How long did you breast feed and why did you stop at x age?

Favorite Answer

I am currently nursing my 25 month old and we have no plans to stop her; she can quit when she is ready.
I'd advise you to keep the minimum guidelines in mind (the WHO recommends at least 2 years), BUT take it one day at a time. At first some women struggle to learn how to breastfeed, and brave sore nipples and mastitis, so the idea of nursing for years is too daunting. Breathe, nurse, enjoy your baby, and just let it happen. Setting long term goals right off the bat can be very stressful.
That being said, I always knew I wanted to nurse (had originally thought I'd stop at 2 years), and was bound and determined to succeed. :) That drive, combined with adequate breastfeeding education, is often the key to successful nursing....Show more

While 8 years old is too old for breast feeding! It is common that a baby will be breast feed until 2 or 3 years old! It only in the US that moms are taught to only breast feed the first year. I think that has a lot to do with the formula companies and advertising for products that they don't need to at least a year! My first two I only breast feed for a few weeks but it wasn't because I didn't want to! It was more because I needed to finish school and work at he same time. It was not something I could do at the time. I am expecting my third and I plan on breast feeding him for the first year at least! I may wean him from the breast at 6 month but still feed him breast milk till at least a year old. I personally feel that the US needs to get back to the way things are still in other countries. Formula being a supplement and the child being breast feed until 2 or 3 years of age. Also though what ever is best for your family is best for your child. As long as they are eating and getting good nutrition they should be ok. Some children will actually wean themselves and it should also be up to mom and baby not some advertising company!...Show more

You are right. There is no right age and it probably is different with every baby. I am still breastfeeding my 16 month old and plan to breastfeed her until she is ready to stop.

I know some people say that their children self-weaned at very young ages, i.e. less than a year old. But I have never heard of any child doing this unless bottles were introduced or solids were introduced too early and in too great an amount (or both).

Babies really need breastmilk for optimal nutrition and if they are weaned earlier than two years old (minimum) they need a substitute (formula or whole cow's milk). Obviously, the ideal choice is breastmilk, tailor made for them....Show more

You're right, there's no "proper" age to stop. And everyone is different.

I breastfed my daughter until she was six months old. I stopped because the size of my breasts was causing a lot of pain. And I was having to pump 6oz every two hours for her. I couldn't keep up! After drinking eleven bottles of water daily and taking 14 milk enhancing pills every day, I just had to stop.

I felt extremely guilty at first but then I realized that we were both a lot happier because I wasn't stressing about keeping up with her.

I'm glad I did make the effort to breastfeed for the first six months of her life. It was an extremely amazing bonding experience....Show more

I stopped completely at 9 1/2 months, but first used formula at 6 months, and started doing 1/2 formula, 1/2 breastfeeding at about 8 1/2 months. I stopped b/c my milk supply sort of depleted after I started my daughter on solid foods. It was my fault b/c I didn't feel that I had to keep breastfeeding her as often b/c the solids would hold her over and my supply decreased and I couldn't get it back up. By the end, I could barely pump anything and she needed the nourishment from formula. With the next, I'll probably supplement with formula even before 6 months b/c it's so much more convenient. ...Show more