Average age babies/toddlers naturally wean?

tiffyspiffy1012

Hi everyone - I have a daughter who is nearly 17 months old and we are still breastfeeding and doing great.  It is my intent that we continue this relationship until she weans herself, and I wondered what the average age was for that to happen.  I know there is likely a huge range of variability but wondered if any of you could help enlighten me with your personal knowledge and experience.  Thanks in advance!

TiffanyBerry

I have read that the average age of self-weaning is between 2 and 4yrs.  Some do it sooner, some later, and much of it depends on culture, I've read.

tokenhoser

2-4 years old. Depends on the kid - some will happily go beyond 4 if mom allows it.

I'd say it's extremely rare for a child under 2 to truly self-wean.

tiffyspiffy1012

Thanks so much for your input!  My husband and I are hoping to start trying for another baby around the time our daughter turns 2, so we'll just let nature run its course - my body will resume the ovulation process when her demand naturally decreases - whenever that turns out to be!  :-)

BabyButler2010

My son was just recently weaned...and he is a little over 2.5.  I can't say that I didn't help the process a long a little.  I no longer nursed on demand because it wasn't always possible or necessary as he got older.  Sometimes I would offer him a drink and other times he just wanted my undivided attention so I would stop what I was doing and cuddle or play with him  Anyway- He was down to only nursing before bed and right after Christmas he fell asleep one night before asking to nurse.  I went with it and from that night on (Dec. 30th to be exact) we have had a new routine...an extra story and cuddling while looking at his Dreamlite and singing songs.  He has asked for milk a couple of times since, but hasn't really been upset about me telling him that it is all gone.  He did look at me strange a couple of times and say, "Your boobs are right there mommy" lol  Anyway- enjoy your nursing relationship and don't let anyone pressure you to wean early or not to wean if you feel like you both are ready! 

 

 

tokenhoser

Don't count on pregnancy letting you avoid the weaning issue - we're still going strong on nursing and I'm 10 weeks pregnant. DS doesn't even always seem to care if there is milk. If you might be interested in nursing while pregnant or tandem nursing, read "Adventures in Tandem Nursing". It's really interesting.

I had no problem getting pregnant. My period returned as soon as I quit the mini pill when DS was 14 months and I went right back to being fertile. 

Lulobug22

I nursed my oldest son until age two I was 5 mos pregnant with my 2nd son and weaned him slowly over three mos.  DS2 nursed until 2 years and 3 mos. I encouraged weaning with both and it took a few months.  I think both boys would have nursed much longer if allowed I just wasn't up for that. I have a friend who let her DD self wean and she weaned at 3 years 2 mos but another friend who was going to let her DS self wean and finally at age 4 and some odd mos she had to wean him herself.  All kiddos are different.

resilient61

My DS1 almost naturally weaned at 26m.  I was 6w PG with DS2, and he had slowed way down between 24-26m, so it only took a little nudge.  He still tells me that he misses them, though, and will put his hand in my shirt as we wind down, read, or cuddle.

BabyButler2010

resilient61:

My DS1 almost naturally weaned at 26m.  I was 6w PG with DS2, and he had slowed way down between 24-26m, so it only took a little nudge.  He still tells me that he misses them, though, and will put his hand in my shirt as we wind down, read, or cuddle.

 

My ds does the same thing- he will say he wants to hug them sometimes when he's going to sleep- they were his lovey for a long time  

cyprissa

I got my period back when DS was around 10 months. We are still nursing morning and bedtime and I'm almost 16 weeks pregnant. He doesn't seem interested in stopping anytime soon...

tokenhoser:

Don't count on pregnancy letting you avoid the weaning issue - we're still going strong on nursing and I'm 10 weeks pregnant. DS doesn't even always seem to care if there is milk. If you might be interested in nursing while pregnant or tandem nursing, read "Adventures in Tandem Nursing". It's really interesting.

I had no problem getting pregnant. My period returned as soon as I quit the mini pill when DS was 14 months and I went right back to being fertile. 

PunkyBooster

I would say 2-4. DS lost interest at 17 months. I kept trying for about a month but he would just have nothing to do with it. I dried up and it was over. I was so upset! 

But our relationship is still very, very tight. You can still have the bond, even without the nursing. I still rock him at night and at nap time and we have lots  and lots of cuddling time

 

StefandTodd

cyprissa:

I got my period back when DS was around 10 months. We are still nursing morning and bedtime and I'm almost 16 weeks pregnant. He doesn't seem interested in stopping anytime soon...

tokenhoser:

Don't count on pregnancy letting you avoid the weaning issue - we're still going strong on nursing and I'm 10 weeks pregnant. DS doesn't even always seem to care if there is milk. If you might be interested in nursing while pregnant or tandem nursing, read "Adventures in Tandem Nursing". It's really interesting.

I had no problem getting pregnant. My period returned as soon as I quit the mini pill when DS was 14 months and I went right back to being fertile. 

Pregnancy helped us NIGHT wean my (now) 16 month old when he was about a year old (he stopped waking to nurse b/c my supply was so low by then that it wasn't worth it anymore), but now that the milk has come in for baby #2, he would happily nurse all day every day. He is more interested in it than he has ever been before.

Angela814

I've always read 2-4 years also. I initiated weaning with DD1 when her latch got too bad, and she was weaned completely at 3y2m. I started weaning DD2 within the first few months of my pg because it got too uncomfortable to nurse, and I had little milk left. She weaned at 27 months. I night weaned both - DD1 at 26 months and DD2 at 25 months.

BrittKav

My older daughter self-weaned at 2 years 4 months, but I was gently encouraging it. My younger daughter self-weaned at only 16 months. My goal had always been 2 years, and I didn't think babies would really self-wean before 2 years, so I was surprised and saddened when she ended it but nursing was no longer mutually beneficial, I guess.

sunkissed7804

tiffyspiffy1012:

Thanks so much for your input!  My husband and I are hoping to start trying for another baby around the time our daughter turns 2, so we'll just let nature run its course - my body will resume the ovulation process when her demand naturally decreases - whenever that turns out to be!  :-)

 Careful there hon...jajaja...I have a few friends who got preggers quite easily while they were breastfeeding!!  You can ovulate even if you are not getting a period!! :-)

 

sunkissed7804

Sorry!  I meant to add that I nursed my daughter until she was 29 months   I could tell that she was staring to self-wean because she really only asked to nurse at bedtime.

 

tlew12778

DD just turned 4 on the 12th and still nurses before bed (usually). DS is 4 months old. I nursed right through pregnancy (never lost my milk). My period came back at 12m with DD when I dropped to 1 pumping session per day (I worked FT in the office).

I have read that many mammals wean when they reach 4x their birth weight. DD was 3.770 kg. She is currently about 15 kg.  

beckerella

DD will be 3 next month and is still nursing 3-5 times a day. DS was born 6 months ago and I think she was thrilled by the new influx of milk.

^^She hasn't reached 4x her birth weight yet (born 8.5lbs, now 30lbs) so it will be interesting to see if that is true with her.