My husband keeps bugging me about when I will stop nursing our son. Is there a age limit to stop at? And how do I wean him from nursing? My other two used a bottle so I knew to take that away, but what can I do to break the nursing habbit? I believe it will be hard on us both, the baby and myself. I think a lot of him still nursing is a comfort and saftey thing. What do I and can I do?
2006-09-28 05:30:08 · 16 answers · asked by ♥just me♥ 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
No, there is no certain age where you "have" to stop nursing. As long as you and your child are both happy then it's wonderful for you to keep going. As long as you nurse, you will both benefit from it. And the longer you nurse, the more benefits you'll both get from it.
You didn't say how old your child is?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests nursing for *at least* 12 months and thereafter, as long as mutually desired by mom and baby.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF both recommend nursing for *at least* 2 years and then as long as you want after that.
The world-wide average age of weaning is 4.2 years.
The natural age of human weaning falls between 2.5 and 7 years, according to anthropologist Kathryn Dettwyler.
"Parents and health professionals need to recognize that the benefits of breastfeeding (nutritional, immunological, cognitive, emotional) continue as long as breastfeeding itself does, and that there never comes a point when you can replace breast milk with infant formula, cows' milk or any other food, or breastfeeding with a pacifier or teddy bear, without some costs to the child." -- Kathryn Dettwyler, "Beauty and the Breast" from Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives, 1995, p. 204.
AND....this one always gets the men....tell your hubby that Michael Jordan was nursed until he was 3 years old (his mom is quite proud of it and is a big breastfeeding advocate) and Michael Jackson was bottlefed! :-)
There is nothing wrong with nursing for comfort and safety. He'll continue to benefit nutritionally as well, even if he only nurses occasionally. Gradual weaning, perferably child-lead, is very gentle on both of you.
Are you happy with the nursing relationship? Does nursing still seem important to your child? If so, then keep on nursing! If not, are there compromises that you can make, say cutting down on nursing sessions, that would help you feel more comfortable but still allow you to meet your child's needs? Or is full weaning really the next step for you?
I put a link below on the benefits of toddler nursing, since you don't say how old your child is. The second link is about benefits of nursing based on how long your child nurses.
2006-09-28 06:16:20 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nurse that baby as long as you want to. Some people say when the child gets teeth, others say when they reach a year old. I am friends with a girl who nursed her daughter until she was almost 2. When I delivered my daughter one of the nurses said she nursed her son until he was 4. It's all about what makes you feel comfortable. Your milk is good for him no matter how old he is.
2006-09-28 05:56:17 · answer #2 · answered by momoftwo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most children will quit breastfeeding on their own if you don't make a big deal of it. If he's old enough, introduce the sippy cup and see how he does with it. If he's getting his fluids from a cup, he'll use the breast for comfort, which means he won't ask to nurse as often, the milk will eventually revert to colostrum and he won't like the taste of it anymore.
You might want to take a look at why you don't want to stop nursing. If you are feeling that your son isn't ready, that's one thing. But if you want him to keep nursing although he may be ready to stop, what is that? There's no need to judge yourself for these feelings, but let yourself really feel and see them and you may find yourself ready to let go of nursing, too. I wouldn't let my husband nag me into it, though--that will backfire on everybody!
2006-09-28 05:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by Yogini108 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
most women stop at age 1. But I know a few who have nursed until 3. depending on how old your baby is there are many things you can do to help stop nursing. Here is a site you can look into.
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/babies/Weaning.htm
2006-09-28 05:35:09 · answer #4 · answered by sr22racing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honey, how old is your child?
I have a 17 month old daughter who still breastfeeds, and I also have my partner bugging me to stop. But I am not going to just for him.
If you don't want to stop, then don't.
You will know when the time is right, just as you know that it isn't the right time now.
It's your body, and your baby...yes your partner may be the father, but he cannot possibly understand the deep emotional and physical connection that you feel with your baby.
You do what feels right, that is what I am doing.
I know that if I stop just because others want me to, I will regret it because that is not the right way to go about it.
Wait for a while before making this decision.
2006-09-28 05:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Pamela♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nursing your baby until 2-3 yrs previous have numerous advantages for the toddler and for the mum, quite everyone seems to be certainly-known with that. i might desire to nicely known what's the priority with a baby nursing their toddler until that age. i don't comprehend what the priority is. i've got seen infants 3, 4, 5 yrs previous with bottles and pacifiers of their mouths. Is that no longer disgusting? to answer the unique question, i do no longer think of that's all of us's determination whilst a mom could desire to end nursing her baby. that's the mum and baby's determination. people who have in no way breastfed shouldn't ask such stupid questions in the event that they do no longer know something approximately breastfeeding. If a individual would not breastfeed they do no longer know something with regard to the advantages. additionally now that we are speaking approximately how great formula fed toddlers are, my sixteen year previous in simple terms graduated from extreme college, my 10 year previous is going to 6th grade and my 4 year previous is going to 1st grade..all breastfed toddlers.
2016-12-12 16:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The current recommindation is to nurse for a minimum of one year. It is perfectly normal and healthy to nurse for 2-3 years.
2006-09-28 05:41:36 · answer #7 · answered by jazzylipp 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When You and the Baby decide. Most likely the child. If you feel you can not wait on the child to decide it is just like with taking the bottle away. You substitue other drinking methods.
2006-09-28 06:54:29 · answer #8 · answered by Cars 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I stopped nursing at 7 months when he bit me.
2006-09-28 07:42:54 · answer #9 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a personal decision on when you stop breast feeding. Personally I think when they start getting teeth, crawling, can hold a sippy cup that is a good age to stop. I have seen 2 and 3 year olds running up to there mom and demanding the breast.. This is toooo long! *lol* I did hear Lindsay Wagner breast fed her children till they were 5.
2006-09-28 05:36:23 · answer #10 · answered by Jammies 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋