how long did you breast feed for??

Katie - posted on 06/17/2010

I breastfed my son until one week after his first birthday. He had weaned himself off his before bed feeding at around 10 months. Then after his first birthday, when I would offer in the morning and before naps, he would just push me away with his arm. He is a major table food eater though so I think he was ready to be done with "liquid food". Every baby is different and you can/should continue to feed as long as you baby wants to. I think it does though depend on how much actual food the baby is taking in.
Enjoy now cause I miss those moments!

Jennifer - posted on 06/17/2010

I have 5 kids and have learned a lot more about the benefits of breastfeeding. They nursed for this long:
1st-15 months
2nd-18 months
3rd-11 months
4th-18 months (1st self-weaned baby)
5th-6months so far. I'll let him self-wean too.

The benefits of breastmilk don't sour! Nothing magically happens when your baby reaches age 1 that makes your milk no longer healthy and powerful for baby. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for AT LEAST two years and then to continue as long as it is agreeable to both mom and baby.

Elizabeth - posted on 06/17/2010

My daughter was breast-fed to 15 months, she self-weaned (I was pregnant with my son) and my son, I am still breast-feeding (3 times a day), he is 20 months old.

Cara - posted on 06/17/2010

My son is also 10 months and is still being breast fed. I am going to try to wean him after his 1st birthday. He is already eating less from me as he really enjoys table food.

Dawn - posted on 06/17/2010

My son is 21 months almost 22 months and I am still breast feeding.

Angelique - posted on 06/17/2010

I have breastfed mine daughter for 3 years straight, and now mine son is still breastfed he's almost 1 year and 6 months and still on breastfeeding.And I'm pro leche league

Tammi - posted on 06/17/2010

I nursed my first child until she was 11 months and she started to wean herself. Around that same time, I did conceive our second baby (almost 16 weeks pregnant now), so maybe that is why she wanted to wean. It is up to you when you want to wean your baby from nursing. Good luck to you!

Diane - posted on 06/17/2010

My son breastfed for almost 28 months and then I was able to finally wean him. He would have kept going, but I wanted to get pregnant again and was having trouble getting pregnant while he was nursing. I am pregnant again and look forward to nursing the next baby!

Leslie - posted on 06/17/2010

I hated breast feeding! I stopped breastfeeding when my baby was about four months as my milk just dwindled away no matter what I did. It was the best thing my body could have done for me because it was causing me so much anxiety to breastfeed. I had severe pain and bloody nipples from breastfeeding until about 6 weeks. La Leche league helped a little, but it was always very painful for me (think my baby's mouth was shaped to pinch). I felt trapped and frustrated when I was out and breastfed as it was always difficult for me with the cover and baby and worrying if she was getting too hot, etc... I am not a nervous mom about anything. I am a little older (33) and have done very well with adjusting to EVERYTHING that comes along with being a mommy, feel very laid back about most everything and my 9 month old is doing great and is a very happy little baby. I am not alone and you all should not feel alone either if breast feeding sucked for you and you hated it. Its ok! I invest in a very high quality organic formula and make my own baby food. My friend summed it up for me when I told her how hard a time I had with breastfeeding. Her husband was bottle fed from birth and he graduated number 1 in his law class, got into MIT's graduate school, and is starting a clerkship with a Supreme Court Judge this summer. Environment, genetics, it all plays into your child's future. Not JUST whether they were breast fed.

Michele - posted on 06/17/2010

I nursed my first for 6months. Only because I went back to work when he was 5 weeks old and pumped at work, it was alot of work to do that. With our second, it was 8 months for the same reason. With our 3, 4 and 5th, it was 15 months. I just weaned our 5th. He was not sleeping through the night, getting up 2-5x a night. So I started weaning a little at a time, got him to sleep through the night without nursing, and he basically weaned himself after that.

Natalie - posted on 06/17/2010

I weaned my son at two years. He would have liked to continue, but I was (am) pregnant with twins and BF was starting to get uncomfortable. I think it's okay to nurse until one or both of you is ready to quit!

Kathy - posted on 06/17/2010

My son is 18 months old and I still breastfeed. Of course, it is not for nutritional needs, but for comfort. I have two other children, and I breatfed both of them until they were 2. My ob/gyn says that my kids are lucky ones for that. My pediatrician is for it as well.

Coco - posted on 06/17/2010

I did it for a year. That was my goal. It's different for everyone...I had a friend who did it for 2 1/2 year...I felt she couldn't stop, it is nice, and relaxing...At 2 children should be getting all of their nutrition from food, not formula or breastmilk...

Rachel - posted on 06/17/2010

my son who is 2 now... i stopped nursing at 13 months.. he just lost interest!... my youngest.. almost 6 months old is nursing now and i plan on doing it until he loses interest as well. neither of my kids ever used bottles so it was tougher to get away ever but i think its soooo worth it! last as long as you can! i only have ONE friend that made it past 4 months of nursing.. and she lasted until 16 months! i dont think i would personally do that.. but there is nothing wrong with it if the mom and baby dont have a problem with it! keep up the good work and last as long as you and baby want to! :)

Kim - posted on 06/17/2010

I breastfed for the last time day before yesterday. I'm a little sad that I stopped but I had to because of some medications I needed. He drank some milk before going to sleep last night and didn't seem to be upset about it. My son was 11 months old to the day. I feel pretty good about it, though. We're on cow's milk (organic with DHA).

Trina - posted on 06/17/2010

My personal cutoff date was going to be two years old, but he no longer wanted to nurse by 13 months, so I changed gears and continued to work on his using a cup and moving into more table foods. It is a good thing to choose to breastfeed, no matter how long you do it. Some women get discouraged because they have latching problems and can't nurse at all, some get just past the hospital stay and cannot because of work obligations...etc. But I celebrate the "choice to breastfeed" and no matter what happens along the way, for women to feel proud that they tried, or did for as long as they could. I just love that the mindset is finally changing. I was the first mother in my family to have breastfed their child--at least for as long as anyone knew. And while people tried to be supportive, I did have some who cared about me, speaking slightly negative when I would have a problem, or be tired. (I don't know if I could do that...or I don't see how you keep doing that...) But I made a conscious effort to ignore what other people thought and kept nursing my son.

Congrats on making the decision to nurse, and being able to nurse for so long--sometimes it is hard to continue, but you have and you do what your baby and you choose to do.

Happy Mothering, Jessica!

Constantina - posted on 06/17/2010

I stopped nursing my daughter at 21 months.

Juliet - posted on 06/17/2010

Exclusivley for a year and then whole milk and breast for the next few months. She no longer wanted to BF at around 18 months or so.

Farah - posted on 06/17/2010

my son till 6 month after i switch to bottle feeding coz if i continued on breast feeding ,he will get iron and mineral deficiency

Alexandra - posted on 06/17/2010

Wow as I was reading your replies... I got a little jealous. I nursed until my daughter until she was 6 months and I was a wreck the entire time. I did not have a big supply and I did everything that I could to increase my supply. I supplemented both formula and breast milk when she was 3 months, just to get by! I either fed or pumped every 2 hours and it just wasn't enough. If you feel you have enough to supply then keep going. The formula is expensive. A few of my friends stopped nursing when their baby got teeth... OUCH! Anyway its ultimately your own decision. Enjoy your time with your son! My daughter is now 20 months and only has a bottle of formula in the morning. I have tried everything to get rid of the morning one but she seems to love it! Its her coffee. If I took my tea away then I would be cranky in the morning too! Enjoy!

Aishah - posted on 06/17/2010

My boy'll be 21 months tomorrow and he still asks for the breast at times. I don't mind and not actively trying to wean. I'm letting him do it on his own. He stopped nursing for a while then went back haha

Avi - posted on 06/17/2010

My boy is now 18 months. I stopped breastfeeding him at 15 months because someone told me the reason for waking up too early (4:30-5am at that stage) was because of getting up to come to our bed to breastfeed. I stopped feeding him cold turkey at 15 months and since then he sleeps until at least 6am most days!

Maripaz - posted on 06/17/2010

my son, stan is now 3 3/12 and he's still breast fed. we have a former chief justice here in the philippines who was breast fed for his 1st 4 years! talk about saving money!

Christine - posted on 06/17/2010

My son is one year sold and i still breast feed, I started givebn him a mixture of whole milk and breast milk around 11 months. Around 11 1/2 months he was drinking staright whole milk and would breast feed around 2-3 times during teh night. I'm willing to go as long as possible.

Victoria - posted on 06/17/2010

my 17 year old nursed until 4
my 14 year old nursed until 3 1/2
and my 33 month old is still nursing strong!!!!

Jasminka - posted on 06/17/2010

i've breastfeed my son for 10 month, and than he doesn't wont it anymore, although i wanted to continued with it...

Shawna - posted on 06/17/2010

I could only breastfeed my son, who is now 5 for a month. A month to the day, I had to have my appendix removed. Then I fed my daughter until the end of last month.

Alicia - posted on 06/17/2010

I stopped nursing my son at 20 months.

Melissa - posted on 06/17/2010

i had to stop at 4 months as i had to start work and unfortunately i couldnt produce enough to sustain his hunger other wise i wouldve prob breastfed anywhere between 6months and 1yr. i admire the fact u can get to 10months. happy breastfeeding :)
xx

Dawn - posted on 06/17/2010

We still are 14 months and counting

Allison - posted on 06/17/2010

My first child (boy) for 1 year exactly and then he just didn't want it anymore. I was told this was because he liked his pacifier better. My second child (girl) for 2 years and 3 months. She stopped naturally too when her brother said it was "yukky".

Leona - posted on 06/17/2010

MY son is 16 months plus, still breastfeeding, I hope to go 2 years

Danielle - posted on 06/17/2010

I did combined feeding with my oldest until he was about 3 months old. With my youngest we started combined feeding at about 10 months because I had 2 really bad cases of thrush and it hurt even to express, but we fed until he was just about 16 months old.

Catherine - posted on 06/17/2010

I was weining my daughter at 17 months when she got sick and had to go to hospital. Drs told me to go back to breast feeding her 8 times a day. We continued feeding until she was just on 22 months. My son was breastfed untill he was 27 months.

Jheycee - posted on 06/17/2010

21 months old here! :) she is still dependent on my feeding during her bedtime, i am planning to wean her out after her 2nd birthday.

Chrissie - posted on 06/17/2010

My son is 27 months, and I've been "weaning" him slowly since February...mostly so I can get some sleep. He still nurses 2-3 times per day, and often wants more (especially when teething). I think I will be nursing for awhile yet.

Claire - posted on 06/17/2010

I breastfed my two kids until they were 5 and 4 (and tandemmed for 2 years). Neither of them was ever given a bottle or pacifier though, and they both never showed signs of self weaning because of that. My intention was always to nurse until a year because I felt it was silly to wean them to formula, an inferior substitute, when I had the perfect food for them right on tap, lol :) I think it varies for each woman, and each circumstance. My hat goes off to women who breastfeed and work, esp if they extended bf. I was lucky that I got to stay home with my kids and could nurse them both on demand. We also co-slept and this made this markedly easier in the night. My youngest has been weaned for almost a year now and still they both have fond memories of it, which I think is one huge advantage of extended bf.

Mariska - posted on 06/17/2010

10 months old and still breastfeeding.....but I don't want to be breastfeeding a toddler, so I will stop before 18 months.

Karen - posted on 06/17/2010

i am still breastfeeding my 14 months baby and plans to give her breastmilk as long as she wants to. I've heard other mothers can breastfed their babies until 5 years old. i hope i can also do that.

Demetra - posted on 06/17/2010

my daughter will be 2 next month. I'm planning on stopping in September. Good for you that you've managed to go for so long. lately i've been getting condescending remarks about the fact that i'm still breastfeeding, which is quite rude

Jecinter - posted on 06/17/2010

My daughter is 19 months now and still going strong. I get to travel alot work related and each time I come back I think she will self wean but well, she just picks up from where we left! Thinking of weaning her though coz my nipples get sore from her teeth and biting!

Roshaslinda - posted on 06/17/2010

my daughter is nearly 2 years old and yet still breastfeed. as long as she need....I'm willing to give her a breastfeeding.

Kathy - posted on 06/17/2010

Son #1 18 months
Daughter #1 16 months
Daughter #2 still nursing at 19 months...
I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter when my son weaned himself....
The World Health Organization recommends at least 1 year and if mother and child are still comfortable 2+ is great...

Cheri - posted on 06/17/2010

Hi there Jessica, good on you for breastfeeding, I myself have just given up feeding my daughter who is now 23 months, I would have carried on but have found out that I am pregnant, so nipples are really sore so alas had to give up, I was going to feed her until 2 anyway. I think it's up to you as the mum, it's the most wonderful experience being able to breast feed and great bonding with our babies, though you can still do that with the bottle, but breastfeeding is the most natural and rewarding time with our babies and toddlers, also our decision as the mum to do as we see fit and what you are comfortable with, I would have not wanted to do it after 3 but definitely up to you :) Hope that helps :)

Lucia - posted on 06/16/2010

I breast fed my daughter Zuzana for 3 years, after that it was no longer comfortable for me, but those 3 years were marvelous. I think mother should breast feed untill it is comfortable for her and for the chld

Amanda - posted on 06/16/2010

most doctors recomment 2 years

Joyce - posted on 06/16/2010

My oldest son until he was 18 months
My second son until he was 19 months
My youngest boy until he was 2 and 3 months
and I plan to nurse my daughter until 3yrs old.

Adin - posted on 06/16/2010

I wouldn't worry. She'll stop eventually :) I sometimes find side traction works :)

Adin - posted on 06/16/2010

We are in the weaning process right now and finding it progressing slowly. None the less, we are progressing. Our son turned 2 on June 6th.

He mostly nurses now for security and wants to cuddle. We are trying to cuddle without the nursing but he gets his feelings hurt. He is self weaning and I'm surprised I still have milk!

I am always encouraging our son to drink other things and he does. I offer him water at night when he is thirsty. That is improving but still takes time.

Amanda - posted on 06/16/2010

well my daughter is now 16 months old (1 year and 4 months). I still breast feed her and I will up until she is 2 years old. 2 years old is the reccommended time frame to breast feed. I also mix feed (breast milk and formula) so when i'm at home with Grace i will feed her breast milk along with solids throughout the day, but when she is in daycare, she has formula.