How Long Should I Breastfeed?

I like the "as long as you are mutually comfortable" approach. You'll know when one of you needs to start the weaning process if it doesn't happen on it's own. If you're lucky you and baby will be "done" at the same time :) Good luck!

I bf my dd until she was 13 months, I really just got tired of it and wanted to stop. She was an early teether and was getting both sets of molars in at that time, which made it really uncomfortable. My ds is 5 months, Id like to make it to 2 yrs old this time, but we will see how it goes.

As long as you are mutually comfortable. With that said, if something arises...do not be ashamed of feel badly, if you must stop at any time.

you breastfeed as long as you and your child are comfortable doing so.

S.:

CONGRATULATIONS on your baby girl!!

You nurse her as long as you feel comfortable doing so.

My daughter was not nursed. She is now 26.
My son was exclusively breast fed the first six months of his life and nursed until he was 2 years 2 months.
My youngest son was breast fed until he was 1. HE stopped. He woke up on his 1st birthday and didn't want the breast anymore, nor did he want a bottle. He wanted a sippy cup or a cup.

EVERY CHILD is different.
Do NOT let society's "norms" dictate to you what you feel comfortable in doing. I do agree that a child over 3 years should NOT be nursing. But to each their own.

GOOD LUCK!!

Both of my daughters weaned themselves at 6 months (when they started eating solid foods, which they found MUCH more fascinating then they found boring old breastmilk! ;) I'd have been willing to go to 1 year, maybe. It bugs the heck out of me seeing preschoolers tugging their mom's shirt up and yelling, "MILK!" while in the middle of the grocery store. I mean, the kid is 2, she can live through a trip to the store without NEEDING to nurse. (Just saying, my kids could make it through the grocery store without screaming for a sippy cup of milk, right? I just have to think that some of these kids have no sense of boundaries or respect for their mothers...) Anyway. Breastfeed as long as you want, but when kids no longer NEED it for nutritional reasons (past about a year), I don't think you need to do it whenever and wherever the child wants. I think it should probably be more parent-directed at that point.

Whatever you end up doing, don't hold yourself to your earlier decisions. You could end up really disappointed and be too hard on yourself if you do. Things come up - sickness, your own breasts drying up, nursing strikes, a baby whose personality is just not the toddler nursing type, etc.

I sometimes read posts here that make it sound like the mom is more invested in the idea of nursing than in the benefits for the child. I admit that this doesn't sit right with me. But also, I kind of feel that women who think that they have failed because they stopped nursing before they expected to are really short-changing themselves and when their kids are teenagers, it won't make one difference in the world how long those kids nursed. All the beating up these moms do to themselves because of not nursing longer is just unnecessary, and makes them miserable.

It's one thing to be judgmental of nursing moms when you don't know what you're talking about (like you mentioned before you were pregnant). But just don't go to the other extreme with it. People around you and your child matter. Not everyone feels comfortable watching a stranger pull out her breast and feed a 3 year old out in public (I'm speaking to the part you wrote about whenever, where ever, and how ever...) Using discretion and sensitivity are greatly appreciated by many people, and shouldn't hurt your BF'ing experience in the least.

I hope that all makes sense.
Dawn

Awesome that you realize continuing to nurse is best for your baby! It's an amazing thing to do. The person that suggested not everyone feels comfortable seeing a 3 year old breast fed in public is silly. Do you care? Should you care? NO, if someone has an issue seeing it, they have issues, and you don't. I'm a firm believer in long term nursing. Sure there are times when someone can't nurse, but sooooo many women use the silliest and most selfish reasons to either not do it, stop or wean early. But.... I digress....
When my daughter was several months old I saw a woman nursing a 4 year old and was surprised, I'd never seen it before. Well, as my daughter turned 1 I saw she still dug it, so I continued. Same at 2, 3 and then she was down to one before bed. We stopped on her 4th birthday so we'd remember the date but discussed it for some time before. I'd never change, it was beautiful....
I have a friend who nursed her twins till about 4, she was exhausted but it was what they needed. I have another friend whose son nursed till he was over 6. He didn't get much out but......
I think you should keep going till whenever you want. If someone doesn't like it, that's their problem. One huge problem is the women are considered sex objects, therefore breasts have become sexualized rather that accepted for their intended use-to nurse our offspring.
I love reading what you wrote, you sound totally in tuned to your child! Enjoy!!!

Here is MY rule, I am a reastaurant, I will serve you.

Basically, once my son was undressing ME it stopped. We never got to that point, he naturally progressed to first thing in the morning to night time nursing shortly after solids were introduced and he chose to stop completely around 13 months. I offered, he declinded it was all good. I think all things come to a natural end, however my fiance and I agreed that it would not go past 15months - that was OUR comfort level and he was supportive of my choices, but voiced his own opinions.

you should breastfeed forever... you should keep on going until you daughter is breastfeeding her own children.... OK just kidding!

But seriously, go as long as you and her are happy.... I weaned my eldest daughter when she was just shy of 2 years old, and only because I was pregnant with my second and keepin' on was SO physically draining (the morning sickness and breastfeeding combo was killer! I attribute a lot of the fact that my daughters are both remarkably healthy to breastfeeding for a while... (and folks don't twist me all up- sure there are healthy kids on both sides of the fence)

WHO (world health organization) strongly recommend breastfeeding up until 2 years old OR MORE. of course, it doesn't work for all mothers, and I feel that any breastfeeding is worth a high five, and those who make it till 2 and beyond deserve a gift basket!

So here is the long and the short of it: if you breastfeed till she is 6 months and then stop for unforseen circumstances- good for you! If you plow through to that first birthday- GREAT! If you soldier on, till your child is 2 or 2.5 - FANTASTIC! But, don't let anyone make those choices for you. Don't be quilted into stopping, or quilted into keeping on if you just aren't feelin' it anymore. If you are really committed, trust me, you can find ways to make it though obstacles like teething, "strikes" and more! Heck, if you are tough that me, you could even keep nursing through a whole pregnancy (in which case you deserve a fancy bottle of champagne!) do what makes sense to you and yours!

-M.

Breastfeeding didn't come easy for my son and I. I had to work very hard to produce enough milk for him, so by the time he was 8 months I was just worn out. If it would have been easy I would have continued for at least a year.

My advice is don't make any plans on how long you bf for. You can't foretell the future and at worst you're setting yourself up for disappointment down the road. You and your daughter are benefiting in no way by deciding now on how long you'll bf for. Just enjoy the ride in the moment and don't worry about when it'll end.

You should breastfeed as long as yu and the baby want. I nursed my son for 3 1/2 years, at that time I felt "done" and we weaned then. Stop stressing about it and just do it until you feel "done".

My oldest nursed through my second pregnancy and self-weaned shortly after my second came home. He just decided that the "boo-boos" were his brother's now. He was just shy of three years old. My second is now nearly 2 and shows no sign of weaning, so we will see! No reason for your to decide now, just enjoy your tiny baby!!! I never saw myself nursing past 1 year, it just happened :)

I am also in the "nurse as long as you both want to". BOTH being the key word. If one of you wants to stop, you should stop. I never could grasp why some of the women I knew nursed well past 3yo and complained about it the whole time.

My oldest weaned himself at 2yo.

My second son was abruptly weaned due to my mental and physical health condition at the time (this was really hard on him and I wish I could turn back time and do it differently).

My third son weaned right before his 3rd birthday, it was a mutual decision and we had a Bye Bye Nursies party and made muffins :)

My daughter also weaned right before her 3rd birthday, because she got chicken pox, they were in her mouth and she lost the skill to suck. She really wanted to start again after she got well, but couldn't remember how to suck properly :(

And don't let anyone tell you where to nurse or how you should look when you do (covered or not). These are personal decisions made by you and your baby.

(Your pediatrician shouldn't have any say in how long you breastfeed. Many have no experience with it, nor any training such as a lactation consultant has.)

Both of my boys breastfed until just after a year. By about 11 months I was only nursing first thing in the morning and again at bedtime. It ended when one day they didn't ask for it, so I didn't offer it.

It's a personal decision between you, your baby and your pediatrician. The American Academy of Pediatrics I believe recommends one year if possible. With my first I was forced to quit at 11 weeks because our ongoing problems with thrush and mastitis became insurmountable, we were in pain and he wasn't thriving. My second went much better and we made it for 14 months. He never had any formula and went straight to a sippy cup. I probably weaned him before he was fully ready because I was going out of town and grandma wanted him weaned before I left. However, I was pretty close to ready because he had started biting me and drew blood. I wouldn't put a date on it and I would just see how it goes. Some babies end up losing interest and wean themselves and others would nurse as long and for as many years as allowed. They are all different.

Whatever suits your situation. Keep in mind breastfeeding beyond one year becomes more for comfort and less for meals.

FWIW, mine nursed for 3 1/2 and 3 years and both were forced to wean. Eldest wanted to nurse until she was tall enough for her feet to reach the bottom of the bed :) Youngest was forced to wean when he bit me so hard (in his defense he had fallen asleep and I attempted to move him) he drew blood.

Mazel Tov on your new baby. Its so beautiful that you love her so much.

Nurse as long as you both want! It's so great for the bubs...I think a lot of the illnesses children face today could be curbed, if not eradicated, if we nursed the way we are intended to. My son is 23 months. I intended to stop at 1, but we were both fine with continuiing. He's happy, healthy, and a little dumpling to boot. Good job and I hope it goes swell.

at least a year.
My oldest self weaned just before 9 months when she started walking. My 2nd self weaned at 14 months.

ETA: I agree 100% with Dawn !

Yeah, like some others said, your baby will let you know. With my first breastfeeding just didn't work. With my second she self weaned at 6 months. With my third not until 22 months. I always said I would stop at a year but that was thrown out the window with my third, LOL. Just go with the flow but don't be disappointed if breastfeeding stops sooner than you hope. Good luck!

I 'planned' on nursing for one year... but as I got closer to that mark and learned more, I decided to shoot for 2.... but my DD made up her mind around 16 months that she was done... so we were done. :)

My advice is to let your child wean herself. I nursed my daughter until she was 13-months-old. She started pushing me away at that point, so I knew she was ready to be weaned. Best of luck.

I nursed my oldest until he was 12 mos. I wish I did it longer, but I was pg w/#2. I nursed my second until he was 2yo. At times, I get sad thinking I'll never nurse him again...he just turned 3.
I weaned both babies. I have friends whose babies self weaned though.
I think you should nurse in public if you need/want to. I never had any issues nursing anywhere. However, I did not want others seeing my boobs. There are lots of ways to stay covered w/o smothering your baby in this super hot weather. Target sells nursing tank tops. They are great!! And make nursing in front of others super easy
As far as how long to go, that's up to you & your baby girl. My thoughts on the length of time are this...kids shouldn't remember nursing. Mine started to have long term memories starting at 2 1/2yo or 3yo.
Your baby is so young still. Who knows how you'll feel as time goes on. You may want to get pg again. Some women have trouble conceiving while nursing. I lost 2 pregnancies while nursing my 2nd baby. I'm convinced that nursing caused my miscarriages. I'm a small person. I feel that it was too much on my body.
So you never know. Take it one month at a time.
But kudos to you for loving bf'ing!! It's a wonderfully bonding experience!!!

The longest I breastfed was 2 years. It was the perfect time to stop for both of us. The baby before that one I chose to stop at 15 months because I needed to be finished.

Mine both self-weaned around 12-13 months. Once I started offering the water and milk in a big girl/boy cup, they were done. Seriously, my son stopped nursing the day I offered him water before his nap. He never asked to breast feed again.

As long as you are both happy, but do strive for your little one to be eating and drinking like you do by 12 months, on top of breast feeding. Teeth should be in and they are ready for most foods.

I actually encouraged my children to breastfeed a little longer than they were ready to stop - I made them each finish out the month! My oldest was completely done at 17 months, my youngest at 13 months. I was willing to go up to 2 years for both of them, but that's when they were ready. They both went straight from nursing (and pumped bottles) to cow's milk or water in a sippy or a cup with a straw. My oldest, though, never sucked her thumb or had a dedicated "lovey" - mommy was her lovey! (Until she figured out that she wanted to be on the go, and that "Kitty" and a water bottle could go with her anywhere...sigh...) My youngest was always more independent, though, and would nurse until she was ready to stop, and then move to her thumb. They just had different personalities, and that is just fine.

Just go until one or both of you is no longer comfortable.

Congratulations! And, enjoy. I loved nursing my babies!

I nursed my first for 6mos, only stopped because I was pregnant and my milk supply diminished.
I nursed the 2nd (and last) till he was 2, he self weened.

I have been breastfeeding for almost six years now. I breastfed my son until he was three and my daughter will be three in October and still growing strong.

You have to do what's best for you and your child. W/my son I tried to wean him but he just wasn't having it; w/my daughter I decided to just let her wean herself; sometimes children wean earlier than others. They get busy and get distracted. I have never had that issue; as my chiildren always find me.

Again, it's really up to you. I just couldn't wean as my children just seem so happy and satisfied. It's too bad you couldn't come to Nova's breastfeeding connections meetings the first Friday of every month except August. It's at the Mailman Segal Institute. We have great discussions and it's nice time out w/the kids.

When I was younger, I never thought I would breastfeed but something came over me before I had my first and you really do feel like you have accomplished something. Breastfeeding is not for every one; you must be happy. It's great that you're considering breastfeeding longer.