How long is too long when it comes to breastfeeding?

Question

I breastfed my first for 11 1/2 months, my second 10 months, and I am currently breastfeeding my 3 month old.
La Leche League suggests breastfeeding through the first birthday at minimum and goes on to recommend it for 2-3 years. I just stopped when my babies lost interest. What do you think?

I did not wean my daughter or give unconcious hints to her that I no longer wanted to bf. As a matter of fact I wanted to continue nursing. I cried when she lost interest and wondered what I did wrong. But she was happy with her solids and sippy cup. With my 3 month old I will nurse as long as he wants to. Now if he tries to nurse beyond what I feel would be comfortable for me, I would have to look at all the circumstances surrounding is need. I will always put my childrens wants and needs ahead of my own. That is what it means to be a mommy.

Answer 1

Great job! I used to think anyone who breastfed past a year was strange until I had my daughter and breastfed her until 15 months (she just liked it for comfort, no longer a nutritional necessity). I am pregnant and plan to breastfeed again hopefully as close to 12 months as I can get. I think you did a fantastic job and continue to do so with your third child. Congrats to you!

Answer 2

I am a breastfeeding mother of a four month old and my eight year old daughter breast fed until she was a little older than two. I am glad that you are committed to giving your children the absolute best. I think it is great to nurse through the toddler years and would have loved nursing my daughter right on through her third year. I was weak and caved under pressure from all of the non breastfeeding women in my family. If your children are weening themselves when they are ready and you are at or near a year I would not worry. Again, I am just happy that you are giving your children the best. So many woman think it doesn't matter or is just not important. Congratulations on your baby and best wishes for at least a year of happy eating.

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Ditto to every thing that mama pajama had to say in her answer. She rocked this one!!! And now that I have read all responses above I want to know what is so creepy about a breast? It is my belief that all the woman out there that are so creeped out by children asking for the breast by name are themselves creepy. You are calling a child creepy for asking for nourishment.

Answer 3

La Leche League is a little bit extreme... although they can provide EXCELLENT help if you're having any trouble with breast feeding, especially in the beginning!

I think a year is about right. I had my first son in March, and he was exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, then started eating cereals, and drinking his breastmilk from a bottle at 6 1/2 months when I had to stop breastfeeding because of a serious medical problem. He is now 7 months and drinking mostly formula, but since I had been pumping and freezing for quite a while before I stopped breastfeeding, I'm still able to give him 1 bottle of MY milk every day.

If I had not been forced to stop, I would have continued until at least 12 months. I really enjoyed breastfeeding, and the closeness it gave me with my son, not to mention the fact that it's free, and REALLY easy - no pouring, mixing, warming, or washing!

We'll be trying for #2 as soon as the medical issues are dealt with, and I'll be breastfeeding that one too!

*I have to agree with the other person who said it's a bit creepy when the kid is old enough to walk up to Mom and ask for it - or worse yet, big enough to reach out and lift your shirt & unfasten your bra! I think it's getting a bit carried away if you're still going at that point....

Answer 4

Look out, the American Academy of Pediactircs agrees with those wacky LLL hippies:

"Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child...

There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer."

I'll nurse my kids until they're done, but only you can determine how long is long enough for your family.

Answer 5

hi, i'm currently up to 9 months with my first,, and have decided to go for the full year,, then i will go straight onto full fat milk,,, don't see the point of formula if i can go without it. It's up to you though,, i know my daughter now is getting harder to nurse in public, cos she plays rather than feeds, but i suppose as they get older they only nurse morning and night anyway. I would say until you feel uncomfortable with it,, i would think 18 months would be my max , but i agree if they self wean then why stop it happening.

Answer 6

I breastfed until my babies didn't want to breastfeed anymore. For the 3 that I nursed, it was between 12-18 months. Lots of babies ask for milk or bottles or pacifiers, should they have to stop because its "creepy?" There's nothing wrong with a child who can vocalize what they want, even if its breastmilk. My oldest daughter asked for "mimis" at 9 months old, that was her word for nursing.

Answer 7

I think that what you did in the past is best - when they are ready to be weaned they will let you know.

That being said, both the American Pediatric Society and Health Canada (I'm Canadian) say there are no apparent benefits of breastfeeding after 2 years of age. According to their studies, just as our breastmilk changes to meet babies growing needs, eventually it stops producing the necessary fats & vitamins that a toddler requires - I guess it is nature's way of weaning baby before they get too old.

Answer 8

"Although there has been little research done on children who breastfeed beyond the age of two, the available information indicates that breastfeeding continues to be a valuable source of nutrition and disease protection for as long as breastfeeding continues."

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

A child will stop nursing when they no longer *need* to nurse. There is no time limit on how long you can/should breastfeed - as long as both mother and child want to continue breastfeeding, it's great to do so.

Answer 9

It's a personal issue....I breastfed my children as long as I could (some for 6 weeks...other 6 months...etc.) I wanted to go a year for all...but it didn't work out that way. My sister-in-law breastfed her son even after he started kindergarten (that's when HE wanted to stop because she would have to come to the school to nurse him) Frankly I find that disgusting (and he's no more adjusted or smarter than my son who only managed it for a few weeks). But that's my personal opinion. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding until the age of one....but after that their main source of nutrician comes from table food....so it's more of a source of comfort than anything. I found other ways to comfort and connect with my child without having to nurse them when they got older.

Answer 10

It's too long when mother and baby no longer want to. Stop when the baby wants to stop; you did exactly the right thing.

(But you probably knew that already.)