How long did you breastfeed for?

My goal was to breastfeed till about a year old, but there were a lot of complications with nursing after my daughter was born and she kept losing weight. I started supplementing with formula at the advice of her doctor and my midwife (both are very pro-breastfeeding) and did that successfully until she was 3 months old. At that time she slowly began to stop nursing. I'm still not really sure why and I was a little upset about it. She's doing great on all formula but I know it's not as good as breastmilk. I'm hoping now that I have a little more experience and know what to do if the same issues start happening next time, that I'll be able to breastfeed for at least a year.

In my opinion, if nursing is going well and since you have a whole year off, you might as well nurse until you have to go back to work, then you can either wean him or pump if you wish. Good luck!

My children self weaned between 22-24 months.

6 months is just too early. Breast milk/formula is the primary form of nutrition for the first year of life. It makes little sense to stop breastfeeding at 6 months just because you can now start solids, they still need breast milk!

A year is the minimum standard, but more and more are adopting the 2 year rule which is what the WHO recommends. If your child weans himself before then, fine. But a year is a must!

You are so fortunate to be able to take that much time off. Definitely feed for the full year, then pump after you go back to work.

About 2 years both times and I will do the same with #3 on the way. If you can, nurse at least a year. The benefits are innumerable and are proven without a shadow of a doubt. Anything after that is up you and your baby. I don't understand recommending anything under 1 year, though. No one advocates for a formula fed 6 month old to be taken off formula that that age.

Almost 5 months and still going. I have no plans to stop any time soon. I'm also in Canada so as of right now I plan to BF until my maternity leave ends at 1 year old. Who knows, I might decide to go longer but since I'll be working it would only be when she wakes up and before bed. Anything else would have to be pumped and given in a sippy cup.

I breastfed each of my three children for more than 2 years each. It will not be difficult to continue to breastfeed during the hours you are not working and on weekends when the baby is over 1 and you're back at work. At that point he will be eating three meals a day and drinking from a cup.

The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and most government health agencies suggest babies breastfeed for as long as the mother and baby desire, and encourage breastfeeding past a year of age.

I breastfed my daughter for 2 years, and I'm still breastfeeding my son at 21 months. I intend to continue nursing my son until he is at least 2.5, unless he weans on his own before then.

I'd planned to breastfeed for a year, but when we got there my daughter was nowhere near ready to stop. I didn't feel the need to forcibly wean her, so we just kept going until she self-weaned at 4-1/2.

Edit: The current recommendations are to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months (no formula, juice, or solids), and then to continue breastfeeding with the addition of solids for at least 1-2 years. (AAP says at least 1 year, WHO says at least 2 years).

I nursed my son until he weaned at 13 months.

My daughter is 9 months old and nursing 3-4 times a day.

I'm from Canada too :) We're so fortunate in this country.

I had a minimum goal of 6 months but was open-minded to see how it went. I ended up breastfeeding for about 7 1/2 months. It was an easy transition for me and my son. I was ready to give it up and he wasn't at all bothered about it.

If you enjoy it and your son is really attached to it, carry on. If you're ready to have your "freedom" back and give it up, slowly start introducing the bottle and see what happens...

Everyone has to find what works for them. No matter what, breast is best for your infant/baby but don't be pressured into nursing for longer than you want to.

Good luck with your baby boy!

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Currently still breastfeeding my 22 month old and expecting baby#2 any time now!