When is the right time to stop breastfeeding?

Question

I have been breastfeeding my daughter for eleven months. I am just not sure when the right time to stop breastfeeding her is? My aunt was telling me that she fed her son until he was two!! That seems a little to long but is it really?

Answer 1

A multitude of health organizations recommend breastfeeding up to and beyond the first year, many of them even suggest until at LEAST two years of age.

I have to mention here, though, that I know where you are coming from. When I had my first child, I didn't know how long to breastfeed her, and I took it month by month. When I found out that the AAP recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year, I intended to go at least that long and see what happens after that. Unfortunately, I had to stop a month short of my goal when I fell pregnant with my second child and despite my desperate efforts, my milk dried up (this doesn't happen to everyone -- some people can breastfeed all the way through pregnancy, believe it or not!)

With my second child I was bound and determined to make that one-year milestone. And I have; he is now happy and healthy and still nursing at 13 months. My friends (the non-breastfeeding ones of course) think I'm crazy for "extended nursing", but they haven't done their research -- I have. Two or three years ago, I would have thought it absurd to nurse a two year old, even though I was supportive of breastfeeding in general. In fact, I would have told you that if my kid could ask for it then he was too old. Or I would have said I'd stop when he got teeth. Now I see that's crazy! My 13-month old loves his "na-na" and although he has eight teeth (they came in very fast and early), he doesn't bite me (I do have to be careful to take the nipple out of his mouth when he falls asleep, though, or he'll grind my nipple while sleeping -- OUCH).

Now, in light of the research I have done over the last 6 months or so, I am bound and determined to make it to the two-year milestone. Don't get me wrong, if he decides he wants to stop, I'm not going to fight him on it. Breastfeeding is a mutual relationship, and both mother and child must be on board. But I know it is the best thing for him -- physically, mentally, psychologically. And I intend to allow him to self-wean. I guarantee he will not still be nursing when it's time to enroll him in kindergarten!

I'll give you a very brief list of my reasons for aiming for two years, and then list my sources so you can decide for yourself what is right for you.

1) continued immune protection
2) the strong comfort it provides
3) the perfect "brain" food for building brains (FAR better than cow milk)
4) don't have to worry about lack of nutrition when going through that toddler stage of picky eating or not eating at all
5) don't have to worry about toddler not getting enough to eat when ill and uninterested or unable to eat solids
6) child-led weaning is much less stressful, painful, and traumatic for both mother and child.

Honestly, when I consider the reasons for NOT nursing that long, it seems silly to consider weaning right now:

1) worried about what other people might think (I mean come on, this is your child's health and welfare here, do what YOU think is right)
2) inconvenience at times (since when was motherhood about convenience??)

You will find that your pediatrician will tell you to give your baby cow's milk. If you are still breastfeeding, that is absolutely unnecessary (see links below). The reason is your baby needs FAT for her developing brain. Human milk has the perfect fat for that purpose; cow's milk is a substitute when human milk can no longer be provided (ever notice that humans are smarter than cows???) I give my 2 1/2 year old cow's milk (which is breastmilk, too, by the way), but only because she won't drink mine anymore. I don't give it to my 13-month old.

So I have given you a lot of links to look at below and I hope they help you. No matter what you decide, I think it's fantastic that you've made it this far breastfeeding, and I congratulate you !! Good luck!

Answer 2

See what the baby clues you. I breastfed all my three daughters, my first one was done at 10 months, second I had to stop at 14 months cuz I got pregnant with the third and my pediatrician told me to stop breastfeeding, but she wasn't ready to let go, and went through 2 weeks of frustration, it just about killed me to see her throwing the bottle all across the room in frustration cuz she wanted to keep breastfeeding... so that didn't go well... but with my third, I let her go as much as she wanted, so she was about 18 months when she finally quit, and didn't care for it anymore. It didn't happen suddenly, but by now she had been experimenting with a variety of tasty stuff, so she was ok.
Many times I was soo ready to quit, but couldn't refuse the baby, so it's up to you. generally, the breastfeeding league on the international level agree that at age of 2 is the right time to do that. I heard that some people go for longer, but I don't think that's something to look forward to at least not for me. Believe me, by 18 months you are ready for a break, if not earlier. In one year time a baby is exposed to most of the diseases that circulate within the same region. Unless you move a lot, the baby has created immunity for all or most germinatory and airborne agents that live within the same area. The next year is just a strengthening of the immune system which will make the baby so much more stronger for life. Plus, by age two they move a lot so even if they start on whole milk they are not as likely to have the usual ear infection that comes with the consumption of cow's milk. See, breastmilk is a strong antiseptic as well, and you might know this, even though the baby falls asleep with breastmilk in his mouth it will not infect his ear, because it keeps killing everything in its way. Whereas with cow's milk, unless he gets raw milk, and this is a whole other story, pasteurized milk is not at all that good foe you. You're doing a great thing breastfeeding. Congrats, I hope I answered your question.

Answer 3

There is no right answer - it's a matter of when is a right time for you and yuor child. My daughter is 11 months as well and I decided after a lot of research that I would breastfeed at least until a year and then let her self wean afterwards - meaning she will decide when she is done - I don't expect to still be feeding a 4 yr old or anything - which I know plenty of women who do and if it works for them - great - just not me. If she doens't self wean by 18 months then I'll kick up my efforts a bit.

But there is still plenty of nutrition after 1 yrs old and I believe the WHO organization (may be wrong about which org.) has now stated that its beneficial to breastfeed up to 2 years.

A baby can survive and thrive on breastmilk alone actually for the first year - it's just that they need more real food noce they are a year old. And I'm not sure who came up with the idea that as of 1 yr old that breastmilk is no longer good and you should give cow's milk - but that's absurb. there is no magic switch that stops it from being healthy - and the longer my baby can go without eating cow's milk - the better I'll feel. (it's not like cow's give their calves to goat's after they turn a year lol)

So basically you just need to do whats right for you and your baby and don't let others convince you that you are wrong. everyone will always have an opinion, but your child only has one mom who makes the rules ;-)

Answer 4

Congratulations for breastfeeding your baby! The AAP recommends breastfeeding for AT LEAST the first year and the WHO for AT LEAST two years.

Obviously this is a personal decision for what works best for you and baby. Do know that breastfeeding still benefits your little one, even past a year, though some may say otherwise.

If you're interested in reading more about those benefits, I suggest http://www.kellymom.com Many research-based, pro-breastfeeding articles there.

Answer 5

I think breastfeeding should stop when it's not longer mutually desirerd. My son stopped at 2 years 4 1/2 months. that was 2 months ago. I'm so glad i did it this way, not a bit of crying or pain for either of us.

Answer 6

I am still breastfeeding my 8 1/2 month old, I plan on stopping at 12 months. Some pediatricians will tell you there is no benefit in breastfeeding past 12 months, some will say it is beneficial for the baby to go more.

Answer 7

Breastfeeding is optimal for the first year of life.

I nursed my son for 12 months and my girls for 16 months each.

it all depends on you, and what you and your child want. There is no specific time limit. i would suggest a few more months, gradually stopping, so you aren't in pain, then you can start baby on cows milk and skip the formula.

I think when they say, "mom i am hungry", and try to drag you into the other room, that may be to long.

Answer 8

In theory, not until the child stops requiring milk as a staple in her diet? Does it really make sense that it would be better to replace human milk with milk from another species?

In practice though, I would say nurse for AT LEAST a year. That is the very minimum recommendation. After that keep nursing for as long as you are both happy with it.

As nursing children grow older, they nurse less and less and evetually they will wean. Even if you don't stop them, they will wean themselves.

I nursed my son for 14 months and then stopped because I thought it was important to get him on cows milk. For the life of me now, I cannot figure out why the cows milk would be better for him. My daughter started on cows milk at age 16mo, but I kept nursing her even after the cows milk. She nursed until she was 4.5 years old and then she decided she was ready to give it up. Both my children have problems with cows milk and it took us a long time to find the source of the problem, because kids are "supposed" to have it, right?

Answer 9

no it is not it is totally up to you though .i breastfed up to 18 months is the longest so far .i am currently breastfeeding my son who is 7 months now .i plan on breastfeeding him to he is at least 2 years old .breastfeeding is very good for your baby good luck

Answer 10

When YOU are ready to stop is the right time. I have a cousin who breastfed her first until just before he started kindergarten. Call it "sick" if you want to but if you take a look at eastern and european countries you will see that they quite often do too. And since I am Pro Choice (it encompasses MORE than just pregnancy) it's the woman's choice.