How long did you breastfeed??

Rink08 · August 2011

DS1 weaned himself at 13.5 months when I had to start supplementing (I went back to work then and had trouble producing enough while pumping). DS2 is EBF and I plan to continue until he weans himself or until age 2.

Bubbs1217 · August 2011

DD weaned herself about 2 weeks after her 1st birthday. She couldn't take my boob with her and run around to play so she lost interest! I took one day at a time and would have kept nursing her longer if she was interested.

CarolinaGirl051708 · August 2011

DD is 16 months, and I still bf first thing in the am. I tried to wean her about a month ago, but she wasn't ready. I EBF for the first six months. When we introduced solids, and my freezer stash ran out, I'd let her have formula when I wasn't around (I pumped at work for 7 months - until she was 10 months), but I wasn't getting enough to meet her needs past six months, so I gave her one formula bottle/day. When she turned a year, we went down to 2x/day. At this point, I'm going to let her self wean.

We had problems getting started in the beginning, and I set small goals for myself, such as, "I won't quit today," and "I'll make it another week." Those goals changed to one month, three months, six months, etc. I have a VERY supportive DH. He took a bf class with me, and he really encouraged me through the tough times.

Good luck to you!

DreadLoc · August 2011

I'm still happily breastfeeding. I agree with pp though; set small goals and once you reach that goal, decide if you want to continue.

KatieB19 · August 2011

Total lurker here, though I do SAH. We are still BFing at 8 months and plan to go to 2 years or maybe more (though I feel like at that point, it will just be at morning and night, so continuing won't be a big deal).

I personally don't subscribe to the "small goals" mindset. I wanted to do at least 6 months when I was pregnant, because I didn't know much about BFing, but a few months in I changed my goal to 2 years.

For me, with BFing, CDing, and other "commitment" things, my goals are long term because I have to believe I can do it. If my BFing goal was a week, I probably would have given up because that first week was hard and, oh well, it was just a week. Obviously, if there are other issues (supply, latch, etc), you have to do what is right for you and your baby. But for me, I tend to take the easy route, and forcing myself to believe that I would reach a long term goal made me stick with it. But that's just my 2 cents.

megkreig · August 2011

I nursed my twins for 18 months and 25 months. They both weaned themselves, which i think made the process easier. I kept saying that i would continue to nurse them as long as it worked for our entire family and that is what i did.