at what age did your child stop breastfeeding?

[pixiemomma]

13 months with ds #1 (One of the drs at my former office insisted I ween him because I was pregnant)
19 months with ds #2(he weened himself)

We never used a bottle or formula.

ETA: There is no way my 5 year old would want to breastfeed, regardless of how I felt about it!

 

[Beth76]

6 years old and still breastfeeding....child abuse.

Since you said it first, I'll go ahead and agree with you. But, I'm not saying any more on this issue. I will not get into a debate today. I will not get into a debate today. I will not get into a debate today.

 

[chobie]

2 and 1/2 years for the first one. I was a sling-wearing, co-sleeping, toddler nursing in public parent. I know that makes me a child-abusing, "Nazi" in some posters' eyes.

 

[Beth76]

Edited to Add: I bf 1 child for 6 weeks and the other for 2 weeks... it wasn't my "cup of tea"

OMG!! That's exactly how long I did it too!!! Six weeks for the first and 2 for the second.

 

[beattyfamily]

I have 2 DDs. My older DD stopped nursing at around 4 months old. She initiated it. She was bottle fed and breast fed because I worked nights so I believe that contributed to it.

My younger DD stopped at around one year old and it was my doing. I didn't want to go past one year old. I slowly weaned her down to nursing just for naps and for going to sleep at night. It only took a few days. She still had her pacifier which helped but once she was weaned of breastfeeding, I stopped the pacifier too. That took a week and I just used other distractions like reading, singing and a music box to get her to sleep.

I think (just my opinion on what I would/did) that I wouldn't want to breastfeed past one year old but certainly not past 2 years old...but that's just me. I definitely consider anything past 3 years old too old but that's just my opinion.

 

[kidshop]

My boys stopped on their own, at almost 17 months and 18 months. I wold have let them continue as long as they would have wished. Most children who nurse past age one only do so a few times a day (in the am, at bedtime, etc). The woman described is the exception, not the normal for the very few who nurse past toddlerhood. I don't have a problem with it. Most of our society is not at all familiar with breastfeeding, and certainly not able to comprehend nursing a child who can walk and talk! It is within the range of human biological normal, but not societal norms. It is nonetheless not sexual for anyone wondering!

 

[4cruisin]

2 and 1/2 years for the first one. I was a sling-wearing, co-sleeping, toddler nursing in public parent. I know that makes me a child-abusing, "Natzi" in some posters' eyes.

Chobie, there is a big difference between 2 1/2 years old and 6 1/2 years. Do I have the right to judge...nope...but I'm sorry - 6 1/2 years is just wrong.

 

[tiggersmom2]

2 and 1/2 years for the first one. I was a sling-wearing, co-sleeping, toddler nursing in public parent. I know that makes me a child-abusing, "Natzi" in some posters' eyes.

I did all that myself except for the breastfeeding (well, I only did it for a few weeks) and there is a HUGE difference b/w breastfeeding a 2 1/2 year old as opposed to a 4-6 year old.

I can remember a great deal from those years and it would be quite horrifying to have "Mom's nipple in my mouth" as one of those memories. Yes, I absolutely believe that breastfeeding a 6 year old is setting them up for years of future threapy.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Oh hell, just for fun, I'll add:

We bottle feed

 

[Marseeya]

I'd planned on letting DD BF as long as she wanted, but being six years old never occurred to me in my wildest dreams!

I'll venture forth and say that I believe it's abusive -- if not flat out abusive, but socially so. How would you like to be one of her kids?

Anyway, DD quit nursing on her own at 18 months. She just bit me and never went back. I wasn't ready at all, and went through some serious PPD when she quit.

 

[chobie]

Chobie, there is a big difference between 2 1/2 years old and 6 1/2 years. Do I have the right to judge...nope...but I'm sorry - 6 1/2 years is just wrong.

I personally would not have done it past age 3, but I don't think its abuse for God's sake.

 

[Beth76]

I personally would not have done it past age 3, but I don't think its abuse for God's sake.

So at what age does it become abuse? Do you think it's okay for a 16 year old to suckle?

 

[BuckNaked]

So at what age does it become abuse? Do you think it's okay for a 16 year old to suckle?

Depends...are we talking Mom or girlfriend?


Wait...did I say that out loud?

 

[loveysbydesign]

I nursed both my ds (now 6) and my dd (turned 3 in August) until they were 3 (the last year was basically only at bedtime). They would have continued to nurse had I allowed it. When I first became a mother I thought "I'll try and nurse for a year", my kids, however had different ideas! I never, ever imagined that I'd nurse them until they were 3y.o, it's amazing how when you become a mom things can change!
My dd still asks for "milky" once every couple weeks, I guess she really loved it.

 

[Ziva]

Never breastfed.

 

[scubamouse]

Oh hell, just for fun, I'll add:

We bottle feed

bad daddy bad bad daddy

and ITA with everyone that says there's a big difference between 2.5 and 6.5 y/o.

 

[Ziva]

Depends...are we talking Mom or girlfriend?


Wait...did I say that out loud?

 

[scubamouse]

Depends...are we talking Mom or girlfriend?


Wait...did I say that out loud?

you made me sputter diet pepsi ALL over my screen!!!

 

[tiggersmom2]

Depends...are we talking Mom or girlfriend?


Wait...did I say that out loud?

I'm having visions of Jim Carrey in "Me, Myself and Irene"......

 

[barkley]

DS.... a couple of months due to health problems early on that requirred him taking a bottle for the first 2 weeks. He never learned to latch on so I pumped and giave it to him in a bottle

DD... just shy of her 2nd bday. Completely child led weaning. would have nursed as long as she wanted to. I know many that nurse until age 4 or so. They have no "infintile manner" what ever the op meant by that, and are all physically and mentally healthy childrem.

However I do understand and somewhat agree with the OP's opinion about the mother being very vocal about it. For example, as much as I believe in child led weaning, I did not stand behind the woman who lost custody of her child after being court ordered to stop breastfeeding him. I believe the case started when he was about 7 and continued until he was 9 or so.

what i meant by "infantile" is that while an infant or toddler who is upset may be well served by the comfort of their mother's breast, i do not believe that a 4 1/2 year old or older should be encouraged to utilize it when frustrated or upset about something that happened at school or on the playground or at the mall (the mom could'nt understand why she was'nt permittd to allow her daughter to "unwinde" and "address her upset feelings" by breastfeeding in the classrom when she picked her up each day/or "deal with her separation issues at drop-off") at this age a child need to begin to recognize and learn how to begin to deal with their feelings and emotions.

b.t.w.-you people are fast, i posted this and only went to read and post on one other thread!