How do you ever stop?

[KarenLV]

The first year your just supposed to introduce foods...Milk is still main source of nutrition.Try six months at least for a baby with good immune system.Your doing a great job!:thumpup:

 

[ryder]

Do whatever you feel comfortable with because it is everyone womens choice on how long to do it for or if they do it.

However, remember that babies can start getting teeth bettween 6-12 months. And in reality, there is no need to breastfeed forever, certainly not 2 years.

After the first few months, introducing beginner solids is ideal as it helps your baby to develope strong bones and teeth, while breastmilk helps, it is not the sole factor for strong bones, all of the food groups are needed to promote a healthy child. Also, introducing all these things while the baby is young and still willing (IE: not a mouthy toddler who is testing you all the time) is a good way to develope good eating habits.

Your baby will let you know when they are ready for beginner solids though, no one says you have to force them.

The main purpose of breastmilk is for the anti-bodies from the other, which are obtained within the first few months. You did great doing it for 8 weeks.

 

[Alexas Mommy]

Do whatever you feel comfortable with because it is everyone womens choice on how long to do it for or if they do it.

However, remember that babies can start getting teeth bettween 6-12 months. And in reality, there is no need to breastfeed forever, certainly not 2 years.

.

Thanks for this post... it seems like a lot of women look down on you when you stop bfing at before one or two years, and I know it makes me feel guilty (that I am going nto stop at 6 months due to the fact she will likely start having teeth), and no doubt other women feel guilty as well when really, it's your decision as a parent... this post made me feel better as I have been having a hard time lately reading negative things coming from long term bf pushers if you know what I mean...

 

[Sarah88]

I wasn't given solids until 9 months and i'm doing great. Was purely coz mum forgot to give them to me, lol. I must've been satisfied on boobie juice till then.

 

[Wobbles]

I wasn't given solids until 9 months and i'm doing great. Was purely coz mum forgot to give them to me, lol. I must've been satisfied on boobie juice till then.

& lol!!!

 

[Sarah88]

Lol yeah. Mum was working full time, and my brother was 5 so a bit of a hand full I imagine

 

[LaDY]

Toria hunny...i have just stopped breast feeding at 8weeks...iv got a extremly hungry baby so i did what i thought was best for him. I was dreading stopping for the same reason however its not as hard as i thought. Do it slowly and gradually...replace your boob with the bottle slowly day by day then slowly you milk will reduce and it wont be as painful. It took me about 5days to change completly...and i no longer have leaky boobs!! If your boobs get engorged you could always pump some out...thats what i did. Goodluck babe x

 

[Samantha675]

The main purpose of breastmilk is for the anti-bodies from the other, which are obtained within the first few months.

No, the main purpose of breastmilk is for nutrition for an undevoloped digestive system. Anti-bodies are one of the many many benefits of breastmilk for babies.

And the worldwide average of breast weaning is 4 years. Breastmilk changes as the needs of a baby changes. It will contain everything a baby needs.

 

[ryder]

The main purpose of breastmilk is for the anti-bodies from the other, which are obtained within the first few months.

No, the main purpose of breastmilk is for nutrition for an undevoloped digestive system. Anti-bodies are one of the many many benefits of breastmilk for babies.

And the worldwide average of breast weaning is 4 years. Breastmilk changes as the needs of a baby changes. It will contain everything a baby needs.

However, solids and formula are also developed with the babies digestive system in mind too, that is why there are BABY FOODS. Hence the main purpose of the need for breast milk being the anti-bodies.

I also dont care what the rest of the world is doing, more then half the world is in poverty and dont have access to things developed countries do anyways...

People are free to breastfeed as long as they choose, but the reality is, you dont need it for 2, 3, 4 years (heck children here are in school by 4 years). And women should not feel pressured to so.

 

[6lilpigs]

My lil one in the picture is till on there at 14 months, I just can't seem to get her off the lil moo lol. And shes got teeth, but they don't bite you unless their teeth are hurting lol. My problem is that she gets in our bed half way through the night and the only way to stop her crawling all over her dad is to give her a booby, I tried a bottle but she aint having none of it.

You should feed for as long or as short as your comfortable with, I set my first a limit of 3 months she finally gave it up at 14 months and we were both happy with that, good luck in what you choose and don't feel pressured either way.

 

[Blob]

I think i intend to BF till 6 months... i hope

 

[Ragirl]

I don't think anyone should feel PRESSURED either way- there is certainly enough pressure going both ways. Women are made to feel guilty for stopping "early" and women who choose to go 2, 3, or 4 years are talked about as if they have some kind of "issue." But it is absolutely true that children can get 100% of their needed nutrition from breastmilk at least until 1 year- so no one should feel pressured into feeding solids prior to that. And not feeding solids prior to one year does not mean a child is going to grow up a picky eater- one compromise is to begin having the child taste foods in that first year, but continue exclusively bfing. At the age of about 2 months we started having our son taste things off our plate (literally, only a taste from the end of our fingers). He is a fabulous eater now and one of the least picky toddlers I know (though he certainly has his days). So it is not an all or nothing issue.

Though this has become a little bit of a discussion about pros vs cons of extended bfing, my only question after Toria's inital post was just "Why set an arbitrary date?" If you want to stop now, or at four months, then stop. But if you don't want to stop, then don't stop. But I don't think anyone should just pick a date or age to stop because they feel like they have to (unless there are some kind of life circumstances that dictate it). Do it when it feels right for both of you, whenever that may be- 2 weeks or 2 years.

 

[Samantha675]

The main purpose of breastmilk is for the anti-bodies from the other, which are obtained within the first few months.

No, the main purpose of breastmilk is for nutrition for an undevoloped digestive system. Anti-bodies are one of the many many benefits of breastmilk for babies.

And the worldwide average of breast weaning is 4 years. Breastmilk changes as the needs of a baby changes. It will contain everything a baby needs.

However, solids and formula are also developed with the babies digestive system in mind too, that is why there are BABY FOODS. Hence the main purpose of the need for breast milk being the anti-bodies.

I also dont care what the rest of the world is doing, more then half the world is in poverty and dont have access to things developed countries do anyways...

People are free to breastfeed as long as they choose, but the reality is, you dont need it for 2, 3, 4 years (heck children here are in school by 4 years). And women should not feel pressured to so.

Right, food that is sooo processed so that their little systems can handle it. Besides what did people do before BABY FOODS? They breastfeed.

 

[flitty]

If you want to stop breastfeeding, make sure you are totally happy with the decision, as it's very difficult to go back! Start by introducing a bottle to replace one breast feed. When baby is happy, then replace another. Take a long time, at least a week after each bottle. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for changing over, you gave your baby the best start. If you actually want to keep breastfeeding, but feel it's overwhelming you, you're not alone. Have a look at the kellymom site, there's loads of great info there. I've been breastfeeding my daughter for nearly 20 months now. I know extended breastfeeding isn't for everyone, but I just love being the one who can settle her in an instant

 

[Always&4ever]

I only wanted to do it for 6weeks and even though Jasmine has formula she is still being breastfed now.