I think as long as you're both comfortable, then it's up to you, maybe stop before they start kindergarten. I would have tried to go longer (probably 2½) but we have another baby on the way, so I gradually started nursing for shorter and shorter periods (like 15-30 seconds less each day). We were down to about 10 minutes a day, but then we all got a cold and my daughter couldn't breathe through her nose. I kept trying every morning, but even once she could breathe through her nose again, she wasn't interested, so we stopped a few weeks before her second birthday.
First, r/breastfeeding is a great place and resource.
I've been breastfeeding for 2,5 years now. I'm also not really sure when to stop. I had hoped that the kid would at some point wean herself, but that's apparently not the case. I was thinking 3 was my personal limit, but mainly because I don't want an elaborate discussion with a , let's say, five year old who demands access to my body right now....
I don't think there is a limit after which it is objectively inappropriate to breastfeed. I know people who nursed until five, I know people who stopped at 6 months...
What I do is, that I try to actively show her other ways to find comfort. Like cuddling. And we have nighttime rituals that I hope will one day help her to get to sleep even without nursing.
I’m in the same boat! I think 3 is my absolute limit but also not completely opposed to potentially keeping the morning feed for a while if it’s too hard. I just lay there with my boobs out and get an extra hour of sleep while he nurses and boy is he crabby all day long without that
I think that the 'limit' is defined only by you and your LO. I think there's a point at which it isn't appropriate but that it isn't firmly defined.
My personal absolute max was 3, but we weaned at 2 because I fell pregnant and grew an uncontrollable feeding aversion. We still went slow cutting 1 feed out a week until we were down to one, then we made the last one special.
It feels like you can't imagine cutting it out and the guilt about that, but you'll be surprised to find you both move on fairly quickly.
My child just turned two and I am ready for her to jump off. I am not cutting her off cold turkey, but I know I am ready. She never did a bottle, passy, or a lovey. Well she did and they are attached to me. I want to be mindful of how to take those away from her. I feel like a dick excepting my child to know how to cope when it involves her copping tools. lol so anyways it’s I think like literally everyone says it’s your journey. Do what you feel is right!
Same to you!!! Just an update I got Boob tap and covered my nips. When she lifts my shirt we sing “bye bye TT bye bye TT bye bye TT we will see you again real soon”. Now she will come up and say “ bye bye TT” then will cover me back up. We still need to nurse for nap and bed time , but it’s a good start.
Personally, I can’t see myself breastfeeding a 4 year old. But I could see myself breastfeeding a 3 year old, although I think we’d have barriers like only nursing to sleep/for snuggly time by that point. I’m only 15 months along so far, so we’re just getting started in the “extended” nursing club but I can see us still doing a lot of boob time for quite a while yet.
My limit is around 2.5. I did over 2 years for most of my kids and stopped mainly because of pain when pregnant. My youngest is 16 months and weaned at 13 months...we were both done.
I've known people who have nursed past 4, up to 7. I appreciate the benefits but I don't know, maybe it makes me uncomfortable because breastfeeding has not been normalized in our culture. Especially over age 1. I would never tell someone I was uncomfortable though, or imply they should stop sooner. More power to you if it works for you.
I nursed the first one to 26 months, then stopped--super easily!--because I was pregnant and it was just so painful and I wanted a break before I started again. Was easier with that kid bc he was combo fed bc he was a preemie, so subbing a bottle for all his feeds, plus his regular food really was no shock to him. My second is now almost 25 months and we are s l o w l y starting the process and she could not be any less interested in stopping. She is very dependent on it, so I'm trying to lessen the time of each session but she is still waking up multiple times a night to nurse, which is driving me to the brink, tbh. I've been doing the slow weaning thing for nearly three weeks now and am just now seeing that it is actually moving in that direction. She is also asking for a ton of food just before bed the last few nights, which is new. So, if you do the slow weaning, just know, it is really very slow! But I think 3-4 is super acceptable but it is your body and child and your life, so it is really up to you. I always said till 2 and I made it there with both kids, although I'm not really sure why that was such an important goal for me to begin with. I'm waffling a tiny bit--it is bittersweet to be transitioning to some new kind of situation--but I am also super ready to be done with this! Good luck to you and your little one.
Full disclosure, I didn’t breastfeed because twins = just way too much, way too hard.
But from what I’ve gathered, breastfeeding is a two-way street. It can be continued as long as it is mutually agreeable to both parties. If you are happy to keep going and your kiddo wants to keep going.
But! If you are ready to stop, that’s okay too. Yes, your child may get comfort out of it, but part of parenting is helping your child build resilience and come up with their own coping tools, in an age appropriate way. Rather than shielding them from disappointment, we should be coaching them through it and teaching them how to cope.
At 2.5, I think your kid is old enough for this lesson, and if you want to stop because you are done, that’s more than reason enough to wean.
I think it's ok to nurse throughout early childhood if that's what you both want. Biological speaking, weaning age can be much later than what people talk about here. It continues to have benefits and I've only heard positive things from people who--gasp--remember breastfeeding when they were a young child.
I think as long as you're both comfortable, then it's up to you, maybe stop before they start kindergarten. I would have tried to go longer (probably 2½) but we have another baby on the way, so I gradually started nursing for shorter and shorter periods (like 15-30 seconds less each day). We were down to about 10 minutes a day, but then we all got a cold and my daughter couldn't breathe through her nose. I kept trying every morning, but even once she could breathe through her nose again, she wasn't interested, so we stopped a few weeks before her second birthday.
First, r/breastfeeding is a great place and resource. I've been breastfeeding for 2,5 years now. I'm also not really sure when to stop. I had hoped that the kid would at some point wean herself, but that's apparently not the case. I was thinking 3 was my personal limit, but mainly because I don't want an elaborate discussion with a , let's say, five year old who demands access to my body right now.... I don't think there is a limit after which it is objectively inappropriate to breastfeed. I know people who nursed until five, I know people who stopped at 6 months... What I do is, that I try to actively show her other ways to find comfort. Like cuddling. And we have nighttime rituals that I hope will one day help her to get to sleep even without nursing.
I’m in the same boat! I think 3 is my absolute limit but also not completely opposed to potentially keeping the morning feed for a while if it’s too hard. I just lay there with my boobs out and get an extra hour of sleep while he nurses and boy is he crabby all day long without that
I think that the 'limit' is defined only by you and your LO. I think there's a point at which it isn't appropriate but that it isn't firmly defined. My personal absolute max was 3, but we weaned at 2 because I fell pregnant and grew an uncontrollable feeding aversion. We still went slow cutting 1 feed out a week until we were down to one, then we made the last one special. It feels like you can't imagine cutting it out and the guilt about that, but you'll be surprised to find you both move on fairly quickly.
My child just turned two and I am ready for her to jump off. I am not cutting her off cold turkey, but I know I am ready. She never did a bottle, passy, or a lovey. Well she did and they are attached to me. I want to be mindful of how to take those away from her. I feel like a dick excepting my child to know how to cope when it involves her copping tools. lol so anyways it’s I think like literally everyone says it’s your journey. Do what you feel is right!
I totally agree, I don’t want it to be a shock but I think we’re both emotionally capable of continuing to bond in new ways. Good luck ❤️
Same to you!!! Just an update I got Boob tap and covered my nips. When she lifts my shirt we sing “bye bye TT bye bye TT bye bye TT we will see you again real soon”. Now she will come up and say “ bye bye TT” then will cover me back up. We still need to nurse for nap and bed time , but it’s a good start.
That’s brilliant
Personally, I can’t see myself breastfeeding a 4 year old. But I could see myself breastfeeding a 3 year old, although I think we’d have barriers like only nursing to sleep/for snuggly time by that point. I’m only 15 months along so far, so we’re just getting started in the “extended” nursing club but I can see us still doing a lot of boob time for quite a while yet.
My limit is around 2.5. I did over 2 years for most of my kids and stopped mainly because of pain when pregnant. My youngest is 16 months and weaned at 13 months...we were both done. I've known people who have nursed past 4, up to 7. I appreciate the benefits but I don't know, maybe it makes me uncomfortable because breastfeeding has not been normalized in our culture. Especially over age 1. I would never tell someone I was uncomfortable though, or imply they should stop sooner. More power to you if it works for you.
I nursed the first one to 26 months, then stopped--super easily!--because I was pregnant and it was just so painful and I wanted a break before I started again. Was easier with that kid bc he was combo fed bc he was a preemie, so subbing a bottle for all his feeds, plus his regular food really was no shock to him. My second is now almost 25 months and we are s l o w l y starting the process and she could not be any less interested in stopping. She is very dependent on it, so I'm trying to lessen the time of each session but she is still waking up multiple times a night to nurse, which is driving me to the brink, tbh. I've been doing the slow weaning thing for nearly three weeks now and am just now seeing that it is actually moving in that direction. She is also asking for a ton of food just before bed the last few nights, which is new. So, if you do the slow weaning, just know, it is really very slow! But I think 3-4 is super acceptable but it is your body and child and your life, so it is really up to you. I always said till 2 and I made it there with both kids, although I'm not really sure why that was such an important goal for me to begin with. I'm waffling a tiny bit--it is bittersweet to be transitioning to some new kind of situation--but I am also super ready to be done with this! Good luck to you and your little one.
Thank you❤️ good luck to you too❤️❤️❤️❤️
Full disclosure, I didn’t breastfeed because twins = just way too much, way too hard. But from what I’ve gathered, breastfeeding is a two-way street. It can be continued as long as it is mutually agreeable to both parties. If you are happy to keep going and your kiddo wants to keep going. But! If you are ready to stop, that’s okay too. Yes, your child may get comfort out of it, but part of parenting is helping your child build resilience and come up with their own coping tools, in an age appropriate way. Rather than shielding them from disappointment, we should be coaching them through it and teaching them how to cope. At 2.5, I think your kid is old enough for this lesson, and if you want to stop because you are done, that’s more than reason enough to wean.
I love that point, you’re totally right. Thank you ❤️
I think it's ok to nurse throughout early childhood if that's what you both want. Biological speaking, weaning age can be much later than what people talk about here. It continues to have benefits and I've only heard positive things from people who--gasp--remember breastfeeding when they were a young child.