How do you ever stop?

[Serene123]

I said if I breastfed I would stop when she was 8 weeks. Well she's 8 weeks today and I just can't do it. It's going to be sooooooooo hard when I do. I can totally understand people that do it long-term now, but I don't want to. Definately not after 4 months anyway. HELP!!

 

[tinytoes]

the World Health Organization recomends at least 6 months on just breast milk. and then food plus breast milk for 2 years if possible. I'm aiming for the 6 months mark (I am assuming the soreness will stop soon!!...), though I bet I give him some solids before 6 months.

 

[smartie]

I was going to give up around the 8 week mark but got an attack of the guilts so am still doing it at 15 weeks! I've not put a time limit on when I'll stop now, I'm hoping we'll just know when the time is right.

 

[freckleonear]

Aaron is almost seven months now and still going strong on the booby juice. He is having lots of problems taking solids, so we'll definitely be carrying on until at least a year. After that I think I'll see how it goes and maybe let him self-wean.

Milk makes up most of their food for at least the first year, so personally I didn't see the point of starting off breastfeeding and then switching to formula unless I had to.

 

[leeanne]

After having a few kids, my time limit of 2 months will be enough for me. My kids had a horrible time of weaning off to be put on the bottle, including trying so many different formulas, teats, etc.

 

[Alexas Mommy]

I was wondering that the other day! I am planning on breastfeeding until Alexa is 6 months, it makes me sad and relieved at the same time. Also, I feel guilty that I am only breastfeeding until 6 months because of everything about how babies are smarter the longer they are breast fed. Makes me wonder if this is even true, but still have so much guilt. Oh the pressures of bfing!!!

 

[marley2580]

The only way to wean her off breast milk at that age is to introduce formula. Milk should be a major part of their diet for at least a year, preferably two.

 

[Samantha675]

I don't plan to introduce solids till Bren has teeth and shows an interest in food, so he will be getting the booby juice for a long time!

 

[Ragirl]

My question is- why set a time limit???? It seems very arbitrary. If you are loving it, and there are advantages to both of you to continue as long as possible, why not go until you really don't want to/can't any more or allow them to self-wean? Everyone has their own reasons for stopping and if you are comfortable stopping then go for it. But if you aren't you might as well keep going- why stop bfing just to spend tons of money on formula, have to make bottles, etc. You might as well at least go for a year until they can have cow's milk so you can skip the formula routine. Just my opinion...

 

[Margerle]

I'm with Ragirl on this one. Why stop? BF only gets easier and easier. Baby feeds more efficiently fewer times a day as she gets older, so the 'burden' on mama is really lighter and lighter. I plan on going as long as I can.

With my first baby I went about 6 months. At that point I returned to university (evening classes) and still worked full time as I was a single parent. She started seriously cutting teeth and because I was under more stress, gone in the evenings from baby and she started cutting teeth my supply seriously dropped. I had no clue at that time how to encourage my supply, and I wasnt' at all successful at pumping (but had no clue there either).

It was heartbreaking. I still remember her crying and wishing I could soothe her with our bond... She was still just a baby at 6 montsh...

Anyway, going to feed her booby juice, till life sets up a different situation for us, or until she weans.

I don't think it's ever easy though in the end. It's that first little bittersweet 'letting go' that mamas spend a lifetime doing.

 

[Linzi]

Im stopping at 5 months (when I go to work) and Im DREADING it. I hate anyone else giving him a bottle as it is. I dont know how Ill cope, I think Ill be really upset about it. Is that slly?

xxx

 

[Ragirl]

Not silly at all. And we're not the only ones. I never remember the date, but when, on what seems like a random day to me, my mother calls and says "Do you know what today is?" I have now learned to say "Must be the day you weaned me." "Yes it is, and I'm still heartbroken 32 years later." I was only nursing in the morning and she decided to cut me off and so when I crawled in bed and tried to nurse and she said no, I crawled onto my dad's chest, buried my head, and cried and cried. It bothered her so much that to this day she remembers the date and I don't think she has missed a year of calling to remind me. I know I was upset for days when my son decided he was done, though I don't remember the date!

 

[Margerle]

YAh, that isn't a date I like to remember either...

 

[Holldoll]

I won't be setting a time limit either. I'm going to BF until at least 6 months, preferably closer to a year.

 

[FEDup1981]

I don't plan to introduce solids till Bren has teeth and shows an interest in food, so he will be getting the booby juice for a long time!

But he may not get teeth til hes 8-9 months, and he should have well started food by then, and prob be on finger foods.

 

[Samantha675]

I don't plan to introduce solids till Bren has teeth and shows an interest in food, so he will be getting the booby juice for a long time!

But he may not get teeth til hes 8-9 months, and he should have well started food by then, and prob be on finger foods.

Several mothers I know have done the same thing with their children and they are just fine.

 

[FEDup1981]

I don't plan to introduce solids till Bren has teeth and shows an interest in food, so he will be getting the booby juice for a long time!

But he may not get teeth til hes 8-9 months, and he should have well started food by then, and prob be on finger foods.

Several mothers I know have done the same thing with their children and they are just fine.

Is this ur 1st child?
Breast milk will not be enough to fill him after 6 months, he will need solids too. Speak to ur health visitor!
You will change ur mind when hes crying all day and nite cos hes still hungry!!
:thumpup:

 

[Wobbles]

I said if I breastfed I would stop when she was 8 weeks. Well she's 8 weeks today and I just can't do it. It's going to be sooooooooo hard when I do. I can totally understand people that do it long-term now, but I don't want to. Definately not after 4 months anyway. HELP!!

Do whatever you are comfortable with hun! You maybe set yourself a little goal to acheive BF'ing? & as your comfortable with it you don't have to stick to it hun but it's totally up to you what you do.

*hugs* x

 

[Margerle]

I don't plan to introduce solids till Bren has teeth and shows an interest in food, so he will be getting the booby juice for a long time!

But he may not get teeth til hes 8-9 months, and he should have well started food by then, and prob be on finger foods.

Several mothers I know have done the same thing with their children and they are just fine.

Is this ur 1st child?
Breast milk will not be enough to fill him after 6 months, he will need solids too. Speak to ur health visitor!
You will change ur mind when hes crying all day and nite cos hes still hungry!!
:thumpup:

Fedup1981- This is not shown to be the case medically, biologically or physiologically for most infants as per the WHO and AAP among other national agencies.

And no this isn't my first child.



I encourage you to read

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0202011925/ref=nosim/kellysattachm-20

 

[Lyns]

I don't plan to introduce solids till Bren has teeth and shows an interest in food, so he will be getting the booby juice for a long time!

But he may not get teeth til hes 8-9 months, and he should have well started food by then, and prob be on finger foods.

Several mothers I know have done the same thing with their children and they are just fine.

Is this ur 1st child?
Breast milk will not be enough to fill him after 6 months, he will need solids too. Speak to ur health visitor!
You will change ur mind when hes crying all day and nite cos hes still hungry!!
:thumpup:

And I second strongly what Margerle has said. I know many babies who have been very happy and healthy on purely breastmilk for much longer than 6 months.

In fact many mothers follow the wrong cues and feed babies too early! I followed baby-led weaning with my daughter, and she is now streets ahead of eating habits and methods than most babies of her age whose mothers fed them early.

Oh and she managed to beat cancer (she was born with it) along the way so it clearly didn't do her any harm!

And for everyone who thinks they need to stop breastfeeding because they are going back to work, but aren't looking forward to it....don't forget, its not an all or nothing thing. Baby will still benefit from even just one feed a day from you, so you could make that a bedtime feed or a morning feed, or both!