When to stop breastfeeding?
By Lee Ka
@kaka135 (14916)
Malaysia
March 29, 2011 11:56pm CST
My son has just celebrated his two year old birthday last month, and I am still breastfeeding now. I used to think to stop breastfeeding when he turned to two, but he still likes to drink the breast milk directly, and I feel bad to stop him.
He has the habit to drink breast milk before he goes to sleep, even though after he has drunk a bottle of formula milk. He doesn't only drink breast milk at night, but during day time and also in the midnight. I have no idea how he will react if I stop letting him drink breast milk.
How did you wean off your babies? When did you stop breastfeeding?
2 people like this
5 responses
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
30 Mar 11
You're still getting up at night to feed? Wow, I wouldn't do that. I like my sleep. I wanted to nurse my daughter until 6 months, but a hormonal problem dried up my milk at about 3 months. I would never nurse a child who could walk up to me and ask for it with words. In my mind that is not an infant to be nursed but a child who requires her own physical separation and more adult nutrition. I know many people nurse that long but where I live it is considered very odd indeed.
1 person likes this
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
30 Mar 11
I think its interesting that customs differ around the world. The La Leche League used to recommend 6 months, then 1 year, now they say "two years or more." Personally I just don't think I could handle the teeth!
1 person likes this
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
I have no idea of how to do it since am a man and I don't have know-how on it. I was thinking, you're child must be healthy I guess.
Congratulations.
Mobhomeir here..
Congratulations.
Mobhomeir here..1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 Mar 11
I was pretty much forced to stop. The way my nipples are shaped, the kids just couldn't latch on. Dearra gave up after a week, Naomi after one try, and Cary after a month. I pumped for a while, and that was it. I think 2 is probably a pretty good age to wean him, but whatever you're comfortable with.
@mortysmadhouse (226)
• Australia
30 Mar 11
WOW!! Still BF at two - you go girl! While in some societies, it might be considered weird to still be BFing a child at this age, I think it is absolutely amazing. I would have loved to have BF my boys but my body had other ideas (which happens) . . .
Now, when you do decide to wean him, you are going to be met with HEAPS of resistance. There will be massive meltdowns and temper tantrums. After all, you are the 'milk bar'. Has he gone through separation anxiety yet? Have you tried dropping a feed and replacing it with a formula bottle?
You will have to stand firm. I can give you advice about how to handle meltdowns and temper tantrums of the extreme kind as I have two boys with special needs (eldest son has autism, youngest is ADHD).
Good luck! Oh, by the way, I think you are simply AMAZING to be able to BF for so long ;-)
@vannyt (343)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
I guess 2 years is the ideal one for a traditional way, that's what I read. Well my cousin stopped BF after 6 months and shifted to a complete bottle feeding. How she did it is quite weird, she rubbed her nipples with an ointment that has spicy smell or something that the baby don't like of course. She was doing that for a couple of days until the baby got used to drinking milk in the bottle.
