 27 months. It was an amazing experience and honestly the only reason I weaned was due to my 2 losses and the need to start different medications. I had only "planned" on bf'ing for 12 months, but guess what? 12 months came around and I realized that neither of us were no where NEAR being ready to wean. So we continued. I also NEVER had a problem with teeth, they just kind of relearn to suck when teeth come in. I think judging before you've actually been there is kinda harsh. We are one of the only cultures that thinks you need to stop so soon, but over here you have the people that get embarassed by it also.

Thanks to whoever threw out the recommendations, especially by the WHO. And I have to ask, why would you prefer to give your child milk from a cow over the wonderful momma milk?

 

mh2t

The American Academy of Pediatrics says at least 12 months.  The World Health Organization says at least 2 years.

Tonya_G

I BF'd DS for 6 months, until he got teeth and decided my nipples were better for biting than eating. We already supplemented him with formula though, so it wasn't a tough switch for him to take formula a few times a day (yes, I could have pumped, but I was kinda done with it all by then!). I don't know how long I'll bf Lily, but I plan on doing the same as w/ Aiden- BFing + formula feeding during the feedings I'm at work.