Hi everyone,
I would like to hear stories from families who ended up doing extended breastfeeding with their kids and let their kid wean themselves off. How old were they when they finally stopped? Did you have pressure from anyone to stop sooner? If you encouraged them to wean, how did you do it? Im currently breastfeeding my 20 month old but being pressured to stop because they think he never will... I know, right?! Thanks in advance for your input!
Extended breastfeeding
Extended breastfeeding
Posted in:
Baby & Toddler, Baby Feeding
5 Replies
I havnt extended feed for that long my longest was 16mths, but I did feel pressure to give up earlier. My oldest was 14mths, my 2nd 15mths and my 3rd was 16mths.
But I do want to say that when I stopped with my 3rd she almost overnight became much more independent, I'm not sure it was the age or the weaning. When I was feeding her it was short feeds of about 5mins and she got very distracted and just wanted to play with her sisters. She was excited to drink from a cup or sippy cup like her sisters and wanted to be a big girl. I was pregnant at the time too so it worked well as now I have a 9week old and she doesn't care he's having her boobie. I've actually asked her if she wants some and it's hit with a resounding no (she just turned 2).
We weaned gently I told her the she could have her milky in a sippy cup and have some boobie after dinner later on. This worked for us I think due to the older siblings. She got to pick her cup and was very excited.
Good luck, maybe u could just keep the morning and before bed feeds as they are the best and no one except your hubby/partner actually sees them, if you feel uneasy feeding around other ppl.
You should like the milk megs page on fb, she is a lactation consultant and is currently breast feeding a three year old. She's so inspiring! Highly recommend.
I bf my first til he was just over 3 by then he was just feeding before bed at night and sometimes first thing in morning . I allowed him to wean himself although I was gently talking to him about weaning but left it up to him when he was ready . I had some people "suggesting " and implying that i shouldn't be feeding at all . But I ignored it or told them the benefits of extended bf and "suggested" they mind their own business haha. I bf my daughter til she was 4yrs again just at night and in morning . I was talking about weaning from around age 3 but she wasn't keen at all haha. So I let her wean herself. As hard as it is when people have opinions about what you should or shouldn't be doing try to ignore it. It's your child , your body and your choice no one else's . Do what's right for you and your child. Cherish the time you bf it will be over before you know it and you will miss that time that only you and your baby shared . What other people think is truly irrelevant in this situation, don't let it spoil a moment of your time or make you doubt yourself .
Posting anonymously because I can't be bothered dealing with crap from others
My eldest child is 5, will be starting school in the new year, still breast feeds morning and night. I breastfed on demand until just before two, when I night weaned, and then reduced to 3x a day when pregnant again, dropping down to 2x when napping stopped. And regardless of ignorant opinion there'll be no need to breastfeed at school. Like really! The stupidity of those who can't realise that a child can breastfeed, as well as eat and drink other things.
2.5 year old sibling breastfeed too. Night weaned a few months ago, but still regularly in daytime.
I have recently encouraged my 3.5 year old to stop breastfeeding. She was quite dependent on it to get back to sleep overnight (but only if I was there, she was usually fine if it was Daddy who dealt with her overnight) and when she was tired or bored. I didn't mind when she was littler, but over the last year or so I really started wishing she'd lose interest! And thankfully she's at an age where she could be distracted, reasoned with, and understand it when I explain that I'd rather she didn't feed anymore. It wasn't always easy to say no. My other daughter was about 2.5 when she stopped, I couldn't stand the feeling of her feeding while I was pregnant. So sensitive! Horrible. I had to get really tough, as she was an extremely anxious and stubborn toddler, and once the idea to feed was in her head there was NO talking her out of it. People would say 'just say no' as if it was the simplest thing on earth... omg. They had no idea. She would bed and plead and cry for hours when I did say no! It was pretty rough on both of us, but she finally accepted it. The younger one who has just stopped breastfeeding recently was so much easier. I would simply say no, and she'd only plead for a minute or two and she'd give up and move on. Such a relief! Thank goodness all kids are different! And yours will be different to mine of course. It did help to have a good distraction when they asked for a feed - books, games, playing outside, food, helping with something you're about to do - mine loved to help me in the kitchen. My other big discovery in the weaning process was not to sit down anywhere near them. As soon as you sit on the couch, that's their cue to ask for a boob! I had to stand up if I wanted to watch TV for months lol. Anyway, try to ignore all the people who say what you should or shouldn't be doing - hard I know. I found that people didn't bother making the comments and putting the pressure on with the second one. Maybe remind people that in other cultures where extended breastfeeding is the norm, the children do indeed grow up without needing to be breastfeed through to adulthood. And their children learn to eat and drink perfectly well. Just try to keep the sarcasm out your voice, that's where I struggled haha.