When Did You Wean Your Breastfed Baby?

2 1/2 years.......but that doesnt really apply to anything you are asking, i didnt have to go back to work, and i had nothing stored. When my baby was ready she let me know in actual words.

I weaned my son at 4.5 months because I had to go to work full-time at 3 months. I tried pumping at work for a few weeks, but it was miserable. None of my work clothes fit because the boobs were gi-normous and in pain most of the time. Every time someone said the word, "baby," I leaked. It was very uncomfortable for me. I also wanted my life and my boobs back.

Breast milk is healthiest (that is, if YOU eat healthy), but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. My son is now six and as healthy as a horse. He's NEVER had a cold or allergy. Just gets strep throat once in a while when the other kids get it.

There's should be no stigma or judgment about when you choose to wean. It's a personal decision.

At 9 months, my older son , self weaned. Youngest, I weaned at 13 months. Do what feels right for you, though.

Don't worry Teresa, you aren't crazy. I let my children self-wean...My oldest still nursing (albeit VERY occasionally) was over 5 years. The WHO says median age for a child nursing is 4 years around the world. So 2.5 is just fine! :)

Sorry, back to the question (distracted...pregnancy brain??). You should continue to give her breastmilk until at least a year, even if you pump and supply her with a bottle of it. The benefits of it are so amazing! As S H said, solids don't replace breastmilk, and baby can't drink "regular" milk yet (although if you are really intent on weaning, may I suggest goatsmilk? Even infants can drink it, and it's much closer to human breastmilk than cows milk is. Very nutritious!)

Anyway. I let mine wean, so whenever they're ready. Usually between 2.5 and 4 years.

I'm at the longer end of things. #1 3 years, #2 just shy of 5 years and my youngest just turned 2 and isn't weaned at all.
I let my children take the lead :)

Per my choice, my kids self-weaned.
My daughter at about 2.5 years old.
And my son at about 1 year old.

As an aside, for the 1st year of life, breastmilk or Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of Nutrition.... NOT solids and not other liquids.
Solids, does not supply, as much nutrition nor as wide a spectrum, as breastmilk or Formula. This is also per our Pediatrician.

The 1st year of life, is a building block period.

If you wean, what will you give her to drink???

A baby cannot have whole milk... until 1 year old or after.

I allowed my child to wean herself - she chose to at age 4.5 y/o. The last 2.5 years was only nursing in extreme cases of pain or melt down, upon waking, nap time and bed time.

As a single Mom, I worked full time her entire life of breastfeeding and went to school part time. You can easily continue nursing (along with pumping - tho now it may be hard to get much to come out) when you are home with her and supplement when you are at work. This way, she'll be able to reconnect and recharge with you after you are gone all day. This will also help in keeping her healthier than the rest of the kids in daycare since we all know daycares (kids in general) are walking germs.

My son was nursing only for comfort until he was 26 months old, and then I had to spend a weekend away from him. At that point, he was just nursing a bit to settle down right before bed. My family had no problems getting him to sleep while I was away, so when we were reunited, I held him and comforted him in other ways, but we didn't nurse again.

My twins are nine months old and I have many people questioning (pushing) when I will wean. When I say "They are supposed to have breastmilk for at least the first year" it just doesn't seem to penetrate. My husband is making plans for us to have a weekend away after I wean like we don't have THE REST OF OUR LIVES to plan Mommy-Daddy weekends. These are my last children, and I'm getting a little crazed at the people trying to push my breasts away from them (to either get their hands on my children or on my breasts, depending on the person.)

<Sigh>

Sorry. You had a question. Yeah. 26 months the first time around. TBD this time. :-)

My youngest self weaned at 3.

My oldest was 2.5 years old (does that make me crazy?...hehe!). She was the size of a one year old, though, literally. She was only 17 lbs and tiny. My second child I weaned around 19 months (next baby came). With baby #3, I weaned around 15 months (was prego). Truth is, babies #2 & 3 were only weaned because I was prego. I would have nursed longer.

Then with baby #4, I got surprise prego when she was only six months old. It hit my milk supply so hard! I couldn't keep enough of a supply up for her, and I tried tons of stuff. Finally I started supplementing because she wasn't' getting enough intake. I was still nursing, though. Then she weaned herself around 7 months. My plan was to keep nursing her while supplementing, but I was surprised when she refused to nurse at all. So, she weaned herself...sniff sniff. That was much too young for me!

Anyway, I don't know if it helps to know when I weaned, but the important part is to remember that breastfeeding is a relationship. It needs to work for BOTH of you, not just the baby (or not just the mom). If you really feel done, and if you really feel like you won't regret it, definitely make the decision you feel is right for you. She's still getting your milk. so that's super awesome.

For me, I had a hard time with it. I wished I'd had extra milk for her in the freezer! But I didn't. I think it's an individual decision you need to make and base it off of you and your feelings and not worry about what anyone else thinks. Again, she's still going to have breastmilk for a while still, so that's great!

I weaned my first at 2 1/2 years when I got pregnant again. I nursed my 3rd child until she was a little over 3 years old.

Yea! but don't let going back to work be the reason if you want to keep nursing. I weaned my first at her second birthday- and I am still nursing my second at 15 months- I went back to work with both. It was fairly easy to work with my body to not have to pump at work. Your body will adapt pretty quickly if you want to try (like 4-5 days). I work long days too- I am now just nursing morning, at pickup and at night :-) I don't even think I produce much milk during my work day.

1st child: when I was in my second trimester of my second pregnancy (my milk turned salty and my 10-month-old baby refused to drink it)--at that point my pediatrician told me it was okay to switch to cow's milk.
2nd child: When she started biting!!! (15 months)

I never used formula. Yuck!!

I weaned her completely (from nights) when she was 2.5 yrs old. Personally, I'd try to get her to a year because she will need your milk or formula for that long. Even if you only nurse at night (that's what our neighbor does) and use formula in the day, that may be a way to get back to work and not have to give up something you say you and DD enjoy. As she gets closer to a year, she will need less of your milk during the actual work day and you won't have to pump 3x a day or anything. By the time my DD was a year old I think I was down to once a day. I worked FT til she was 18 mo. and then became a WAHM.

my daughter was off of formula for the most part around 9 months and she only had a bottle or two at night and nap time, and she was totally off formula at 10 1/2 months because we switched formula per her pedi and it didnt agree with her so we just put gradually weaned her on to cows milk and she was on that in the bottle from about 10 1/2 months

I officially 'weaned' when my baby was no longer a baby, right around his third birthday. At that point, nursing was only happening at bedtime, and I was *done*. I'm not sure I was making any significant amount of milk by that time anyway.

He'd still be on the boob if he had his way, even at four. But as Dr. Sears says: If it's not working for *both* of you....

Baby #1 at 4.5 months baby #2 at 3.5 months. Both took formula well and have been healthy little girls since birth. Do what works best for you.

I weaned both of mine around 18-20 months. Since you mentioned she also takes formula I am assuming you would continue formula until 1 year after your month's worth of frozen milk is used. Sorry, just want to be clear on your plans...you're not asking about weaning from breastmilk AND formula before age 1? If that's what your questioning, talk to your baby's doctor about it, my understanding is it is never okay to wean a baby from their primary source of nutrition ie formula or breastmilk or some combo of both before they are 1, no matter how well they eat table food. If you are talking about weaning from breast and giving formula then good luck and enjoy going back to work!

I made it to 9 months with both of my kids...but I didn't have a job to go back to - otherwise, it would've probably been shorter.

All that said, do what feels right to you, it is a very personal decision, and you have done a great job nursing at all, and making it past 6 months, too!

I weaned (oh, and thank you so much for spelling it correctly - so many moms on this site spell it 'weened' and it makes me crazy! :) both my kids just after their first birthdays. I figure it will be harder the older they get, and once they're eating solids they don't need it as much anyway.

Wow people..she said her daughter also takes formula!!!! Read her post again lol!!! My sone self weaned at 10 months old.. he was similar to your daughter and also took formula..he was also eating from the table by 8 months he had a mouthful of teeth and was refusing babyfood anymore..honestly i believe it is what you are comfortable with. not anyone else..everyone can have there own opinion but you ae her parent and YOU know what is best for both of you!!! Good Luck to you hun!!!

I f you are ready, do it. I made it 9 months with my first and then 6 months with my second.

My son was almost 3....I stopped right before his little brother was born...my second son? he weaned himself - the day he turned one - he wanted NOTHING to do with the boob anymore and only wanted straws, sippy cups or a bottle!

Does this help?

At 11 months. It was her choice.

Funny story, I swore I wouldn't breast feed my baby for more than six weeks, then it was three months, then six. Finally I just let nature take its course and my son weaned himself at 11 1/2 months. Looking back, I am so glad I gave him the healthiest food available at the time: mother's milk. A great side benefit was that I could eat tons of food while breast feeding. S.' S, California

My oldest was 13 months. I went back to work when he was 6 weeks old and I pumped at work and nursed when I was with him.

My daughter was 15 months old. I went back to work when she was 3 months old and I pumped at work and nursed when I was with her.