BFing >1 year, WDYT?

mrs.jenRN

I have decided to continue BFing past 1 year. The WHO recommends at least 2 years. For me, I am just going to go with the flow but I want her weaned by age 2. I am already getting crap from people that I am going to continue past 1 year. I hear it's gross, she has teeth, she doesn't need it anymore, blah blah blah. What is your opinion? And if you're against it for babies over 1 year, then why? I am just curious.

dvroxy

To each their own.  I wasn't able to breastfeed with MacKenzie.  I will try again to breastfeed this one, but I won't go past 1 year.  I had MacKenzie on cow's milk by then and took her off a bottle as well, so once I do that, I will take her off of breast milk.  Just my personal preference.

summer611

I agree that to each their own and you do what you think is best for you and your baby as long as you are not hurting your kid, obviously.

Personally, I feel that breast feeding beyond 1 year is just too much. I would want my kid to be starting to eat other foods/drinks and start to wean off the breast milk by then.

My sister in law's kid turns 3 in April and she still breast feeds her. Her family completely disapproves but both mom and daughter like it. 

Some research out there says that there are benefits to breast feeding kids up to age 2. Beyond that, I am not sure. Sounds a little too much to me but again, that's my personal opinion.

 

tashaandsage

I think it is a personal decision for a mother to make that isn't any one else's business. With Beckett, he was weaning himself off at one year, and I think it just felt like time, so we switched to cow's milk. Maisy still has another month until she is one, but at this point, it is my intention to continue nursing past the age of one. No projected time, just until we are ready to move on. Personally, I couldn't see myself nursing past the age of two, but to each their own. 

MrsChelseaP09

They say that 2 is best. Me, I am counting down the days until Lila is 1. I am very proud of myself for making it that far. 1 year was my goal. Lila could care less whether she gets boob or not, so I think she is ready to make the switch.

etteyam

I was just telling H last week that I would not mind BFing DD2 past 1 year. I love cuddling her and having that feeling that I can comfort her like nobody or nothing else can. With that said, I'm doubtful if I'm able to. Right now, my supply is tanking big time! I'm not sure if it's AF-related. I would just love to be able to nurse her in the morning and at bedtime. I'm probably gonna stop pumping at work since it's a PITA now that I'm not getting much.

jennifer80808

I always said my goal was a year and that I would go longer if she wanted.  Because I was exclusively pumping, my views changed. A lot.  Fortunately, I was able to stop pumping at 8 months and know that I had more than enough to get to one year.  If she was BFing I would continue as long as she was interested, but obviously making sure she got plenty of foods and wasn't relying on breast milk as her primary source of food and nutrition beyond one.  I think it's an individual choice, and I would never judge anyone either way.  But I don't think anyone should give you crap about it if you want to continue. 

Mrs.Jason.9.15.07

Yeah, I am not really bothered by what other people do.  I mean, I don't understand why people have such a strong opinion about it.  Kinda crazy.  I mean, BF past one isn't anything close to child abuse.  

But for me, I could only make it 6 months BFing, but I was exclusively pumping (and pumping 10x's a day........EVERYDAY).  Initially I wanted to BF for a year, but things changed because my supply sucked from day 1.  In a perfect world (ie - getting a staying pregnant AND good supply) I think the next time around I will only go one year.  To be it was a big commitment and I think I will want to have my body to myself by them.  Plus, I am getting breast implants after baby #2........or at least that's the plan.  

But eff all those people who are judgmental.  I think you should do what you feel is best for you and Zoe  

NatPhoto09

I nursed DS until he was about 13.5 months.  My supply started to go down at about 7-8 months and I think that is why DS weaned himself.  If you want to continue to nurse past the year go for it. 

For this next baby, I will plan to do the same.  Let my body dictate how long to pump and nurse.  If my supply starts to tank I'm going to let it though.  It was so stressful to try to keep up my supply that I won't do that to myself again.  So if my supply tanks at 7 months I will let it and stop pumping but continue to nurse until DS #2 is not interested anymore.  

ragazza19

It's your body, it's your nourishment towards your daughter, it's your decision on how long it should last.  F everyone else, do what you feel is right.

amellis2

I say go for it!  Nurse as long as you can, for however long you want!  Ain't nothin' wrong with it.  I have a friend whose mother nursed her until she weaned herself...at age 4!!  If Zoe will take it, keep on giving it!

diamondgrrl5

Its funny how in the US there is such a negative stigma on BFing overall and especially past the age of 1 yet all around the world women continue until their children are 2-4 years of age and it is completely normal.  If it is working for you and Zoe, go for it!  Personally, I am setting small goals for myself and then as I reach them I will set a new goal.  If I get to 6 months and all is well then I will go for 9 months then 1 year.  If I make it a year then I will add 3 more months and so on.

sara76

If I could go that long I would be proud!  My opinion is get it girl!!  Feed that baby! 

KimandRoss0115

As the others said, you do what is best for you.  I BF'd until the month Q turned 2.  He never bit me and by that point, he was down to 1x per day and was definitely getting his nutrition from other food.  I agree with what Alicia said, there is such a stigma in this country.  Heck, it wasn't long ago that women who BF'd were deemed low-class. 

blossomtg85

Jen, I know you are a BF advocate and that is great that you are able to do it for so long, and that you want to. But it is nobody's business so I just wouldn't tell people. If they don't know your BFing plans, they can't speculate. Not like it should be a secret, but I would just keep it to myself around people who disagree.

mrs.jenRN

blossomtg85:

Jen, I know you are a BF advocate and that is great that you are able to do it for so long, and that you want to. But it is nobody's business so I just wouldn't tell people. If they don't know your BFing plans, they can't speculate. Not like it should be a secret, but I would just keep it to myself around people who disagree.

The people that have been negative to me have mostly been at work, ironically enough. They have to know I'm still BFing because I still pump once while I am there. Plus, most people have said to me that it must be nice to not be BFing anymore, and I am not going to lie to them that I am still doing it, KWIM? I have gotten a lot of unsolicited advice about switching her over to cow's milk. I also wanted to know all of your opinions about it since this is going to be my profession one day.

mrs.jenRN

Thanks for all your responeses everyone!  I don't care what other people think. They can tell me their opinion and I will tell them mine. We are just taking it day by day at this point.

mrs.jenRN

summer611:

Personally, I feel that breast feeding beyond 1 year is just too much. I would want my kid to be starting to eat other foods/drinks and start to wean off the breast milk by then.

 

 

Zoe eats lots of table food. She definitely nurses less than she did, but seems to want it more when she wakes up, naps, and goes to bed. And she looooves water in the sippy cup. She gets all excited when she sees it, lol!

mrs.jenRN

etteyam:

I was just telling H last week that I would not mind BFing DD2 past 1 year. I love cuddling her and having that feeling that I can comfort her like nobody or nothing else can. With that said, I'm doubtful if I'm able to. Right now, my supply is tanking big time! I'm not sure if it's AF-related. I would just love to be able to nurse her in the morning and at bedtime. I'm probably gonna stop pumping at work since it's a PITA now that I'm not getting much.

I've had AF only twice so far and my supply tanks big time! I end up giving frozen milk, so I am glad I have a stash. It comes back once AF is  gone though.

mrs.jenRN

jennifer80808:

I always said my goal was a year and that I would go longer if she wanted.  Because I was exclusively pumping, my views changed. A lot.  Fortunately, I was able to stop pumping at 8 months and know that I had more than enough to get to one year.  If she was BFing I would continue as long as she was interested, but obviously making sure she got plenty of foods and wasn't relying on breast milk as her primary source of food and nutrition beyond one.  I think it's an individual choice, and I would never judge anyone either way.  But I don't think anyone should give you crap about it if you want to continue. 

Zoe has recently gone into a table food explosion, lol! It's like she turned 1 and something clicked. She has become an eating machine. I try to give her variety but I still feel like we are giving her the same food over and over.

mrs.jenRN

diamondgrrl5:

Its funny how in the US there is such a negative stigma on BFing overall and especially past the age of 1 yet all around the world women continue until their children are 2-4 years of age and it is completely normal.  If it is working for you and Zoe, go for it!  Personally, I am setting small goals for myself and then as I reach them I will set a new goal.  If I get to 6 months and all is well then I will go for 9 months then 1 year.  If I make it a year then I will add 3 more months and so on.

I set small goals too and that worked well for me. I don't really have any goals anymore, just going with it. I have to give her some frozen milk too because there is a good amount in my freezer.

mrs.jenRN

ragazza19:

It's your body, it's your nourishment towards your daughter, it's your decision on how long it should last.  F everyone else, do what you feel is right.

Definitely!

mrs.jenRN

Mrs.Jason.9.15.07:

Yeah, I am not really bothered by what other people do.  I mean, I don't understand why people have such a strong opinion about it.  Kinda crazy.  I mean, BF past one isn't anything close to child abuse.  

But for me, I could only make it 6 months BFing, but I was exclusively pumping (and pumping 10x's a day........EVERYDAY).  Initially I wanted to BF for a year, but things changed because my supply sucked from day 1.  In a perfect world (ie - getting a staying pregnant AND good supply) I think the next time around I will only go one year.  To be it was a big commitment and I think I will want to have my body to myself by them.  Plus, I am getting breast implants after baby #2........or at least that's the plan.  

But eff all those people who are judgmental.  I think you should do what you feel is best for you and Zoe  

LOL!

You and Jennifer are my pumping heros! I would like to think that if I had to EP I would for as long as I could, but I really hate pumping so idk if I could do it. I guess it's one of those things where you don't know what you'd do until you're placed in that situation.

sc+fm

Jen, I never thought I would be nursing Charlotte past a year, but I hope I can now.  It's been going so well for both of us, I just can't see us stoping in a few months. Of course she does really well eating, no issues there. I think if baby and mommy are happy then go for it.  Anyway, just wanted to let you know I'm right there with you  

mrs.jenRN

sc+fm:

Jen, I never thought I would be nursing Charlotte past a year, but I hope I can now.  It's been going so well for both of us, I just can't see us stoping in a few months. Of course she does really well eating, no issues there. I think if baby and mommy are happy then go for it.  Anyway, just wanted to let you know I'm right there with you  

Yay! If Zoe was showing less interest, I would wean, but she has actually started grabbing for my shirt lately. She lets me know when she wants to nurse, lol!