How long is too long to breastfeed your child

Armyratt · August 2013

In ebf both my kids. My first was until she was 18 months and my second was till 20 months. I weaned my first cause I didn't want to tandem nurse and my second cause I wanted my body back after have two kids back to back plus he was starting to bite. It's a personal decision on how long however I don't agree with nursing a child who is 4+. That's taking it to the extreme to me.

buckeyebride22 · August 2013

I personally think you should BF as long as you want to. I see posts from moms I met when pregnant with DS on how they are still nursing and it makes me so sad. My goal was a year. My milk dried up during my second mc so I only made it to 7 months. I loved nursing.

As for the biting DS only bit me once. It scared/hurt me so I screeched. He never did it again.

Eta spelling

BuckeyeMommy4 · August 2013

Do what works best for you and your child!

I personally do not enjoy breastfeeding, but I do it because I know it's best. With my first, I only lasted for 6 weeks. 4 months with my second and 6 months with my third. I had also pumped enough for DD3 to have a bottle or two of breast milk along with her formula until she was 11 months.

My goal with DS is 6 months and if I decide to continue after that, I will.

Sometimes I feel selfish for not doing it longer, but I would rather be happy than miserable every time I have to feed my child.

2BWEDN2007 · August 2013

I BF all my children for a year. The longest I went was with DS #2 and we made it 16 months. At that point, he was only nursing first thing in the morning as the majority of his calories was table food. I mainly BF him in the AM because it would knock him back out another hour or two and he was a super early riser!

Personally, anything over 2 skeeves me out. If you really feel your child (especially the person who posted above that saw a SECOND GRADER BF) would benefit from breast milk then PUMP them some milk and serve it in a glass. I think anyone who BF a second grader in public is just trying to make a statement.

nic5606 · August 2013

My goal was a year, I made it to 19 months 7 days. Well, I gave up attempting breast feeding around 10 weeks. (several visits with lactation consultants and B just never got it). I exclusively pumped until the 19 month. Yay.

Personally, I would not breast feed past 2, but to each their own.

jldubb0626 · August 2013

purplepenguin2011 said:

I don't know ladies...I guess i'm going to be devils advocate, but I just don't get it past the age of 1. I mean once they are eating table food that is where they are getting their nourishment from. Breast milk isn't really "feeding" at that point. I just plain don't get it. it seems like it's just a comfort/habit at that point for both parties.

BFing past 1 isn't just for comfort either. Breast milk changes to the need of the child so the nourishment value that a 6 month old infant gets is going to be different than an 18 month old toddler. It's also good for their immune system as your body builds the antibodies needed for the child when they're sick.

Kellymom has good information on all the benefits.
https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/

aprilbridezilla19 · August 2013

Well I wouldn't say at 6 months they'll be ready to hold a conversation. My almost 20 month old is not holding conversations! And it's so different when you're bfing. My initial goal was 3m then 6m then a year to avoid buying formula and then we decided to go through flu season too.

rowanthefrog · August 2013

purplepenguin2011 said:

I don't know ladies...I guess i'm going to be devils advocate, but I just don't get it past the age of 1. I mean once they are eating table food that is where they are getting their nourishment from. Breast milk isn't really "feeding" at that point. I just plain don't get it. it seems like it's just a comfort/habit at that point for both parties.

This one just makes me laugh. As if a 12 month old baby doesn't need comfort and habits. And they do still get a lot of nourishment, immunity and a variety of other things. Breastfeeding is much more than just feeding!

A

rowanthefrog · August 2013

cpm1223 said:

(a ? for you BTDT Moms, and it's probably stupid, but do your LOs' bite you once they have teeth? My friend who doesn't BF has a 1 year old who bites shoulders/arms etc. occasionally and I couldn't help but wonder if she was BFing would she be getting bit by her LO?)

When their teeth were coming in, both went through an "experimental" period where they bit me a couple of times. Yes, it hurt. But I pulled them off, gave them a stern "no" and they didn't do it again. Babies and toddlers can BF easily without biting, even once all their teeth are in.

A

Cewilliams207554 · August 2013

Its up to you and the baby how long you do it. Personally, I committed to a year with my ds and will do the same with this one. I think once they can ask for it and unsnap your bra, its a little much, lol. To each their own.

TheMrs1009 · August 2013

So long as mommy and baby/toddler are happy. I BF my first for about a year and a half. It was awesome.

Anyone who thinks it is inappropriate for toddlers to nurse is just silly. I won't even debate this one. There are enough legitimate studies out there substantiating the known benefits of nursing toddlers, including those who can speak and request the boob. Google them.

lolinshag · August 2013

While it might be difficult, i think you should absolutely wean by the time they enroll in college. 8-}
But seriously, it is a decision you will just have to make when you and/or baby feel ready. Each family and situation is different. Good luck!

nbbride06 · August 2013

Do what works best for you and your child. My goal was 1 year. Neither one of us was in any way ready to wean at a year. At 20 months, I was ready and weaning was no big deal. The funny thing is, 4 months later, she still asks for it randomly every few weeks and I'll pull up my shirt and she just laughs.

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa · August 2013

I'd say after one year, when most of your child's nutrition should come from real food and not milk/formula, it's time to transition. But this is a very personal subject and I've heard of people breastfeeding their 2 and 3 year olds. I breastfeed exclusevely for 8 months and supplemented until 10. He was starting to bite me by then and eating a lot of solids so I stopped. He is a healthy happy little boy now

PBP2002 · August 2013

Generally speaking, I think you should stop breastfeeding before you child goes to college. Otherwise, it's none of my damn business what you and your kid do.

twobluelines · August 2013

Any Game of Thrones fans? There was an episode with a child who was about 8 being breastfed.

goldenB · August 2013

twobluelines said:

Any Game of Thrones fans? There was an episode with a child who was about 8 being breastfed.

@twobluelines
oh yes, I would've put them both in the skycell for that :::shudder:::

"mommy, make the bad man fly"

salsamommy · August 2013

Well I'm currently still nursing my 29 month old, and he's very much attached and not ready to give it up yet.

When I was pregnant with him (FTM), I said I was going to nurse until 18 months and then that was it!! Well that didn't work out as I planned, along with many other things!!!

You can try to plan it out now, but the baby will have a mind of it's own! What if your LO doesn't like formula? Have you considered the benefits not just to baby, but for yourself as well when it comes to BFing, and BFing over 1 year?? There's many studies out there that found that breastfeeding for more than 1 year reduced the risks of certain breast and ovarian cancers in women ... not to mention the calories you burn breastfeeding!!!

It's completely up to you and your LO how long you breastfeed for ... Am I tired of breastfeeding at this very moment, yes, definitely, I'm more dehydrated, exhausted, and my nipples hurt beyond belief!! But there's something about that quiet cuddle time with a very hyper and overactive toddler that puts a smile on my face, and I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world!!!

wifetomrb101 · August 2013

When DD was born I committed to try to get to 6 months. Then she wouldn't take a bottle. So I kept nursing until she turned 1. That being said, I kind of did BLW, and she pretty much weaned herself by 11 months. I still did feed her once right before bed and then took her off of that. For us weaning was a piece of cake since she was ready to be done.

Long story short - you can make commitments, but that doesn't mean you'll always follow them. I was done feeding (TBH sick and tired of it) her at 8 months already but since she wouldn't take a bottle OR milk even from a sippy, I didn't really have a choice. She wouldn't have had any milk in her diet at all, and that's not right.

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