Breastfeeding can go on as long as the parent and the child is comfortable. Also keep in mind that by a certain point the child will be able to use a sippy cup or a bottle. I used to pump a lot and I used to use a special bottle for breastfed children called breast flow. This bottle perfectly mimicked the latch that a child does to its mother's nipple. It made switching between breast and bottle throughout the day very easy but keep in mind what my child had in the bottle was breast milk So the term breastfeeding doesn't necessarily mean having to put the child to the breast. Breast milk can be pumped and put into bottles, cups or baggies. breast milk can also be Frozen and kept for months. Breastfeeding actually allows for a lot of flexibility. With my first child I breastfed her till she was about three and my second child I breastfed him until he was a five. Now if my first child ever became ill with an upset stomach I would give her breast milk in a sippy cup because she would be able to tolerate the breast milk and not throw it up. That's actually the wonderful thing about breast milk your breast milk will change depending on your emotions and hormones. When the mother realizes that her child is sick with an upset stomach she naturally changes the formula to her milk and makes it more of a Pedialyte consistency containing more electrolytes for their child. A mother's body will also adjust the milk composition depending on the season and the temperature outside. it's amazing Bond the woman's body knows what to do and will adjust the milk for the child's well-being. A woman's body knows when to adjust the nutrients as the baby grows it's never the same as when it's first started. The body can also add antibodies if the family is coming down with a cold it's amazing what we can do naturally. There has been so many times that my children had stayed out of hospitals but other babies were being hospitalized from stomach bugs or other things.
I am emotionally into breast feeding and natural child birth based on science.
My cousin has had 3 natural water births.
Breast feeding should be continued until the child weens her or him self. That can be at a very young age or much older. There is great value to mental and physical health and the emotional bond between mother and child.
I'd say if they haven't stopped by their third birthday, something's really wrong. Many are over it before their first birthday. Every kid is different. I've met 6-year-olds that could barely talk, and 2-year-olds intelligent enough to carry on a conversation with college seniors and understand at least half of what they're talking about. That latter example truly impressed me. That little girl definitely bore the potential to be a lot smarter than her mother ever was. And I was in a few classes with her mother, so I know the discrepancy was sharp. The baby daddy threw away his best gem ever. It bemused me to speculate how such a gifted child could come from two parents that were both morons.
If the mother's new boyfriend ever successfully convinced her to marry him, then that would be that little girl's best outcome. Stepdad was a lot smarter than either of the girl's bio parents. He was so put together, he made me look like an unsorted mess! The little one's mom would've been a fool to throw that offer away.
The experts pretty much agree that babies should breast feed at least a year. After that it gets pretty subjective. Personally I think 3-4 years is on the long side. If someone is breastfeeding at six years, I'd assume something was wrong. I knew someone who fed that long and it turned out that they were non-functional autistic.
This stuff has changed since my baby was born. They are recommending longer than they used to. They used to say to start giving solids at three months. Now they are saying no solids for at least six months, nine months or even a year, depending on who you ask.
Also, babies start sleeping through the night more once they were on solid foods. I have known mothers who pushed solids early just for this reason so they weren't getting up several times a night.
Opinion
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Our little boy was already using a sippy cup at nine months and completely self weaned himself at eleven months... No matter how hard I tried to delay this, he was having none of it... To be quite truthful I was somewhat very upset as I had been hoping to continue for many more months.
It will now be very interesting to see the eventual developments in the one I'm carrying at the present time.
In Europe they nurse for 4 years, My oldest weened herself off at 30 months but she will still drink my fresh milk sometimes for breakfast when she eats her dry cereal with a spoon LOL. I may let my 11 month old ween herself off also, No matter what her age.
Don't talk nonsense.
Honestly I could careless how mothers feed their babies. It’s really none of my damn business for how they provide for their kids. I’ve had total strangers sit right next to me while breastfeeding their kids. I’m not really bothered by it.
What bothers me are the Karen’s who make it a big deal and have the need to call them out. They’re the ones who should’ve been breastfed in public.
once I heard a story about a lady in her early 40s who had several children over the years all of which she breast-fed herself. who managed to even help breastfeed her own grandchildren for a while. because her oldest daughter was having trouble producing enough milk for twins. until the mother gave her some old tips which allowed the daughter to start producing more milk.
Awh that's nice of her to help feed her grandbabies
I've known some women to continue producing milk for many years after having children if they stay healthy. its a strong aphrodisiac for their male partners as well since it can give a rock hard boner similar to Viagra does.
It's not exactly about staying healthy. Milk production is supply and demand so once the demand is gone then the supply stops but women can always relactate.. and yes some guys are really into it during sex
Animal kids are weaned when they are capable to take in and to digest food on their own.
If a 6 year old still can't do that, the child must have a disability; ... or the mother has?
To not depend on Mom's milk is a survival function; the earlier this takes place, the better for the kid. Not forcing it, but rather encouraging, of course.
Children begin growing their teeth before 1 y/o; latest by 3 y/o they are complete.
I consider that the natural age range of breast feeding.
After that, Mom's tits should be MINE again :)
Whenever they're ready or when mom decides they've had enough. I know of a few women that are still doing it with their teen kids!! One claims she'll let anyone suck on them. She even offers them to homeless people. No idea if that's true but that's what she claims.
I didn’t stop breastfeeding till I was 4. Will I allow my child to suck the life out of my boobs till they are 4 ? No I won’t but I think a good age to stop is maybe around 2. I think it’s fine to breastfeed your kid to whatever age they give it up though.
I think when he naturally weans. That's usually going to be between 1 and 3 years old. But you can go further than that continue to. Saying 6 months? That's just fear-mongering, and not based in any sort of scientific or relational understanding
Yess best to wait till they wean on their own
The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning. It is up to you and your baby to decide when the time is right. Some babies decrease the number of breastfeeds as they begin to commence solid feeds. The first foods are really educational tastes and not much food is ingested. Once they’re established on solids, and start taking 3 solid feeds a day, they start gaining the nutritional benefits from solids and rely more on them for their growth and development (around 9 months
It’s perfect until age 3 . Then my mom froze the milk and had it until I was 4.
It’s perfect my my opinion because I’m tall and very healthy looking even at 31 I look “skin healthy”. And that’s due to breastfeeding until 3 for sure. Same goes for my brother… I contribute it to breastfeeding up yo age of 4 ~ 100%
Is there a right answer? Why should anyone tell a mom when she should ween her child my children actually weened themselves.
@JohnK123 they usually just decide that they are done with the boob and then wean themselves off
I'm never going to tell a mother how to bring up her child.. It has nothing to do with me. It would seem logical though for the child to be weaned off to regular milk as soon as is possible.. Both for the child's growth in life and for the mother.
I think 2 is a good age to start weaning them off the actual breast. I think a lot of people think that stopping breast feeding means that baby stops getting milk. When its my time to be a mama, I hope I don't have trouble breastfeeding and pumping.
I've heard as long as they want to is fine. I'd think a hard cut off at I don't know 10 said good.
Are maybe a little before they are to start pre k or kindergarten sense they'll have to eat real food in the real world.
You know this is one of those moments where you say I don't want to grow up LOL I look at that picture and I think that kid could be me right now LOL I would love to be doing that right now but in a much better sensual sexier way I think it's up to the parent when the parent says enough is enough then that's when it's enough I mean but I wish I had a step parent LOL and I could do that LMAO and I'm serious LOL
Mine stopped once they started biting or lost interest. Mine are real good very early on and preferred it…
However, it doesn’t matter how long you go. It’s healthy either way.
Oh God the biting is so bad
Yeah so I’ve heard!!!
I’m pretty sure six is too old. I don’t know much about babies but I would say when the baby would normally switch from bottle feeding to regular food if they weren’t being breast fed is when they should stop breast feeding. But you’re a mom so you would probably know better than me.
In general, it should be decided between the mother and child. I agree with some others that six seems a bit late. I don't think the mother should breastfeed them in public at six years old. However, if they want to be breastfed at that age, it's fine to do it at home.
One day when I do breast-feed I would like to stop at one to two. If I’m still producing milk I will just drain myself and feed them through a bottle. That way they can still get the nutrients without the awkwardness of breast
@Apple1996 Drinking Milk is healthy So don't stop !
I never stop until my kiddos are ready
I guess the age of 3 is good.
What about you? How old is your child and what age did you feed your child?
I have 3 kiddos. 1st I pumped till he was 6 months. 2nd breastfed till 2 and pumped milk for awhile after. 3rd I'm on my 8th month of breastfeeding him.
Would have gone longer if I could but extended breastfeeding isn't for me. But I def support those that do it
As long as possible and they both want. I imagine working or not working and type of job can impact boob availability
i say no more than 3-4 yo.
I stopped nursing my 4yo when she was just 3yo
i am still nursing my 2yo and 11 month old girls
For me I'll prob stop breastfeeding when they're 1 maybe 1 1/2 but I'll still give them the breast milk via bottle or sippy cup
By the time they go to school is really the only suggestion I have. Mostly because of the dependancy
Until they are able to eat their own foods and drinks.
That's kind of tricky since they start solid foods around 6 month but still need breastmilk
Hm good point. Maybe when their teeth are mostly in. Like between 2 - 3.
You figure out what is best between you and your child
My kids self weened. It’s better for their mental health that way.
4. That's when my mom fully weened us off. I'll be sticking to that
6 seems way too old. That's a first grader. I have each of my kids 12 months. After that, the health benefits are not so prominent. Teeth or twelve months seems sufficient, but it's really up to the parents.
I'm not sure. I think I stopped getting breastfed at around 1 or 1.5 years old. Maybe then, I think that's the time. Any older would probably be strange seeing as I already had my teeth and could digest normal cow's milk.
Probably till 3 or 4 at the most but normally they stop at 2 when they would normally be off formula and having food. This reminds me of the movie “Grown Ups”, lol, the kid was 6 I think
Parents who breastfeeds their kid until 6 years old is a good indicator that this parent is not in her right mind and will not be a good parent. The kid will be babied all the way until adult life and will struggle to be independent on their own.
It up to mother and kid.
it’s no one’s decision and no one should judge.
I don’t mind even if mom is breastfeeding older then 6 yr old
About a year to 18 mos. After that it seems to be a bit strange! I mean come-on, that kid on Game of Thrones (with the moon door) was maybe 10 and he was still being breastfeeding? Ewwww!
I breastfed my 2nd son till he was 2 and a little past since I pumped for him. It wasn't strange at all
Okay if that worked for you, what’s wrong with it… when I said strange, I used the example of a 10 year old! I never said a word about age 2. I hate when people ask questions and if I don’t answer exactly the way they want me too, I’M AN ASSHOLE SOMEHOW? Perhaps I should have said VERY MUCH PAST 18mos. But I figured by adding in a TEN year old as the exemplar for strange, people would understand what I meant… but this is GaG, so of course it doesn’t matter!
In Ireland mothers usually stop brestfeeding when they return to work after maternal leave, as is quite hard to stay dry while they're full and start leaking
never it's good bond and in most it stops the next one coming along to quickly me i'm 67 and still like it
I would Sit next to her while she’s Breastfeeding.
Plus if I did that she couldn’t get Uncomfortable anyways.
Like uhh hey police man I had my Boobs Out so my baby could Play with and suck my Titty and this man sat next to me.
Officer 👮♂️: so you Did indecent Exposure thanks for admitting.
Hey John get this lady booked we will get her on the Sex offender list.
Teeth would seem to complicate matters, but all kids are different. I’d say when they are willing to tolerate solid food.
Teeth aren't to big of a issue unless they bite and that can usually be stopped
Fair enough, I know this isn’t my lane so I’ll take your word for it.
Before they start kindergarten seems like a good age.
According to my older family members, children will stop drinking your milk when they are too old for breast feeding, and if they stop drinking, the milk will stop flowing, I read that online.
I didn't think this was an issue. I thought eventually all creatures in the animal kingdom started eating regular food naturally.
1 1/2 years to 2 .. but every one is different right.
When ever Mom and child are ready to stop. Breast milk is very nourishing for a child of any age.
I would think that they should be weened from the breast before going to school!
Probably 3. That’s what I would do but every child is different and every parent is different too.
By the age of two, most children should be on solid food, in which case breastfeeding should no longer be needed, except in unusual situations.
A 6 year old should not be breastfeeding they have been at school for about a year.
I'm no expert but you should stop breastfeeding at 4 at the latest.
1-2 years. If the child is eating real food, I don’t see any reason to continue breastfeeding past that.
My daughter never breastfed a baby before because she has never had a baby, and she is only 14. So I can't answer when my child should stop breastfeeding.
Yes. Sarcasm. Hehe.
You are only bottle fed until 1. Why would you breastfeed beyond that? Certainly not beyond 18 months.
Because it's healthy to and no bottle fed babies sometimes keep them until they are 2 or 3 depending when they wanna give up the bottle
Cows milk is hard on a babies belly and doesn't have much nutrition compared to breastmilk and formula. Even after breastfeeding my son for two years I put him on toddler formula. My peds didn't have a problem with this
It is totally a mother's decision. She knows her child best and what is best for her child..
I can remember being 4 years old. I think that being old enough to remember breastfeeding is too old to do it.
The first year is the more critical, but should be weaned by 2 years old. That way, it gives daddy a turn at the teat.
Daddy and baby can share
in my opinion, there has to be a titty cut-off point before it gets too weird.
However, if scientist say six, then it's all good.
6 is way too old, especially for a boy. when he starts forming the ability to form lasting memories it is dangerous as it might make him violent later in life
It's actually more important for boys to breastfeed so they know how to make connections with women later on in life. Without breastfeeding they can have attachment issues
i dunno about that but if he's still doing it at 6 he will grow sexually frustrated the memory of his mother
I don't think so boobs aren't sexual anyways. They are for babies
they're still inherently sexual
Everything can be sexual. Bottle feeding is quite dangerous and people develop all sorts of complex health challenges simply because they were bottle fed. As well as later imbalances from feeding on one boob and not both equally. But do you know another reason besides being unhealthy, why bottles shouldn't be used? Because they're sexual. There are the male masturbator devices, and boys may start using bottles to masturbate.
I'm just being silly but don't say breastfeeding at any age is wrong. I've known of multiple people who were fed beyond 6 and they didn't become perverts or anything.
3 years old, or a year before you want your next child.
Since you're only pragent for 9 months there's no reason not to give birth at least annually.
EnglishEuropean, good point, I suppose then you should just nurse both children until the youngest is three.
Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!
Once a kid is able to chew their own food, they’re done.
I would say at or around 2, or once they have teeth coming in and can eat solids. I think extending it out can cause emotional development issues.
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