Are you going to wean or let your child wean on their own?

Marsha - posted on 09/29/2010

My daughter is almost 16 months and she still nurses. Usually only before she goes to bed, but sometimes she asks for it, and I let her. I am planning on letting her wean. For me, it works. For some mothers, it doesn't...like every baby, every mother is different too.
My husband is pro-breastfeeding. He is a Herbalist, and has learned that breastmilk is so healthy. The longer the child is on it, the better.
Of course, there would be a certain age that if she doesn't wean herself by then, I will - around 2 years. But I figure it will come naturally by her, and I won't have to do anything.
I too really LOVE the time. I have two children, so this time gives me one on one with my youngest. I get to have it quiet, and give her kisses, and just be with her.
Hope this helps.

Melz - posted on 09/29/2010

To those who have biters.... My MIL told me to gently grab around their lower jaw cause it opens it so they release and it works.... It is a natural reflex to put away when you are hurt but, that in this case is the worst thing cause if they have grip it will only pull you and generally their teeth will then scrap across your nipple (I have experienced this a number of times) so I found that the gentle jaw grab released it well.

Danielle - posted on 09/29/2010

I am going to let my children wean on their own. I have a three and a half year old and a six month old. I still let my oldest son nurse on demand. He drinks Cow milk and all kinds of food. no allergies, never had an ear infection before, never has been on antibiotics. I think it's b/c of the breastmilk. It's been going great so far so I'm going to let him keep at it. I have a supportive husband and family so it's been good for us.

Raquel - posted on 09/29/2010

I think just like any other parenting issue, you just have to listen to yourself and do what feels best to you. I thought I'd make it 6 months, then got to a year and thought, aww she loves the breast way too much to take it away from her, then it turned into two years, and then 3 months before my second baby was born (who is now 6 months) I finally weaned my first (almost 3). I felt a lot of pressure from other people, but never caved and never really cared much. In fact, I had so many people tell me I would never make it to a year that it was kind of comical how long I went! Good luck, go with your gut!

Kayley - posted on 09/29/2010

Well said!!! i agree.

Maggie - posted on 09/29/2010

I let my children wean on their own. We nursed past toddlerhood. :)

Summer - posted on 09/29/2010

@ Leah... I also feel ya on the biting thing. Both of mine went thru a biting phase around 9 months- year, that eventually just stopped. I think it is mostly about teething, and my son has a stuffy nose and that frustrates him. My lactation support person told me to pull them into the breast (not away-ouch!) and that kind of smoothers them and makes them open their mouth. I also found that holding his hand while nursing and squeezing it very firmly when he bites surprises him and makes him stop. Good luck!

Melz - posted on 09/29/2010

My boy turned one about 2 weeks ago and he is not showing any signs of stopping yet... And I am not concerned. I am hoping he will self-wean just coz then I don't have the dramas behind it. He is currently only feeding 3 times a day coz he eats table food too and drinks lots of water. We are wanting to try for our second child in about 6 months tho so he will have to finish up before the new one arrives.... I have always had 2 yeas as my limit anyway so I guess if both things fall about the same time it might be easier! I don't know.... For me it's a new thing and kind of a play by ear and learn while it's happening thing.

Diana - posted on 09/29/2010

I nursed my first daughter for 6 months and then when I started jogging again, I just felt like she wasn't getting enough. She switched to bottles really easy and came off bottles and the binky at 1. My second daughter nursed 8 months and I had to go back to work and she would not take anything. I really wish I had nursed her longer, but I was a single mom and I had to go back to work. She ended up going to a sippy cup, which worked out ok, but she still (at 8 now) seems to have an oral fixation. Always chewing on things. Now I am happily remarried and we have a son, Ramon (5 months). I am not working for at least 1 year so that I can nurse him exclusively for this time. He will take a bottle of expressed milk, but I never give it to him. Mostly just if hubby and I want to have a date. I have no time line when I'd like to stop. This is likely our last baby and I plan on letting him decide when its time.

Erin - posted on 09/29/2010

My 2 year old and my 3 month old will not experience forced weaning - they will wean whenever they are ready. I personally don't believe there's a baby out there that would choose to wean at 12 months, much less anytime before 2 (as a very bare minimum). I also don't think what I'm doing is 'extended' breastfeeding, but simply full term breastfeeding. Extended sounds like I'm keeping them on the breast longer than what is natural, when in fact weaning your child before they decide to wean is limited or constricted breastfeeding!

That being said, when I was first pregnant I assumed I would wean my daughter sometime between 1 and 2 years old. I wasn't at all aware that children weaned themselves. By the time she was about 14 months I realized she clearly wasn't going to quit nursing anytime soon, and I was completely fine with that. I don't worry at all about what other people think - I've always tried to raise my children by my instincts, and not by pop culture. If anything, I make sure people know my children will self wean so that maybe they'll give it a second thought for their own children. I'm absolutely certain that my 2 year old hasn't had the 'terrible twos' because of the confidence, trust, and calm that goes along with still nursing. She only nurses a couple of times per day, but she really needs that closeness and down time to recharge. It's lovely. :)

Laura - posted on 09/29/2010

I was thinking of weaning at exactly 12 months also. My husband wants me to go longer because he knows it's my daughter's favorite thing, and she already has daddy wrapped around her little finger. Anyway, I do enjoy the closeness of nursing, and am going to be sad when it is done with. I am just not sure how to wean her. We are down to 3 feedings, morning, afternoon, and bedtime. I also am not sure how to get her to sleep w/ out it! Any suggestions?

Dawn - posted on 09/29/2010

My original thought was I would nurse until one year. Then my doctor told me about the benefits of going until 2 or longer. After I did my own research I decided 2 would be the new goal. He is now 22 months, and he loves his "bub bub." I stay home with him so most days nursing isn't a big deal. (I HATE and refuse pumping!) And he has slowed down to only nursing before he goes to sleep or when he's bored. I try to distract him if he's just bored. (My boobs are not the entertainment!! LOL) I love my time with him though and I think now that we are close to 2 I will just let him wean himself when he's ready. I just can't see a reason to take it from him yet. =) Hope that helps!!

Shannon - posted on 09/29/2010

I will let my daughter wean on her own, as I did with my youngest son. I figured...why give them another mammals milk just b/c they have reached some arbitrary age set by society. I feed my human babies human milk. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends till AT LEAST a yeah, WHO says 2 years. I deal with other's criticisms based on fact. I KNOW that it is better for my babies and they have no say in that.

Alison - posted on 09/29/2010

I breastfed my son happily until at ten months, he began to bite down fiercely. He was drawing blood and it was very painful, so I introduced bottles. Before, he wouldn't even touch breast milk bottles when I had to go somewhere. But, he was excited about them now, because his cousin Sophia of the same age, with whom he spent all his time, was on them and he wanted one too. I still breastfed on demand, but it dwindled to twice a day, and then only before bedtime until I just dried up. The whole process took about 3 months, but it was fairly easy for both of us.

Tasya - posted on 09/29/2010

My son is currently 22 months and shows no interest in weaning. I had planned to stop BF when he got teeth, that happened around 18 months. Since he didn't want to stop BFing, we are still going strong. I'm going to let him self wean, more than likely, but I am hoping it doesn't go past 2 yrs.

Djrianna - posted on 09/29/2010

I planned on BF'ing for two years but changed my mind. I now plan on self weaning. I've just read it's healthier developmentally.

Autumn - posted on 09/29/2010

Part of being a good mom is not caring what other people say about your methods. Not everyone will agree with you. You will hear crap no matter what you choose. If you want to keep nursing and you are able to, then do it and enjoy it.

Michelle - posted on 09/29/2010

I breastfed my daughter until she was 21 months old. It was basically on demand after 12 months since she was eating table food and such. We enjoyed our time together. I was ready to stop but I just let my daughter stop on her own. She doesn't ask for it anymore and now she tries to breastfeed her dolls. It's so cute!

Kristen - posted on 09/29/2010

I got pregnant with my son when my daughter was 9 months old, I continued to nurse her. It doesn't harm anyone. She eventually weaned close to when I was due, because my milk changed to get ready for the baby, and she didn't like it anymore.

Lisa - posted on 09/29/2010

I had planned to start weaning my little one at 18 months, but as she is now 15 months old I'm not so sure. I think she requires the health benefits that BF'ing gives her more than my other ones did (my first had formula, my second I pumped for 10 1/2 months). I just feel that if I wean her she will get sick more often (she has eczema, food allergies, etc.). BUT, more importantly, the comfort she gets from BF'ing is tremendous. She loves that closeness that we have, and she absolutely adores BF'ing!! Sometimes it cracks my husband and I up because she will rub the other breast while she's feeding, and sometimes she'll stop and just lay her head on my breast and smile this dreamy little smile...it's so cute. I stay at home with my little ones so I don't see any reason to rush her off the breast, not when it makes her feel so good in so many ways. I'm thinking if she's done completely by the time she's 2 then that would be fine with me. It's not like it was before anyway when she was feeding 10 times a day. It's pretty much down to 3 times a day and she started sleeping through the night about a month ago, so I'm not up half the night either.

More important than any of that is the fact they are only little for a short period of time. I know I don't want to look back and think, wow, i could have breastfed my baby for longer but i didn't because someone wanted me to stop, or it was an inconvenience for me sometimes, or whatever. I want to say that I gave my baby just what she needed. It's nice to look at my little one and know that I have made her healthy with my milk, and that she knows I can make her feel better when she needs it. If you really enjoy this time BF'ing your little one, then don't let anyone convince you not to. As to how I deal with judgement about extended BF'ing....I don't. There isn't anyone I know who has anything to say about it. My husband totally supports me BF'ing as long as I want to, he thinks it's my body and my decision and knows that whatever decision I make will be the right one.

Kristen - posted on 09/29/2010

My son turned 2 years old in June, and he still nurses on demand. When he is ready to be done, he will stop. I was going to stop when he turned 2, but I can't really find a reason TO stop. I'd rather he have my milk than hormone-injected, antibiotic laden cow milk. Plus, what other mammal do you know of that purposefully weans their young so it can drink another mammals milk? It is unheard of in nature! If my kids were supposed to drink cow milk, then cow milk is what would be produced by my breasts :)

Rachel - posted on 09/29/2010

My daughter just turned 1 on the 24th and I am still EBFing. She doesn't want anything else. She will nitpick here and there on food that I eat but will not eat any kind of baby food or enough of any other food to sustain herself. I guess I am just waiting for her to start weaning herself. My sister in law, who never bfed, has been on to me about weaning for quite sometime now. She tells me to withhold my milk from her and make her eat something else. My daughter won't even drink out of a bottle, never has. It really upsets me. I feel that the baby and mother should be the ones to choose. I mean you have to stop somewhere. I won't be bfing her when she is 2.

Megan - posted on 09/29/2010

My goal was a year and then done. My DD is 1yr TODAY!! I am down to Morning and Night. She is not ready to give them up. I have tried! With working FT, I do not have time to keep at offering a sippy/bottle instead of me in the morning. I cannot send her to the sitter cranky and not feed! I have Friday off and we are going to work on it then and over the weekend. If she really fights it...I will play it by ear. DH also says 1 yr and then its "creepy". MEN just don't get how hard it can be on BOTH you and the baby.

Kayley - posted on 09/29/2010

In the begining i told my husband 1 year and he was happy with that, but now i keep thinking how hard its going to be, i guess once we are down to 1 feed a day it will be ok. Also i would like to try for another baby and whilst i'm breastfeeding its not happening. My husband definately wants me to stop at age 1 but we will see what happens.....

Danielle - posted on 09/29/2010

Hi! I always planned to let my son self wean. He is 33 months and I am currently pregnant with my second, due in 9 weeks and my first still feeds on demand. He has been feeding less and less over the course of the pregnancy and now feeds about once every 2 days. I plan to carry on for as long as he asks for it. Have you heard of a book called "Breastfeeding Older Children"? It is mainly aimed at those with over 2/3 year olds but is a great support and explains the many benefits of letting your child self wean.
I do come from a family of lactivists so maybe I'm bias (I self weaned at 5!) but would really recomend it! :)

Barbara - posted on 09/28/2010

Claire dobson- Did you think of trying a cup earlier. Although LO is still BF I intorduced a sippy cup at 6 mths (actual age) with a little cooled boiled water) just to mess around with & get used to....she's never had a bottle has master cups from the get go. She was using 2 yo+ cups before 18 m

Barbara - posted on 09/28/2010

Brianna,

Before I got pregnant I had a *magic* number...I would not BF when the baby could ask for it etc etc. I had the prejudices & stereotypes.

LO came 9 weeks early and was 2 lbs 11 oz (dropped to 2 lbss 3oz at day 4) IUGR. All I wanted was to BF. (I guess I felt it was all I could do really, I was helpless.) First thing I did, when I came up from OR (emergency c section) was ask if I could BF.I was out of it most of that frist 24 hrs.

At 36 hrs I pumped for the first time, at LO's first gavage feed 1 ml of formula)I managed to get my supply going by 3rd feed.

I didn't have a fixed amount of time, I was going to 'at least' do it this long...and ity would change long before I got there...hihi

At the least I was going to 1 yr (corrected age) which would be a little over 14 mths). With the threat of going back to work, I worried...I met a wonderful group of women on FB, and realized I didn't *have* to wean her

So, we've pretty much have gone on from there....as time went on I decided might as well let her wean on her own. If i would have wanted to wean her, younger would have made more sense, and probably easier too :P She will soon be 33 mths. I must admit though it is only bedtime boobie, there are days I am done. She plays around, takes forever, is fidgety. I'd love to just put her in bed, and that be the end of it.

I,ve tried a few 'ways' to get her to bed,( unfortunately she nurses to sleep) and although I,ve managed to cut down the BFing a little (duration) I can tell she really isn't ready. I let her cry & fuss & complain a little, but it does go beyond that...she gets really upset...she isn't ready. *sigh* I can't see myself forcing her to wean...maybe 'encourage her' that is what I started last week, with changing the sleeping habits.

So I can't see myself forcing her to wean, but I don't think *I* would be comfortable BFing beyond 3. there's our stroy, sorry it was long, hope it helped.



* I must add (but I was trying to cut it shorter) She BF like a champion, that first feed, but I ended up fighting the NIUC nurses to BF,,,fought nipple confusion...





* Oh and i wasn't really supported past 12 m (by family) I am a signle mom, work fulltime. My mom seems to have 'finally' gotten it and supports me...I am teaching her.. ;-)

Stephanie - posted on 09/28/2010

I also planned on weaning at 12 months but, 13 months and we're going strong. I want her to self wean because I don't want to force feed her. I get looks and comments from family,friends, and strangers for nursing my baby but my daughter is who matters. I will nurse her until she decides she doesn't want to.

Tanya - posted on 09/28/2010

I am going working towards letting my son self-wean. He is almost 13 months and isn't ready to wean. Right around his birthday he was feeding 4-6 times a day (since I was home with him). Now that I am back to work (teacher) he is nursing twice a day and getting half frozen milk and half milk in his bottles. He really relies on me and our nursing sessions for sleep and comfort. It feels like it would be mean to just cut him off. I am also currently pregnant and feel there may be less jealousy with the new baby if he is also allowed to nurse at will. I figure by the time the new baby comes he prob won't be nursing all that often and he'll be taking milk as well when I'm working, so why not offer him the benefits for as long as possible? If he doesn't self wean by 2, though, I may wean him. Undecided there.

Elizabeth - posted on 09/28/2010

I was always set on weaning at 12 months but now my daughter is 9 months and I am not planning to do any sort of weaning anymore. Before I began breastfeeding I thought it was so neat and tidy- so easy to just stop- but it's not! She nurses for comfort as much if not more than for food, and I do not want to take that away. When she is ready I am confident she will wean herself. She is so independent and strong that I am not concerned about it- I just want to give her everything she needs (and more), someone once told me "we are so eager to push them out but then we spend the rest of our lives trying to bring them back. I will hold her as close as she'll let me for as long as she lets me because when she tells me she doesn't want me to hold her when she's 5- I will miss it....

Felice - posted on 09/28/2010

My son will be 1 in a couple days and I still BF, he actually reaches for it himself. I originally planned on stopping at 6 months but that didn't happen. Of course I have to deal with the constant comments about why I'm still doing it, but I tell everybody I'm doing what I feel is best for my baby, if they don't like it then don't watch, cuz nobody says anything about a baby with a bottle so BF is exactly the same except natural. It comes down to what's best for the baby and you, not anybody else.

Brianna - posted on 09/28/2010

I had planned on weaning him off at around 12 months. By 13 months we were done breastfeeding. I think my son and I were both ready for the change, because it wasn't hard, didn't hurt and didn't take long- about a week or two.... It seemed very natural for us. It just got to the point where I would nurse him at night, and then eventually I stopped. He was ready for regular milk by that time, and it made it alot easier... Some people don't want to nurse that long- or they want to nurse longer- More power to you! You know your own body, and your child every woman is different. i'm proud of myself for nursing that long- Not sure if I could nurse so long with my next child though?

Caitlin - posted on 09/28/2010

Wow! I feel so encouraged to EBF. I hadn't really thought about a date to end, I figured I'd just let my son (8.5 months) decide. He is exclusively BF but when he seems interested in what I am eating I give him as much as he wants. When people ask me how long I will BF (i know they are asking b/c they thinks its weird that I still am) my husband always chimes in "5 yrs!" It is great to have his support. I recommend letting your husband read the research. Thanks for the post Brianan & thanks for the encouragement ladies! :)

Karin - posted on 09/28/2010

I was planning to wean at 12 months, but he's 18 months, and still nurses three to four times a day. He's a VERY good eater (I feed him whatever we're eating, unless it's something I know he won't eat, then he gets the chicken tender/sweet potato nugget stand-by), but he has absolutely zero interest in drinking milk from a cup, so for now, I'll continue to nurse. The WHO has also recommended nursing until the age of two, as it helps to strengthen their immune systems. My husband is very supportive, and if anyone else doesn't like it, tough titties! I'll raise my child in the way that works best for me. I haven't told my MIL I still nurse, as she was aghast that I was nursing beyond nine months, so she'll never understand this!

Jessyka - posted on 09/28/2010

i initially had said that once my kid bites me, we're done. lol that nearly backfired when i had bite marks on my nipples when he was two days old!

i plan on letting my son self-wean. we'll see what happens, though. my husband says that nursing until two years old is "ridiculous", even when i showed him the reports from the world health organization, but he also says that it's my boobs, and how we feed our son is my choice.

Claire - posted on 09/28/2010

I knew I wanted to breast feed from the off. My son was born premature so I was expressing for the first 8 weeks and was fully breast feeding by the time he came home. I then found that about 7-8months he seemed to need more n introduced a bottle at night to help introduce a routine at bedtime and include daddy. Over time he started to have baby rice and started eating home cooked purees and so I ofund the breast feeding and bottles gradually decreased. I went back to work after 10months and was only breast feeding at night and in the mornings, as he started to sleep through it became just mornings. He is now just over two and still has a bottle in morning and bottle at night of cows milk but I found this just happened naturally and not because I had any sort of plan. I was just led by my baby and how our family routine worked best. I had no set ideas about how long I would do it for and becaise he was prem was keen he got the best start. However, i don't think I would have breast fed past 2/3 years old anyway as I wouldn't want him to start school still breast feeding. i am hoping to break him of the bottle to a cup for his milk by Christmas as he drinks from cups the rest of the day but he's never had dummy so felt reluctant to remove the bottle when he only has it twice a day and he really loves it.

Rebekka - posted on 09/28/2010

I breastfed exclusively for 9 months and am still breastfeeding (on demand) - Hannah is now 2 1/2. So yes, we are practicing child-led weaning LOL. DH has his moments where he complains about it because he thinks that makes it more difficult for him to parent her, but it doesn't really - I quoted the WHO to him, mailed him studies that show how extended breastfeeding can help etc. And he also notices how I can easily comfort Hannah when she has a tantrum from time to time - and how we all get more sleep when she has phases of frequent night waking (I just nurse her back to sleep)
The judgemental advice I get annoys me, but actually it annoys me most when it comes from family (my mom and the one sister who also has children) - other people will listen to my reasoning and most appear to understand...

Melissa - posted on 09/28/2010

I decided to start weaning at twelve months but this is primarily because I was having some very painful side effects of nursing on one side. If I had not had the pain I was planning on nursing until at least two, because Iiked the time we spent together and because I had heard that children who are not vaccinated should be nursed until at least the age of two. My son is completely weaned now, and it was really quite easy to do. For any who are interested, I cut his time down by two minutes every two to three days, so it wasn't such a shock on my system and on him. Once I got down to two minutes he was not interested anymore.

Rachael - posted on 09/28/2010

Stephanie- Unfortunately, that happened to me as my supply was dropping. Shortly after, my son had low weight problems and I had to supplement. I hope that doesn't happen to you!

Stephanie - posted on 09/28/2010

My son is 9 months and I am employeed full time. I planned to breastfeed until 1 year. But now I would love t ocontinue longer. I pump during the day at work. I'm affraid that it might have to end sooner because the pumping is not working. I purchased a top of the line pump that worked for 8 months and now I am renting a hospital grade pump and it seems my supply is decreasing. I hope that I can continue because I am not ready to stop nursing. The bond it too increadible. Is anyone else struggling with pumping?

Margaret - posted on 09/28/2010

I think we're just going to let her do it herself. She's already taking a lot more from the sippy cup in a fast progression and she's only been using the sippy cup for a month or two. She's down to nursing twice or three times a day. Our only snaffo is that she still wakes up to nurse at night.. but we're a special case because at 14 months she's on 17 lbs.

Latisha - posted on 09/28/2010

At first I said six months, but I could not be selfish enough to do that to him. So now I am looking at going until 12 months and he is almost 10 months old now.

Rachael - posted on 09/28/2010

Sadly, my son weaned on his own at almost 9 months! My breastmilk really wasn't enough for him, and after trying everything I could, I finally had to supplement at 7 months. He decided that he liked formula better, and did it himself. If that wasn't the case, though, I think I still would have left it up to him. I would have loved to go until 2 years, but if he was still nursing at 2 1/2, that's about when I would have considered weaning him off. Of course, that's easy for me to say, I don't actually know how I would have done it if he didn't do it himself! Lol. I wouldn't let anyone (including your husband) make the decision for you. It's between you and your child, and if someone has a problem with it, too bad! Do what's right for you two, no one else.

Cira - posted on 09/28/2010

My daughter is 30 months old and is still nursing. She is no where near to being reasdy to wean and since I am comfortable with nursing her I could care less what anyone says. This is healthy for your child the closeness and boding is special and it keeps you healthy. Did you know that nursing helps with reducing the risk of getting breast, uterine, ovarian and other cancers? My mother had breast cancer and I rather nurse my chld to avoid having a high risk.

Of course it is important what your husband says but be imformed google information and arm yourself with the facts when you conversate with your husband about this matter. Good luck with whatever decision you make.



Sincerely,



Cira

Lisa - posted on 09/28/2010

Excellent question! Haven't bothered to read the responses (wow there's a lot), but here's what we did: We had a horrid time at the beginning too. We had to work hard, really really hard, to get breastfeeding going. So once we did, I really enjoyed it. And then we got to one year. Nothing special happened with my son, and nothing was different in my life, so we simply continued. I did get a lot of questions about it, from my mom, and from my DH. But my baby was STILL a baby, so we just kept right on. Now he's 18-months, and we're still nursing. The end is probably in sight since I'm now pregnant, but I wouldn't have quit earlier for anything.



Things that are wonderful about nursing past one: it's a tantrum, teething, cranky baby tamer; it makes up for veggie strikes; it keeps you close to your busy toddler; it keeps you eating healthy for your baby; it will help set up your child for life-long good health. I can't think of any cons, other than other people's opinions. And who gives a hang about them, anyway?! Best of luck!

Tina - posted on 09/28/2010

I plan to wean my baby by the time he's 12 months old. He just turned 8 months, and I've started the process by increasing the gaps between feeds. Ever since he started solids, I BF him every 4-6 hours, on demand, making a total of 5-6 feeds a day. I'm planning on reducing them one by one until by 12 months I'll only be feeding him once, at bedtime. That's the plan anyway. Babies have their own plans sometimes. :)

Eve - posted on 09/28/2010

Alex is 13.5 months and still nurses regularly at bedtime, sometimes in the morning. I don't think he's getting much milk at this point, and I'm about to return to Nuvaring, so he may not get anything soon. However, I will still allow him to nurse if he wants to. I think if he hits 2 years and is still nursing regularly, I will try to discourage him, but I'm not planning to force him to wean cold-turkey at any age. I see signs that he is less interested in nursing--wants to be down on the floor playing almost ALL the time, and is now very interested in eating what Mommy and Daddy are having--so I don't expect that I will ever have to consider forcing him to stop.



I've stopped offering the breast in the mornings, so he nurses only if he "asks." At bedtime, it is still part of our routine, so it is offered then.



Some moms force weaning because they want to make their children more independent, but research shows that children who are forced to stop nursing before they are ready actually become more clingy and insecure. I personally breastfed (not regularly) until I was over the age of 2, and I turned out fine.

Megan - posted on 09/28/2010

We are self weaning and honestly, I don't care what other ppl think, including my husband when it come to matters like this. The WHO says brestfeeding should be a minimum of two years. There are no negatives to natural duration breastfeeding. The child will stop when they feel secure and ready to let go and move on to something new in life. I could never force my son to let go of something he loves and relys on just because someone gave me a funny look or said that I shouldn't do "that"

Janice - posted on 09/28/2010

I guess I'm now slowly, very slowly, weaning my 11 mo. old. She nurses 3x a day and I plan to drop that down to 2x at around a year; when she wakes up and before bed. I plan on being done by the time she is 18mo. I personally think that all children should be weaned by 3 years. Preschoolers shouldn't have bottles, pacifiers or boobies in my opinion. My daughter has 8 teeth and bites me a lot, mostly when latching on. I enjoy snuggling with my daughter but I don't LOVE breastfeeding. I think its sad that our culture has made bottle feeding and formula so normal for infants. My husband has always supported me but he also agrees that 18 mo. seems like a reasonable ending age. Although many women in my family breastfed, all were less than 6 months.I am lucky that even my friends and family who didn't BF are very supportive. Although, no one has "complained" I am starting to get the "your still BFing?" comment since Kady is almost a year. I think those who choose to wean like myself should make a slow process. There is no need to tramatize a child by eliminating nursing just because they turned a year old.

Lindsey - posted on 09/28/2010

My daughter will be two next month and she is till breast feeding 1-2 times a day. My previous two children were weaned at 11 mos and 12 mos, so this is new for me! My husband had "concerns" at first, but he quickly got over them - especially when our chiropractor informed us that a babies immune system doesn't start making its own antibodies until around 18 mos. My nearly-two-year-old is the healthiest kids we've had (i can literally count the number of times she's been sick - beyond just minor colds). I plan to continue nursing and let her decide when she's done (which I have a feeling will be in the next few months - she's nursing now merely for comfort/time with mom).