how long is too long bf and is anyone else nt like bra shopping for nursing ones

Karen - posted on 02/17/2011

Ideal is actually 1 year or longer. Yeah, I hate bra shopping, too, but it's all worth it. Your child will be healthier, happier, and smarter for it. Anytime breastfeeding is better than not, but go for as long as you can. 3 mo is critical, 1yr means no formula, after that (up to 3yrs, but I've heard of mothers who went as high as 5, and had smart children for it) there are still benefits, but diminishing returns. You stop when you feel comfortable.

Kim - posted on 02/09/2011

What wonderful replies you have gotten! I nursed my daughter til she was 4 and a half, when I got pregnant with my son. He just turned one, and I imagine he will nurse til he is at least 3, but I am fine with going until he is done. Breastfeeding is the single most important thing you can do for your child's lifetime health and well-being! God has given us such a gift in breastfeeding! From preventing breast cancer for us to preventing ear and gastrointestinal infections for baby to decreasing risk of developing asthma, allergies, eczema, and even cancer, breastfeeding is awesome! Helping you to bond to baby, helping baby to attach to you (which sets them up to have successful, healthy relationships later in life), what a gift!

Synthia - posted on 02/09/2011

I don't wear nursing bras..I hate them..I wear sports bras or normal bras then pull them up to uncover my boob...also, my son dislikes bottles too...he is still breastfed and he is 7 months, plan to breastfeed til a year, but he is starting to drink water out of a Sippy cup, he loves water and he enjoys his sippy cup.

Amanda - posted on 02/09/2011

You can't breastfeed too long. Try to go at least a year, but do what you and DD are comfy with. I absolutely HATE bra shopping, especially for nursing bras. I'm a funky size. The ladies at Breakout Bras are incredibly helpful, and they have a huge variety of styles and sizes. Try them online.

Danielle - posted on 02/09/2011

First, try to find a sippy cup with a soft spout or a straw. BF babies are usually very good with straws from a young age (they're used to working to get what they want). All 4 of my children used sippy cups for juice starting around 6 mos old. They never had juice or cow's milk in a bottle. Bottles are overrated!
Second, I BF my oldest until 9 mos & the other 3 until around 1. The youngest was 13 mos because of colds (I didn't want to switch him to cow's milk while he had a cold or was just getting over one). Stop whenever you are comfortable stopping! Congratulations on making it 6 mos, many people don't. But don't let anyone pressure you in either direction!
Third, I too hated bra shopping. They are hard to find in regular stores in the right size! I found a few I liked & washed them constantly! For me, one of the benefits of weaning was being able to wear pretty bras again.

Stephanie - posted on 02/09/2011

I breastfed my baby girl until about a week ago...she's 14 months. It is definitely a pain, especially because they refuse the bottle, but it is best for them. You will find that it gets easier the more solids your LO eats...your milk supply will decrease and you might not have any problems weaning at a later time. I personally had no problem...I went out for my Bday and Gma took care of Babygirl for the night, she took a paci to bed and we've been done ever since. When ur milk supply decreases it makes it easier for baby to self wean also, they certainly don't like getting frustrated about not getting enough BM. Good Luck!!

Amy - posted on 02/09/2011

I nursed my first until he was 33mos and tandem nursed my 2nd untilhe was 18 mos. They stopped b/c I was preg again and my milk supply tanked and they lost interest. So sad! My thirdis almost 13 mos and I plan to nurse him as long as he wants. As long. As you are nursing, you are providing unparalleled nutrition, immune support, and comfort. You are building your baby's brain, body and self esteem in a special way. As someone mentioned many cultures bf until 4 and I've known some people who night nurse that long.

Thias - posted on 02/08/2011

I bf my oldest until he was 9 months old the only reason I stopped was I got preg. with my 2nd son or I would have bf him until he was a year. I'm planing on feeding my now 4 month old until his 1st year. He gets a bottle of breast milk at least once a day with daddy just so he stays use to it even though he doesn't love it. As of bras I hate shopping for them too. But I have found one I do like and it was a suprise to me on who carried it. Victoria Secrets makes a nursing bra but u can only order it on line so know your size. Hope this helps.

Sara - posted on 02/08/2011

it really is a personal choice...every family is different my twin boys self weaned at 2 1/2 but some people are ok with shorter or longer BF. Any amount of BF is a benifit to your child. You have to find what works for you.

Rebecca - posted on 02/08/2011

None of my children had a bottle!! I am still BF my third son and he is 2.5 years. My other 2 BF till 3.5 years and 1.5 years (now 20 years and 11 years old respectively). They all self weaned. All started on a sippy cup for water and other liquids while continuing breastfeeding at around 10-12 months. The all attend/ed childcare at around 15 months and I found continuing breastfeeding gave them extra protection against the bugs that children often catch in childcare. After 1 year, most toddlers only feed once or twice a day (usually morning and night) and eat/drink other food the rest of the time.

Amie - posted on 02/07/2011

my son will be 10 mnts in a few days and I send him breast milk to daycare, which he drinks from a bottle and I breast feed while we r at home, and I found goodnursing bras at Wal-Mart, two for about $13.00., and ther is no limit to how long u can breastfeed.

Linnea - posted on 02/06/2011

It's never too lOng to BF - the immunity benefits from breastmilk continue past the age where they rely on milk for Sole nutrition. My son is 19 mo and going strong but I may try to help him wean around 2 yrs (that's what I did with 1st). You made it long enough that you can avoid the bottle hassle altogether! Sippy cup is lots better IMHO. If u want to wean if u can wait til a year u can go straight to cows milk. No need then to buy expensive formula plus you still get the weight loss benefits from breastfeeding. I finally found a bra and used the thing until I realized a regular bra works just as well! nO more silly nursing bras fOr me!

Cheri - posted on 02/06/2011

I breast fed my son until he was 14 months old, we were down to just one time a day, at night to go to sleep by then. He would take a bottle of breastmilk, from his dad, you might want to try that if you can if you are wanting to begin the weening process. Whole milk in a bottle eventually took the place of breast milk, during the day(after a year old).
Regarding the breastfeeding bras...I found all of mine at target, and pretty easily too.

Chellie - posted on 02/06/2011

Well, my son is 19 months and he still breastfeeds and we are just now trying to transition him away from bottles. He didn't really like sippy cups when he was younger but seems to enjoy them more now so I'm starting to put his milk in the cup instead of a bottle now. When I am home he nurses pretty much on demand, but last month I stopped pumping because it was getting to difficult with being a college student and having to work. So mostly he gets cow's milk when I'm not around.
I've always hated bra shopping but I got to say nursing bra shopping was the worst because basically the only store around here that carries them is Macy's and the salesperson is all up in your business the whole time you're trying bra's on and they are expensive! I actually only bought one good nursing bra and then I have a sleep bra and 2 nursing tank tops. Works out alright because I have to do laundry all the time anyway

Holly - posted on 02/06/2011

R thanks all well she 6mths + and still goin she happy and so i am i even more no for reading all ur message so big thanks and i check them bras out

Ania - posted on 02/06/2011

I just topped wearing a bra around that time :) I was just lifting my shirt and my son would eat. If you have opportunity to bf her then do it. I know it is hard sometimes, but 6 more months and she will be a year!!! and at 9 months you can start giving her a sippy cup instead of a bottle it will be a challenge at first but she will figure it out. My son never had bottle he is 12 months now and he really started using his sippy cup from 6 months on now we use the one with the straw. good luck

Brittany - posted on 02/06/2011

It really makes me mad to see what the world has come to when ppl think its weird to bf our children, that's how god designed mother and child to work like. If your able, BREASTFEED your babys ppl. I'm so happy to read all the replys to see I'm not the only one with this out look!

Liha - posted on 02/06/2011

oh.. and i breastfed my first for 25 mos. and currently my son has been for 9 1/2 mos. and i don't plan to stop until it becomes obvious it's time. breast is best! (no matter how poorly i look in my non-supportive bra)

Liha - posted on 02/06/2011

nursing bras...??? i am size 34h or 34j... now that's a pain! online is the only way for me and i still haven't found anything that works.

Laura Zoey - posted on 02/06/2011

As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement.69 It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years.70 Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection,71 better social adjustment,72 and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer.73 Mothers who have immigrated from cultures in which breastfeeding beyond infancy is routine should be encouraged to continue this tradition. There is no evidence that extended breastfeeding is harmful to mother or child. Breastfeeding during a subsequent pregnancy is not unusual. If the pregnancy is normal and the mother is healthy, breastfeeding during pregnancy is the woman's personal decision. If the child is younger than two years, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned. Breastfeeding the nursing child after delivery of the next child (tandem nursing) may help provide a smooth transition psychologically for the older child.19

This is what the American academy of family physicians says about breastfeeding.

If you wean your baby before two years this puts her at increased risk of illness.
One year is the BARE minimum recommendation. But weaning before two is not the healthiest choice for your baby.

I get my bras at kohls, they are called 'barely there' and they have a style with unhooking clasps at the top of the cup. It's ment to be so you can cross the strapsmin back if you want but it works great for breastfeeding!
They cost about 22$ each but every time I go in they have a special for buy one get one half off. So that's really cheap!

Bernadette - posted on 02/06/2011

I fed my daughter until she was 17 months, when she decided to stop on her own. It could have had something to do with me being pregnant again, or maybe she just decided she had enough since she was down to only one feed a day anyway, and it was in the middle of the night so maybe she just settled into a better sleep pattern and didn't wake up for it. Anyway, whatever the reason, that's when we stopped. And I often had people act surprised that I was still feeding her. Once she passed six months, people would often ask if was still breastfeeding, and then be like "oh really, wow, well done for sticking with it for so long!" (like it was really unusual to go past six months or something) and I'd just say "yeah well, she's not even a year old yet, of course I'm still feeding her!" A lot of people seem to think that 6 months is this magical cut-off age and that they don't need it after that because they usually start on solids. It doesn't really matter if you know anyone else who feeds past 6 months, as long as you know that what you are doing is best for your baby. Most people didn't even know I was still feeding, because it's something we usually did in private and I only really told people if they asked or it somehow came up in the conversation.

Brittany - posted on 02/05/2011

I have a 8 month old who I am still nursing and I bf my first baby till he was a year. Some ppl go for like two years, but I think one year is the perfit amt of time. Don't stop too early cause you'll miss it. And don't let anyone tell you that she's to old at 6 mths. Breast milk is the perfit food for baby and you want to give her the best start possible. Oh and try getting platex nursing bottles. You can get one from walmart for not much at all. My sons loves it. Hope this helps, oh and I forgot, I just wear my normal bra but a size bigger, insteada nursing bra.

Jenna - posted on 02/05/2011

as others have said, breastfeed for as long as you and your daughter want! I nursed my first to 15/16 mos and plan to go at least that long w/my second.

As for bras, check out www.breakoutbras.com. They have some great nursing bras and a nice return/exchange policy. I've gotten a couple good nursing bras from them and really like the Hot Milk brand.

Vicki - posted on 02/05/2011

My boy is 19 months, still breastfeeding. It's up to you how long you want to feed for. If you're happy feeding her then I wouldn't bother with bottles at all. Are you getting pressure from others to switch to bottles?

I'm quite picky with bras. I worked out a couple of brands I like and only buy those.

Lise - posted on 02/05/2011

I stopped wearing nursing bras when I was 3 month pp. I just bought bras that I could pull the cups down, and have done that ever since. My daughter is 15 months and still bfing.

Stephanie - posted on 02/05/2011

Try the Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra. I tried and own many other bras, but this is the only nursing bra that worked for me. They are so good that I now own 5 of these. Every friend I recommend this bra to also finds it very comfortable (and we are all different sizes & shape). You can buy this bra easily online.

Erin - posted on 02/05/2011

There is no "too long" for breastfeeding in terms of what's best for the child. Children wean themselves when they're ready, and breastmilk is always highly nutritious for them. A baby is asking to nurse from the time they are born, so to say one will stop nursing once their child can "ask for it" is ridiculous. It's the same as saying that a child is going to be punished for reaching a verbal milestone! The World Health Organization recommends nursing for a *minimum* of 2 years, and the average age that children wean is between 3 and 7 years. America is in a tremendous minority in that we force our children to wean early and we associate breasts as being somehow more inherently sexual than the rest of our body. Nurse your babies for as long as they ask to nurse!

I've found La Leche League's underwire bras to be fantastic, but yeah - I wear plenty of non-nursing bras as well. :)

BTW, great job nursing as long as you have with what sounds like zero support around you!

Michelle - posted on 02/05/2011

My daughter is 9mths and I bf her. You can bf for as long as you want Ive noticed ppl stop bf cuz of the teeth that come through.

Whitney - posted on 02/05/2011

I breastfed my son till he was 22 months! I just cut him off from the breast he threw a fit for a while but we are at 24 months not and it is no problem.

Jacky - posted on 02/05/2011

My current Nummie Lover is 14 months old. (almost 15 months) she HATED bottles! I mean she would not even take them! I was really sick when she was only about 3 months old and had to pump and dump for 24 hours. I had some pumped milk in the freezer and we had to offer her that. It took her 45 mins to even attempt to take the bottle and I had to hold her and then it took her 30 mins to take 3 ounces! Needless to say that was the last time we did bottles.
She even had a hard time taking sippy cups. She is just really picky and does not like anything artificial. (She does use a paci but only to go to sleep.)

If you stay home (I do too) there is no need to make her take a bottle. She is telling you what she likes.. if she is anything like my daughter then she is pretty stubborn! hehe

good luck!
Mummies Nummies
www.mummiesnummies.com
A breastfeeding support blog

Kasie - posted on 02/05/2011

Ashley, I think she was just wondering if there was a certain age that was too old, some people don't know.

Ashley - posted on 02/05/2011

I can barely understand anything you wrote...

Why would you switch from breastfeeding to bottle feeding? That makes absolutely no sense. My baby is almost 11 months and I still breastfeed her and have no plans on stopping anytime soon.

And I don't find shopping for nursing bras any more annoying that shopping for regular bras... they're pretty much the same thing except with snappy things on the front...

If you don't want to nurse anymore then don't. But there is no such thing as "too old" to nurse. Go for as long as you want.

Didi - posted on 02/05/2011

Omg! I HATE bra shopping! I'm a 38 E so finding one that fits well is the biggest challenge ever. LOL

Minnie - posted on 02/05/2011

I'm nursing my 2 1/2 year old and we'll continue for as long as we're both comfortable with it.

Yeah, I don't shop for nursing bras, can't find my size in stores anyways. I just buy regular underwires with unpadded cups made of stretchy fabric. I just pull the top down to nurse.

Angela - posted on 02/05/2011

Hello. Well are you asking how old is too old from the perspective of what is best for baby or what does everyone else think? Best for baby is a min. 1 yr (before they can handle cows milk) and closer to 2 years according to the world health organization. The world average is 4 yrs. I have a 6 month old who is still only bf and a 24 month old who bf 3-5 times a day. Its special for our bonding and gets them some alone/relaxing time with mommy.

Try Breakout bras.com for bras. Not too expensive with a large range of sizes including up to a k and larger on some styles. If you call them up they can give you pointers on which bras to try.

Holly - posted on 01/30/2011

As long as tilly want to is what that meant to say sorry silly touch screen mob lol as for bra shop ing the reach for a god under wire nursing bra goes on lol

Holly - posted on 01/30/2011

Are thank you all I def keep going as long as roly wasn't to that fine with me but was un sure of others reasons. Iv try her on then cups, but she doesnt like them she hook on mummy milk from mummy which is fine in fact when times come I think il miss nursing times too lol

Chani - posted on 01/30/2011

Yes, BF as long as you and Tilly are comfortable. Past a year they shoudln't be on a bottle anyway, so this is a plus! Our Zee didn't even take a sippy cup, only straw cups. Each wee one is different. Cups are much easier for babies who are exclusively BF for some reason, but try options to find what works best for the pair of you.
Finding a support network for BF past 6 months or a year is a good thing, even if it is here and with your family.
Zee is 14 months now, and I can't wait to keep nursing with him, I thoroughly enjoy every moment. It's awesome too, because when they are sick and won't eat you still know they get antibodies and nutrients from your milk!
As in bras... I honestly never wore those stupid nursing bras. I did the first month, and stopped half through because it made nursing more difficult for Zee. Plus it is so much easier just to fold your own bra down when a nurse session is to begin. Bonus: They look sexier.

Janice - posted on 01/30/2011

First you can keep Breast feeding for as long as you want. I personally thought I would only go to 6 mo. but now my daughter is 15 mo. and still nurses 2x a day. I have personally decided, if she doesn't do it herself, I will help her wean at 2 yrs. People used to think that benefits end at 6 months but that has been proven wrong. BFing continues to be nutritious for as long as you continue.
2. My daughter never took bottles (of breast milk) past the first few months. I introduced a sippy cup at 5mo and by six she was drinking from it with out any issue. So if you really wanted to wean you could start her on a cup.
3. I hated bra shopping too! There is very little selection and most are so ugly. After 9 mo. when I started reducing her nursing sessions I stopped wearing them. I was so happy to go back to regular bras.
I would continue to BF for at least another six months but also introduce water or expressed milk in a sippy cup. Good luck on the rest of your BFing journey :)

Sarah - posted on 01/30/2011

I would definitely recommend beast feeding past 12 months so then if you change to formula or cows milk you can go straight to the sippy cup otherwise you'll still be weening onto the bottle when you have to change to the sippy cup lol :)
There is no age that is too old, whatever works for you is great.. but i do think school age might be a bit too old lol
my mum breastfed for 3 and a half years! I think thats too long but she was happy doing it lol
my daughters 10 months and i plan to keep bf until i cant stand it anymore, or until she can ask for it, whichever happens first lol
I'm the only mum i know thats still exclusively breast feeding so i do think some mums stop too early and for no good reason, but thats their choice. feeding your baby is such a personal thing no one can tell you when to stop, its entirely up to you.

Yep bra shopping is a pain in the ass! Every maternity bra i've come across under $100 is the wrong size! i dont know if bra sizes are the same everywhere, but i'm 10E and can only ever find like a 10C or a 16E! so out of all the maternity bras i have, there is one that fits e properly! The rest are too small or the straps aren't adjustable so i'm left sore and sagging lol!

Celeste - posted on 01/30/2011

Babies don't HAVE to be on the bottles, if there's not a reason. My twin boys didn't have bottles past a few weeks (we had issues to work out).

As far as "too old". That is purely up to mom and child, no one else. There will always be benefits while you're nursing. I mean, breastmilk doesn't turn to water after some point LOL

If you go to the top of this forum, there's a sticky about this very subject. Also check out this article:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/eb...

And YES! I hate bra shopping! I'm rather umm..large chested and it's hard to find something that fits!