How long did you breastfeed???

Lesley - posted on 08/18/2010

Isabella is 22 months old and we are still breastfeeding however, I am starting the weaning process so that she is weaned by her 2nd birthday in October - I hope! She is getting to the point that she is using it for comfort now and I can't sit down in my house or anywhere without her wanting it. She eats very well with solids, so she's not hungry - it's worse when there are people around that she is not comfortable with. Going out in public is challenging at times. I had hoped for only 6 months of breastfeeding but I am so lucky that I have had the time that I have! Good luck to all new breastfeeding mom's! xox

Camille - posted on 08/18/2010

I'm going back to school and I see no reason to wean my daughter. When I come home, I still want us to have that bonding, and her to get the nutrition boost. It has a lot of benefits even if you only do it once a day. =)

Varda - posted on 08/17/2010

I BF for 4 month, I run out of milk and there was no way I could continue, if I could I would continue for few month more

Amanda - posted on 08/17/2010

I worked full time with my oldest and she wasn't a big bottle taker either...she would only take one or two bottles of 3 oz breastmilk each when I was at work. I worked 12 hour shifts and was away from her for at least 13 sometimes more. Of course then she would nurse all night long! Even waking up every hour to two hours at night. Some babies just prefer the breast and will make up at night what they missed out on during the day. Good luck I am sure you will find what works for you and your baby :)

Danielle - posted on 08/17/2010

I have a three year old and a four month old and still nursing both of them regularly. I am SAHM now, but I did go back to work for a short time after my oldest was born. I pumped at work and nursed on demand when we were together. Worked great for me. I don't plan on weaning my children. I will let them decide when they are done. I am guessing sometime around age four they will stop... although my cousin nursed her children until they were seven. I guess will see how it goes.

Susan - posted on 06/22/2010

I have 4 older kids and nursed them all 18 mos or longer. I'm biased but they are the smartest kids I know:) My second oldest nursed with me when I was home but took formula when she was with the babysitter. I was working at different job sites every week and could not pump. She just got full scholarships to her college and not from my badgering either. But, she is the only child I have who has lactose intolerance. I'd recommend pumping if you can, maybe non cow's milk formula if you cannot. But don't give up the nursing. You miss so much more than good nutrution.

Kimber - posted on 06/22/2010

I took it one month at a time and he is now 13 months. My goal was a year and now I am not sure how we will stop. He is very attached. I get alot of pressure from my husband to stop:( He thinks it's going to damage him psychologically

Nichole - posted on 06/22/2010

Barbora where do you live????

Stina - posted on 06/20/2010

My youngest is 14 months with lots of teeth. Teeth aren't an issue when she is latched right and actively nursing. I plan to let her self wean.

I nursed my other two till 1 year and the other till about 11 months.

What kind of pump are you using?

If the pumping doesn't work, I wouldn't wean her completely. Keep BF when you are home so that she's still getting the immune boosting benefits and the extra closeness.

Jessie - posted on 06/20/2010

I can understand your trouble with pumping. I have an 11 month old son and I work went back to work part time when he was 3 months. I hate pumping, I get barely anything out with my double electric medela pump. I have been supplementing with formula since 6 months old I just could not keep up with pump 1 oz at a sitting and trying to make neought milk for while I was at work. I freeze what little milk I do have and have his Daddy feed it to him on weekends while I work and at daycare he gets formula. any other time he nurses, I never let him have a bottle if I am there. That way my milk supply stays up for when we are together and he gets less of the icky formula (I really do hate it but you gotta do what you gotta do) Good luck with whatever decision you make. xo

Angie - posted on 06/20/2010

I'm nursing my oldest at 3 1/2 and my youngest at 21 months still and they both have tons of teeth in their mouth ;). For us even if I was going to be away from them I would still get as much breastmilk as possible and for as long as possible. But to me there is no other option. I just don't feel like formula is something I am comfortable with.

Juli - posted on 06/20/2010

My daughter is 28 weeks and I'm still nursing her I plan too till she's a year. I am however training her to eat the Baby food for big meals and snacks in between (I am still BF at least 5 times a day) . So I can have some mommy time once in a while. Might work for going to work. Hope that helps

Nikki - posted on 06/20/2010

I have a 10 month old and am still breastfeeding even though she has 2 teeth so far and more on the way. I am hoping to continue to breastfeed her until she's about 18 months old. I am fortunate at the minute that my parents look after my daughter while I work, so if need be they can bring her to me.

I understand the difficulty with expressing and have always had the same problem, I know a few of the girls I know from breastfeeding support group have either successfully managed to express or formula feed while at work for the daytime feed, and breastfeed all the rest while they are home.

Hope it works out for you.

Barbora Milena - posted on 06/20/2010

hi, my daughter is 7months old and no tooth so far, so Im still fully bfeeding her....luckily my government pays me 4yrs of maternity leave, so in no hurry to wean her off...going back to university in october though, but planning to have my mum around with the baby and breastfeed between the classes...

I would try the formula and bfeeding, if u still have milk it would be pitty to wean her off completely...but i dont know how she will react to the formula taste, when she is used to breastmilk...plus has she ever drank from a bottle before??

Helen - posted on 06/20/2010

I am still breast feeding my 34month old. I was lucky that my mum looked after my children when I went back to work and she was able to bring my children to me for breast feed through the middle of the day. Pumping never worked for me either. I would formula during the day and breast feed when you are at home.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/17/2010

well i am going to breastfeed eric at least 2.5 years so idk about weaning so young...I wish i had advise but personally i would pump because i truely feel that formula isnt good enough for eric, but if you really wont pump then definately at least nurse her when you are with her. the health benifits are immense and the immunitys get even stronger in your milk as she gets past a year. The milk will continue to protect her from many illnesses even if you are only nursing her 1-2 times a day, in fact this is a quote from a breastfeeding facts site
197 All the benefits of human milk—including nutritional and health—continue for as long as your baby receives your milk. In fact, as your baby takes less human milk, these advantages are condensed into what milk is produced. Many of the health benefits of human milk are dose related, that is, the longer the baby receives human milk, the greater are the benefits.

so id recommend pumping, but if not, at least dont wean yet.
hope this helps!

Tiffanie - posted on 06/17/2010

my daughter is the the same age with the same tooth status. i had tried to wean before without success. she will only take a bottle from dad when i'm not home. will you be working full-time or half-days? i am able to pump two times per 8 or 9 hour shift (and a half hour drive each way). my daughter will pretty much just hold out for me and my husband gives her solid foods and juice while i'm gone. i'm hoping that as she gets older she will want to be a "big girl" and we can move to the sippy cup. so for now, i put water or juice in the sippy and just keep putting it out there hoping she will get the idea. :) sorry i'm not much help, but at least you're not alone? i think if you can start to wean it may be easier in the long run if you cannot really pump.