How long do you plan on bf'ing for?

1963 Views 50 Replies 50 Participants Last post by compassionatemamma, May 8, 2006

mykdsmomy

Discussion Starter · Apr 15, 2006

Since I'm just getting started and my son is already 2, I wonder how long the rest of you have bf'd for? Do you have a cut off? Is there an age where you feel you would definitely wean by? thanks mamas

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hypnohobbit

· #2 · Apr 15, 2006

DS is 3 and I just weaned him for the fact that my milk dried up and nursing became painful. I'd nurse longer if it hadn't hurt so bad. Weaning was traumatic for us both but I was only 'dry' nursing. I believe in child led weaning, though, don't offer, don't refuse.

A well respected woman with a Ph.D. was talking about her 5 and 7 year old nursing. I never felt uncomfortable about a weaning age after that. When people would say 'ugh, when are you going to wean that child?' I'd say 5 or 6, this would get them off of my back, it freaked them out too much. Besides, dc won't nurse forever. How many highschoolers do you know who still nurse?

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roseselene

· #3 · Apr 15, 2006

I have no idea how long I plan on breastfeeding. DD never latched on and I was devastated about that. I pumped for her and she got EBM for 15 months -- never any formula except for those first few days. So, when ds came along and he is a champion nurser....I'm just so glad that he's nursing, I can't imagine weaning. He's 18months and still going strong!
Amy

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alegna

· #4 · Apr 15, 2006

As of now I plan to let her wean when she's ready. My general parenting philosophy is that children know what's best if we don't mess up their ability to listen to themselves.

-Angela

Peony

· #5 · Apr 15, 2006

DD will wean when she's ready. She's 3 now, still nursing strong, I'm pg and have no issues about still nursing dd when this babe is born. DD tells me that she'll stop nursing when she's 5.

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alybeans

· #6 · Apr 15, 2006

My DD is 18 months old and still nursing a lot. I would really like to make it at least until her 2nd birthday. I am planning on getting pregnant 3-6 months from now and if my milk dries up or nursing is painful I will wean her. But if nursing is still going well when I get pregnant maybe we'll continue. We'll see, I'm trying to keep an open mind and do what is best for both of us at the time whatever that may be. I have no problem with child led weaning and I think Mom's and babies should do whatever works best for them but I know that I don't want to nurse her until she's 4, 5 or beyond.

slightlycrunchyann

· #7 · Apr 15, 2006

When my son was still nursing I wanted to let him go as long as he needed it, but I felt in the back of my mind that the age of 5 was my upper limit. But I admit that at one point I never could've imagined nursing past 1 even, so who knows what would've happened if he'd kept going! My DD is now 12.5 months old and seems a lot less interested in nursing that my son was. Right now I'm just hoping that she makes it until she's at least 2!

Zyla

· #8 · Apr 15, 2006

My first self-weaned at 3.5y. My third is still going strong now at age 4. My second was still an avid nurser when he turned 5 and that was pushing it, for me. At 5.5y he weaned.

lunasmommy

· #9 · Apr 16, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hypnohobbit
A well respected woman with a Ph.D. was talking about her 5 and 7 year old nursing. I never felt uncomfortable about a weaning age after that. When people would say 'ugh, when are you going to wean that child?' I'd say 5 or 6, this would get them off of my back, it freaked them out too much. Besides, dc won't nurse forever. How many highschoolers do you know who still nurse?

I'm going to have to remember that one, I'm just waiting for my FIL to say something about DD nursing. Everytime we visit is the old "whats she eating now" questions. Not to mention their last full on assault about our vaxing decisions!

DD is only 10.5 months so I dont see an end in the near future. I've always believed that I would let her wean herself. Our nursing relationship is great and she still hasnt shown any real interest in "real food"

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mama_at_home

· #10 · Apr 16, 2006

Quote:

Since I'm just getting started and my son is already 2, I wonder how long the rest of you have bf'd for?

Ok I read this, and re-read this, but I still don't understand it. Sorry to be so dense!

I am pretty sure I will let Gabe wean in his own time but I am not 100% positive. He will be 3 next month and he would be a nursing machine if I let him. He nurses around 3 or 4 times a day now. I am of course exclusively nursing the twins, too, so some days I get really touched out. We are just taking it one day at a time.

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mamatoliam

· #11 · Apr 16, 2006

I am leaning more toward CLW all the time. My ds is 12 months old now and I see how much he still loves to nurse. More than me I think!

Leah

mykdsmomy

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 16, 2006

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancymom
Ok I read this, and re-read this, but I still don't understand it. Sorry to be so dense!

I posted on a different thread about starting to pump for my adopted son who's now 2

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nonniecita

· #13 · Apr 16, 2006

Whenever she's ready (12 months old now), hopefully I'll be ready too!

Michelle

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MCatLvrMom2A&X

· #14 · Apr 16, 2006

Right now my goal is to make it to at least 3yo after then i will take it day by day. I have no idea if nursing a 4-5+yo is somthing I will be comfortable with. My dd weaned at almost 32months. I have no upper limit tho really. Figure like everything else it will work itself out right.

~Megan~

· #15 · Apr 16, 2006

As long as he wants pretty much.
dd nursed into my pregnancy and weaned with very gentle help. She was just over 2.5

the_lissa

· #16 · Apr 16, 2006

I plan on child led weaning. I am pregnant and my milk is gone right now, but my two year old nurses still. I hope she hangs on until my milk comes back. I hope to tandem nurse and let them both self wean.

Drummer's Wife

· #17 · Apr 16, 2006

2

DS is 13 1/2 months now and still going strong

I don't really have a plan, I guess I plan to nurse until atleast 2 yrs old, but I will just follow his needs... If he (and I) want to go longer then I'll be all for it.

the lissa: I hope your 2 yr old keeps going!! I would so love to tandem nurse, we just aren't planning any more babies... so I love to hear others who do

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ollineeba

· #18 · Apr 17, 2006

I don't really know.. I think we will just keep nursing as long as it feels right. She is 17 months old now and I don't see her stopping anytime soon, although she really only asks to nurse when we're at home or a relative's house, etc.
I don't think I would feel comfortable nursing past 3.5 or 4, but it's hard to say unless you've been there before, ya know?
So we'll just take it as it goes

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bu's mama

· #19 · Apr 17, 2006

Again, the answer of as long as she wants.

Dd will be 4 in a few weeks & I never thought I'd nurse her this long. The only time I don't like to do it is the week before my period since my breasts are so tender. I definitely feel like the freak sometimes since I've never met anyone irl that has nursed this long.

Right now, she nurses before bed or if something traumatic happens, but not every night. I've noticed her also not asking to nurse every night & it makes me think she's almost ready to stop.

wombatclay

· #20 · Apr 17, 2006

DD is a year now and still going strong...which is amazing since we had a pretty rocky start (I never had any doubts about nursing, but dd's latch left a little to be desired for a few weeks!). I had decided to make it to at least a year. Now I'm planning on 2 years. I supposed when we reach two I'll move it to three.

However, I'm not sure I'd be up for 4! So I guess I might nudge dd a bit towards weaning around 3.5. But then, who knows? I try not to plan that far in advance anymore!

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