I have nursed my baby for four years now...is this normal?

Question

I have nursed my baby boy for four years now. Is this extremely weird? I figured I would stop around his sixth birthday..but I'm getting tired of nursing. What should I do?! Please help.

Answer 1

NOT funny. Go away.

Answer 2

I agree with the the poster who noted accepted American societal standards. However, I know some women nurse for years longer than the average because of the availability of breast milk at no cost apposed to buying formula. At any rate, a 4 year old is old enough to be on solid food and eating like a normal child. Even buying formula at this point is unnecessary. if you have economic concerns, there are government assistance programs like WIC that can assist you. This is not meant as an insult, economic concerns is the only reason I am familiar with for a woman to nurse that long.

Answer 3

I think there is a balance that you have to keep with nursing. As long as BOTH you and baby are happy with nursing, it is a positive thing for both of you. If you or baby start to become uncomfortable at any time, its time to consider other options. I think it might be time to quit for you. Start eliminating one feeding every few days (if you nurse at the breast). This will wean him from the breast. If he just likes the milk, then start mixing it with cow's milk gradually. That will wean him from the milk.

He's 4 yrs old now. You shouldn't have the problems that early wean-ers have, like tantrums etc. You can also just say "The milk is all gone. You are a big boy now." And let it dry up.

Answer 4

Wow. Amazing how many people are uneducated about nursing and think one year is the absolute limit. I just weaned my 2 1/2 year old. I think she would have continued, but I was ready to be done. It went so much easier than I could have imagined. We went to her first movie in the theater to celebrate her "not being a baby."

It's curious that you are still calling your 4 year old a baby. I don't think it is totally weird that you're still nursing him, but it is unusual in this country. Bottom line, if you are ready to be done, then be done. He will probably respond better than you think. I agree with earlier posts--one saying that to wean around the time he would start school may be traumatic and another saying to get in touch with your local La Leche League group or leader. They also have great mother-to-mother forums on their website.

Good luck!

Answer 5

In American society, nursing past the age of two is rather unaccepted. Looking at it from a nutrition point of view, he is getting more nutrients than by eating regular food alone, but switching to something like Pediasure (a nutritious drink for kids fortified with vitamins and minerals) would probably be very comprable if you don't want to give up that extra nutrition he is getting.

Speaking from a social point of view: nursing him this long in America is a bad idea. You need to prepare him to adapt to the average American social setting. How would you feel if your son either got teased or felt selfconscious/embarassed at school because he was nursed until he was 4, 5, 6? You need to think ahead and picture what it will be like when he does go to school: Will he be upset because you decided to stop nursing just before kindergarden started? Will he have clingy tendencies? Will he have a hard time adjusting/fitting in with the boys who have been more independant in the past few years? When he is a teen and is starting to fool around with girls, will he feel gross/bad about sucking on his mom's nipples when he was 4,5,6?

In HS I had a male friend who told me that he was nursed until he was 5 and it really bothered him to know that he was sucking his moms breasts past infancy and he was grossed out about a girl's boobs when they were fooling around because he thought of his mom.

I would suggest you start buying Pediasure, it comes in like 6 or 7 flavors.

Answer 6

Honestly i think that is too long I don't see how you can stand it it this long. I think a year is good enough i nursed my daughter for 8mths and she did pretty good weaning to a cup she was only on a bottle for 2 months with formula. But i think now is the time to he will be in school soon and that might affect him so you need to start weaing him away from the breast. As far as normal no i don;t think it is a year is normal to me but that is just my opinion. Ask you pediatrician.

Answer 7

Wow! This is not normal! I stopped nursing my children, each, when they were 9 months to 12 months old. Even at 9 months - those teeth really hurt. At that age, they each went right to a cup. I just made sure they had a good drink of milk, from the cup, before they went to bed.

Answer 8

This is not really normal. Usually, mother's stop after 1 year, but they are saying that 2 years is a good amount to make sure that they get the nutrients from breast milk. However, 4 years is way too long. If they are old enough to ask for it then they should give it up. If anyone ever found out that you were still breast feeding him the reaction might not be so good, you have to think if your toddler, not baby too.

Answer 9

wow, I was already tired of breasfeeding when he was six months but kept going till ten months. I was so happy when I was done. You both will miss the closeness, but it's time you relax. Oh about your question no I don't think this is normal. Not in the U.S. I've heard about people doing it till 2 years but 4. Sweetie I think it's time.

Answer 10

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that extended nursing is fine as long as it is desired by BOTH mother and child.

Sounds like it isn't working for you any more, so you should wean. If you're looking for advice/support on this, try your local La Leche League group.

And while 4 years is a long time in the US, it isn't that far outside the norm in some places.

Answer 11

I have never heard of anyone nursing past a year. Once they get teeth thats usually when it is time to stop nursing. It just sounds weird. He should be eating regular foods by now!