Breastfeeding Past A Year**

Dawn - posted on 10/08/2010

Many, many organizations (WHO for example) are now saying to nurse until 2, if not longer. This was copied from the WHO site..

"Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond."

My son will be 2 on Nov. 19th and we are still going at it. Nursing also decreases your risk of breast and ovarian cancer later in life. (again on WHO site, under 10 facts about breastfeeding) Whoever has told you that you should have stopped by now is grossly misinformed. It is sad how little we supoort breastfeeding mothers. I encourage you to check out the WHO site, and the many more out there, before deciding to stop. As for me and my son, I do not know when we will stop. Hopefully before college or things *might* get a little akward... lol =)

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/08/2010

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.ht...

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/08/2010

Weaning at one year is completely unnatural to humans, it's society and religions that make us think that it's ok or best to wean so young. Humans are not designed to wean at one years, we are designed to wean between 2.5-7 years. That's why weaning now seems wrong to you and to your son. You can wean now but it isn't in his best interest. Aafp clearly states that a child weaned before the age of two is at increased risk of illness, so weaning at one is not the healthy choice for your son. The longer you breastfeed the lower your risk of getting breast cancer is. More nursing, less risks for both of you!
Picky eaters, sleep fighters, terrible twos, whiny clingy toddlers are direct results of weaning them before they are ready.
World average weaning age is 4.4 years so that's my goal with my kids as I can not accept anything less then average for my kids! They deserve the best I can give them and obvious choice for me is to keep breastfeeding until my son grows out of it.

So my suggestion is not to wean, weaning is not ment to be something you do to a child, it's ment to be a term for the time a child grows into a new stage. Not when we want it, but when they are done.

Kids with strong histories of allergies in their families can be instructed to not give any foods at all until one year, only breatsmilk for the first year. So it's obvious that those kids aren't weaning on the month they are started on foods! Think about this, how long do humans have their milk teeth? Shouldn't we not wean before they even have the full set of milk teeth? That makes no sense to wean at one year.
Here's an awesome link that I find very helpful and informative.

Kim - posted on 10/07/2010

Dont listen to those who tell you to stop. If you want to continue and he is wanting to continue that is all that matters. My son is 17 months old and I still nurse him. He is very small for is age...25% for weight and 50% for height. He eats as much as his 4yr old brother but is still tiny. Like you I want to make sure I am giving him my best. I decided that I would stop when he was ready, not when others told me to. Best of luck!

Lavet - posted on 10/05/2010

I feel your pain. My son is about to be 14 months and I have people pressuring me to stop nursing him. Its not that I haven't but he doesn't want anything else and I don't want to force him. It's not causing any harm so I dont get the problem. and its not like I'm not trying to get him off. I think its a personal choice for you and your child. It does not hurt him so I would suggest to do what is natural for you two and take your time.

Mary - posted on 10/05/2010

The world health organizations states that 2 years be the MINIMUM for nursing. Don't stop at a year because that is what others say. You do what you know is going to be best for you boy!

Nursing mom of a 2 yr old and 5 month old.

April - posted on 10/05/2010

also i read somewhere that the older they get, the more immunity they get, as older babies don't nurse as much as younger ones (usually)

April - posted on 10/05/2010

My son is 21 months and has only slept through a handful of times in his life. He nurses frequently at night and I do it because I know it is helping him keep on weight. He showed ZERO interest in food until he was 18 months old. Slowly, but surely he is showing more and more interest. He was on a liquid diet (breast milk) for so long that his belly isn't as big. So, he can only take in so much solids at a time. He may have a smaller appetite but he is almost 26 pounds!

Bridgette - posted on 10/05/2010

What is best for your son is for you to continue nursing until you both decide you're done. I breastfed until my daughter weaned at 17 months when I got pregnant with my second and honestly it's not weird nursing a toddler. It's normal to go past 2 years. If you really want to help him sleep than you can introduce cow's milk at 12 months, I did and my daughter had a bottle (or bottle like sippy) of warm milk with her in bed (I know they say it's bad but as long as it's got nothing added and you brush his teeth twice a day it's really not that bad) and she sleeps really well, usually after a little whinge. i used to nurse her to sleep and honestly it was hard to put her down because she would wake as soon as i moved.
With food, it's all fun before one! After they turn one you have to gradually swap breastfeeds for the same kind of foods you eat at the dinner table. Eventually he'll be eating more solids than breastfeeds and may only nurse a few times a day.
BUT, do what you feel is necessary, if weaning is what you feel is right then don't feel bad about it at all, you are the parent, we are just offering advice. Nobody can tell you how to raise your child :) x

Michelle - posted on 10/05/2010

Nurse as long as you both want to. Tune the non-breastfeeding advocates out. It's best for baby, and yet, society, family & friends seem to question rather than help or encourage breastfeeding moms. Do yourself a favor and begin educating the people who surround you and don't support you. It's natural; it's best... and it's your choice.

My daughter takes a sippy cup & cups with straws, and she's 10 month's old. Morning, nap time and night time are all nursing. I also pump. She doesn't sleep through the night, and I enjoy our middle of the night nursing session. (Check out Dr. Sears' site; it was so helpful for us.)

Many babies don't sleep through the night at a year. It seems to be a badge of honor for some parents more than others. If it bothers you, then you can work on getting him to sleep through the night and if not, don't worry about it.

If he's growing well, and happy, don't worry. Comparing one child to another is often done, and our little ones are so different that what works for one, doesn't for another. If your happy, and he's happy, that's all that matters. Good Luck!

Katherine - posted on 10/04/2010

Do what feels right for you! As long as you and your son still both enjoy breast feeding and you're both comfortable with it then i say go for it! There is no right or wrong time to stop breastfeeding. It all depends on your personal experiences. As for not sleeping the whole night through, that is perfectly normal at his age. He will sleep through the night when he is ready!

Ashleigh - posted on 10/04/2010

You have to do what you feel is right.Its what you and your baby decide.Do not worry about what other people think...he's not THEIR baby.He's getting plenty of nutrients and antibodies from BM,so why change anything?Feed him food that he will eat,offer food that he doesn't...KEEP offering it to him and he'll eventually probably eat it.Breastmilk is good for him no matter what age he is,and I personally don't think one year is nearly long enough...but that is up to YOU and him.If he's happy BFing and so are you then continue on.When it begins to feel like a chore or you just become uncomfortable THEN its time for a change.Right now he's still a baby.You will learn to follow YOUR own instinct the longer you're a Mom and the more kids you have,but now its time to take a stand and just do what you know is right for you and your son.As for the sleeping thru the night,'real' food is'nt going to make him sleep longer.thats a myth if ever there was one.Babies grow and sleep and change their habits at their own pace..it US that have to adjust to them.Good Luck to you!You're doing great!(I am currently BFing my 9 month old AND my almost 3 year old...they are my 3rd and 4th sons)

Elizabeth - posted on 10/04/2010

Hi, Mary!
My son will be 2 next week. We still breastfeed. Shortly after he turned 1, I did the 'cry-it-out' method (another controversial parenting topic) and he learned how to soothe himself so he would sleep through the night. It isn't until recently that I've seriously been feeling the need to wean. He eats table food wonderfully, lots of variety. He doesn't go for milk much but cheese and yogurt he loves. My daughter is 15 months older than he, I weaned her a week before he was born because I was nervous about doing any tandem nursing.

My advice to you: do all your research first before you make any decision. Someone previously posted a link from Kellymom, that website has been VERY helpful to me as has the La Leche League. When it comes down to it, no one knows the EXACT way a child should be raised or we'd all be reading that book! ;-) Breastfeeding is a sticky topic and many people have difficulties with it, especially when the child is considered a toddler. At the end of the day; you do what is right for your child and your family because that will help him be the healthiest and happiest little boy he can be. Best of luck!

Daniela - posted on 10/04/2010

Most people (and that includes doctors) don't know all that much about breastfeeding but talk to you as if they are an authority on it. My baby is 13 months old now and I am getting a bit tired of the comments myself (though once you stand your ground they tend to fade). I am co-sleeping with my baby (also very much frowned upon!) and she is still a long way from sleeping through the night. I really doubt it's due to hunger though, she just isn't ready developmentally yet. Like your baby she isn't eating greatly, which makes breastfeeding so much more important in my book. I can be sure, she is still getting everything she needs. Apart from that, we both really enjoy our breastfeeding relationship and I wouldn't even contemplate giving that up just because there are ignorant people out there, who don't really know anything about it. Also, Nina had the sniffles twice and the mere touch of an earinfection once in the past 13 months - that's it! Why would I want to give up that kind of protection? Most formula-fed babies I know seem to be more sick than healthy. The best you can do is read lots about it so you have a bit of ammunition when people annoy you. Good luck!

Andrea - posted on 10/04/2010

Hi Mary! I have a 23 month old daughter who is still nursing and I got all of the same criticisms when she turned a year and even more now that she's almost two. The pediatrician told me I had to get her off the breast and onto drinking whole milk because she needs the fat in the milk for healthy brain development. Izabella hates any kind of milk that's not mine. She doesn't sleep through the night and I really doubt it's because she's not eating being as she LOVES to eat! Babies and toddlers don't eat like grown ups where we can just eat because we feel like it. They eat because they need to eat. There's no medical reason for you to have to stop nursing. The World Health Organization recommends at least two years. Unfortunately, our society doesn't really respond well to breastfeeding, let alone breastfeeding toddlers. If you feel up to it, keep breastfeeding. I'm weaning my daughter now that she is turning two but only because I'm truly exhausted and I'm ready to move on. I wouldn't pay much attention to the comments. Most people don't know enough about breastfeeding to have the authority to say anything about it. Good luck and God bless!!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 10/04/2010

I agree that you should do what you feel is best. Ignore the others. One of the reasons I'm continuing to nurse is because sometimes my daughter is picky and doesn't want to eat a lot of solids. I know she's still getting nutrients from breast milk so I don't worry about the days where she doesn't eat as much. Sleeping through the night will happen when he's ready. I know a ton of babies who don't sleep so well (even after a year) and many of them were not breastfed or were weaned off before a year. Do what you feel is best.

Jennifer - posted on 10/04/2010

You do what feels right for you and your son! There are benefits for nursing past a year. And like others have said, some babies don't sleep well at night. Sleeping through the night is a milestone just like walking and talking. I know my son didn't even sleep 6 hours through until he was 16 months old. He got up every 2-3 hours until then. He's 18 months old now and he still doesn't sleep all night. He's still breastfed, also.

Celeste - posted on 10/03/2010

There are a ton of benefits and nutrients that are provided even after a year. It's pretty common for babies his age not to be sleeping through the night, and it really doesn't have anything to do with their diet. . And you're right, you don't want to force feed solids if it's something that he's not ready for. And yes, the nice thing about nursing past a year, that he will still get the nutrients that he needs, since toddlers are notoriously picky eaters.

These people speak out of ignorance. They have no facts to back up their claims (my family wasn't too supportive either but the only reasons they could come up with was "it's gross" or "if they should be off the bottle, they should be off the breast by a year" )

Read this article by kellymom about nursing past a year:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/eb...

If you feel you want to nurse past a year, then go for it. I wouldn't let other people make parenting choices for you!

Stephanie - posted on 10/03/2010

:) babies sleep through the night when they're ready some early and and some later. and even when they do, most kids I know are early risers... :)

as for the nursing, if he still wants to and so do you, then ignore all the voices telling you to stop and just keep going. My gals were done at 13 mos. but many moms and babies continue nursing much longer... well into age 2 or more. You don't 'need' to stop, unless it's no longer right for you and your son.