Nursing Past a Year

Jessica - posted on 08/27/2010

My 19 month old is still happily nursing. I occasionally get comments, but our ARNP recommends nursing until at least 2, per the advisements of the AAFP & WHO.

I plan on letting my daughter self-wean, and I honestly have no idea how long that will be--it may be sooner if we get pregnant again, or she may stick it out. Who knows?

Brenda - posted on 08/25/2010

That's just silly, they won't be nursing when they start school. Most babies wean between 18 and 36 months naturally. That's what we're going for. My husband is like, well I think its okay, but after he's out of diapers it might be a little weird. Well, it won't be his choice if he is still nursing after potty training, and he knows it. But we'll see...

Leanne - posted on 08/22/2010

Geralyn, yes it is his age and the fact that we had gone on a vacation alone for five days and when we came back, I avoided nursing him. It lasted a month and then he started asking for it again and I caved. Also, he says the longer I nurse him, the harder it'll be to stop and he doesn't want our son going to school and still be nursing.

Geralyn - posted on 08/22/2010

Leanne, why does your hubby want you to wean him -simply his age? I really personally don't think dads should have a say in when weaning is done... At least today anyway... Ask me when I have had more sleep ... lol...

Leanne - posted on 08/20/2010

I'm actually in a "battle" right now with my husband who's asking me to wean my 22m son. I'd rather not wean him right now and my son still enjoys doing it. My friends are supportive because most of them nursed past a year or at least a year. We will see what happens...

Rachael - posted on 08/17/2010

i am so happy i found this group! im 19 and breatfeeding my 6month old son and hoping to get to at least 2years - thats my goal so far. im already getting told to swap to formula feeding now since he is not a newborn now and has no benefits, i actually feel sorry for people who make those comments to me not being educated enough to know how fantastic breastfeeding actually is and how good it is no matter how long i choose to feed. breastfeeding where i live is not very common for women under 30, out of 15 i can think of only 2and my self nurse. I love reading everyones stories and experiances i love being able to nurse my son there is nothing more special for us to share! thanks for the inspiration i hope i can reach my goal without problems has been easy trouble free so far. : )

Sally - posted on 07/22/2010

I've had several friends who were curious, but no one who was judgemental. (Most of them either weren't moms or had their kids 20 years ago or more.) I give them the facts and they're happy for my baby. My older daughter weaned herself at almost 4. My younger is only 9 months so her weaning should not be an issue for quite a while.

Erin - posted on 07/22/2010

I'm tandem nursing our 1 month old and our 2 year old, who will decide when to wean themselves. I haven't had any questions about how long I'll nurse, but I'm aware some family and friends think anything past a year is 'weird' and 'just for the mother'... whatever that means. I make sure to confidently discuss nursing as often as the topic comes up, because I know so many women who are pregnant or have young babies. I want to make sure they hear somewhere that the WHO recommends a *minimum* of 2 years, and that even the American recommendation of 1 year is meant to be a bare minimum, not a maximum. I also enjoy discussing how much easier our life as parents and our children's lives have been because of nursing. I'm sure I haven't gotten any negative comments because anyone who would criticize can tell I'm not searching for advice!

Julie - posted on 07/22/2010

I find it quite funny that the people making these types of coments either never breastfed or only did it for a few weeks because they had to. Fact - breast is best... for nutritional value and emotionally. The WHO reccomends breastfeeding for a minimum of two years - its about time the rest of the world woke up to the facts. I fed my eldest daughter till she was 2 years and 10 months and we have a fantastic bond. My youngest is almost 10 months and still going strong on the breast. I learnt to just tune out the negative comments and carry on doing what I know is best for my kids, good luck as it isn't always easy when people make hurtful comments but be assured that you are doing your best for your child and they are the ones that really matter.

Minnie - posted on 07/13/2010

Nursing a 21 month old and every so often, a four year old.



No one I know really cares *shrugs*. Well, aside from my mother, who is super supportive and breastfed my siblings and myself.



What's funny is that aside from two or three mothers on both of our sides, everyone else bottlefed.

Kim - posted on 07/13/2010

I am still nursing at 2....I usually don't bring it up and most people assume that we've already weaned. Occasionally I will get asked about it. I just respond "we're working on it :)" I usually don't get any follow up questions. My closest friends are pretty supportive which I really appreciate!

Geralyn - posted on 07/13/2010

Lisbeth, great to see you on here! My MIL (who did not breastfeed any of her kids) said that after my son turned 6 weeks, I'd be starving him if I continued with BF'ing. Whatever... he was actually progressing nicely along his growth chart.... And it cracks me up that people would think that cow's milk would be better than human milk! Yes, most kids gets switched to cows milk, but from formula!!! Not mommy's milk! My son rejected any milk that wasn't mine until after he weaned.

The funniest thing I heard was from my primary care physician, who said that at 3 months, I can stop because the baby has gotten all of the nutritional value and immunity from my milk that he would get. It was hilarious because all I could think about was how his patients are predominantly over 70 years of age. I am always the youngest person there. Not that he saw mine, mind you, but he hasn't seen a younger breast in decades, never mind a lactating breast. What the hell does he know about BF'ing!

Lisbeth - posted on 07/13/2010

My little girl is 21 months and I plan and hope she will breast feed well past four. I do get comment but I always ask were they got their degree or were they did their research. My favourite comment was my mom who informed me that my milk would just be water after 6 months, I couldn't stop laughing. Then the other day She asked me why my daughter doesn't drink cows milk and said oops you should probably start her drinking it. Were at this point I said no thanks I rather my daughter didn't drink milk from another species when I have milk right here.

Christy - posted on 07/10/2010

Recommeded reading "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler". It's a LaLecheLeague book. My Mom nursed me until 2 1/2 years. The World Health Organization recommends 2 years. Bottom line: it's your child and your business--not their's... :)

Sylvia - posted on 07/10/2010

My DD weaned herself somewhere between her 4th and 5th birthdays (although I'm sure a lot of people thought she'd weaned long before that), so yeah, I got some comments ;^)

My favourite was when a friend with a similar-aged baby asked me, TWO WEEKS before DD's 1st birthday, "So, do you think you'll keep nursing past a year?" I was like, no, I'm planning to wean her cold turkey on her birthday. What an awesome birthday present! ::rolls eyes:: What I actually *said* was more like, "Yes, of course. Why would I stop now when it's going so well?"

Brenda - posted on 07/10/2010

Well, we're going to go natural duration, and I dont' care who says what, lol. :)

Vicki - posted on 07/10/2010

My boy turned one a week ago and breastfeeding more than ever. He still feeds every few hours, sometimes more sometimes less, anywhere and eveerywhere. I surround myself by people of similar persuasion. I also get the impression that breastfeeding past a year is seen more often here in Australia than it is in the US.

I plan to let him self wean (although we will have to night wean to some extent when I go back to nightshifts in December). I also don't plan to restrict him feeding in public. No one has ever said anything to me, but then I have dreadlocks, so already look like a freak, breastfeeding in public just fits in with that image lol.

Emily - posted on 07/09/2010

Still nursing my 3-year-old... Mostly I don't tell a lot of people because I know how most people feel about that. But the friends that do know, I've had a mix of some being supportive, some express shock that I'm still going, in a condescending sort of way.

April - posted on 07/08/2010

almost 19 months and still going. my son is reverse cycled so no one really ever sees us breastfeeding, except my husband. but my parents and his parents know i still do and they're not happy about it. my mom keeps asking me when i'm going to wean. hello....self weaning means he'll do it himSELF. and the in laws ignore me and get really quiet if i talk about bfing.

Aleks - posted on 07/08/2010

"shouldn't you be looking at starting to wean her some time soon?"
We are at 16.5mths now. Longest I've nursed, my 1st went to 15mths.

Susanne - posted on 07/08/2010

On my third i nursed until he was just under two year old, it was only at bedtime during the last six months so it hardl ever come up in conversation.