When did you/ do you plan to stop BF & why?

[happy-chick]

For those who dont plan to feed until baby self weans - When do you plan to stop BF? or when did you stop if you have already? What are your reasons?

Just out of interest really

 

[NickyB]

My next target is 6 months, I'll be happy to make it to that and wouldn't be disappointed to stop then. However, I want to make it to a year. One reason I'd be anxious is teeth, I've read some posts saying it mightn't be *that* bad and to see how it goes, but the idea freaks me out.

And, I know I'll probably get shot down for this, but it's my opinion, I personally would stop at 1yo rather than say 2, because the thought of boobyfeeding someone who can walk and talk freaks me a little. Nothing personal to those who do continue to feed, I know the benefits - it's just me!

 

[-Kelly-]

Although I do plan to let him self-wean, I have an absolute upper age limit of 4 - if he isn't showing any signs of reducing or giving up feeding when he turns 3 then I plan to gently encourage him to wean and have him off breast milk by the time he's 4. I think by the time he's going to school and becoming so much more independent I wouldn't be very comfortable feeding him, and if it came out in school that he was still breastfeeding I think he would be set up to be bullied. Hopefully he will wean himself before then though

 

[charlie84]

I was aiming for self weaning however i am currently rethinking that and just aiming for a year at the most. My reason being that i am planning on ttc next year and i also need my body back for a short while before the next baby.

 

[Bee]

I wanted to bf Finlay until I went back to work in Jan, cut it down a but then stop when he was one but that didn't work out

We were in a car crash when he was 12 weeks old. I kept feeding him till he was 4 and a half months old but struggled the whole time and had to stop. I was stressing myself out and I wasn't producing enough milk. We were fine until the crash. The decision to switch to bottles wasn't an easy one and I regret it now.

 

[Mildly]

Before having him I was aiming for 6 months or when the teeth came through whichever was first. However I've just begun to appreciate the bonding aspect of breastfeeding so am not sure, I may see how it goes and stop when I start to feel uncomfortable about it.

I can't imagine feeding past a year mostly because I associate breastfeeding with babies not toddlers. I also want to sleep without having to wear a bra at some point in the future.

 

[CoreysMummy]

Stoped at about a week because of his reflux. A shame really, would have loved the opertunity to carry on. Will give it a crack with the next one see if it works out, and aim for 6weeks. If I get past then, then ill aim for 3 months, and so on... I dont want to get stressed about it - and I want a life outside of being a cow.

 

[BabyMagic]

Before having LO I thought I would BF for six months, but I hadn't thought it through really, as it just feels right to continue. My new goal is one year, but perhaps that will change too, as I just love bf:ing

I'd like to get to a year so that LO could go straight to cow's milk instead of having to introduce formula.

 

[jills10uk]

i initially set myself a goal of 6 weeks and then reviewed and then 10 weeks which im up to now. my next goal is christmas and josh will be 4 mths then. ill see how i feel when i get to that point and continue if i can. i will however be very busy with my choreography after christmas and will need to be out a fair bit so i will either have to be ultra organised or move onto formula. i'm so proud of getting this far and think if i make it to christmas i will have done far better than i ever expected.
i also think my hungry monster will be looking for some other form of nutrition other than milk before his 6 mths!

 

[Redshoes]

I'm all set for stopping at magical number 6months I believe the first 3days are most important and they're done already, I've continued because its just soooooooooo much easier than bottles I am half joking, I do love the bonding that comes with it too, obviously Ophelia hasn't yet taken a teat or dummy though so this 6months mark may come and go, I will do what feels comfortable at the time, if she isn't ready to move on I will BF past 6months no worries, I just hope to be stopped by 1yr at latest, I love BF'ing but it has to end sometime

 

[maybebaby]

My initial target was 6 months but that came and went and I saw no reason to stop - we were both still enjoying it. I did stop expressing and give him formula when I was at work & for his last feed of the day at 6 months though. When he was about 9/10 months I stopped feeding at night and we ended up just doing the first feed of the day. I kept saying I was going to stop but ended up doing 'just one more day' . We eventually stopped about 2 weeks before his birthday - he just lost interest. I don't know how long I would have carried on if he had still wanted to feed though.

I never intended to let him self wean or go beyond a year, but I didn't see the point in stopping while we were both enjoying it.

 

[mum's the word]

I took each day as it came, I didn't know if I'd be able to crack it after probs feeding first baby but I just kept going. If I hadn't got pregnant again I'd prob still be feeding but I had to make a decision-either tandem feed (which seemed very daunting and draining) or stop feeding Ricky in time for my body to have a milk rest before it started all over again!
Giving up was easier than I thought it would be and I think I missed it more than Ricky! He was 13 months when I totally stopped and somehow I can't see myself lasting that long with the next baby-but you never know!

 

[valentine]

I didn't plan to. DD self weaned just before her birthday - clicky - there were no signs or dropped feeds - she went from 3 a day to none in the space of a day. It was a very hard time for me and made me realise that it isn't always Mummy that makes the decision - something, at the time, I found very hard to accept.

I miss the closeness and the cuddles. I would have fed past a year if DD had wanted to - not sure where my cut off would have been but I would certainly hope she'd be self weaning by 18 months to 2 years.

Valentine Xxx

 

[purple13]

i hope that connor self-weans, but i also hope that he does it before the age of 2 - i want another baby around then and would like my body back for a bit before ttc.

 

[keli]

I don't have a aim and never have had really i just knew i would try to BF. I will carry on as long as Cooper wants my booby and we both are still enjoying it. I heard most babies self wean around 18mths and that sounds good to me

 

[Squiglet]

We're going the self weaning route as such... Lil miss can hang off me boobies for a while longer. Although I might start encouraging her otherwise when she gets to 2 as we would like to try for another then, although I know women who breastfeed while pregnant and the babies self wean cos the milk changes and tastes different... but anything can happen although lil miss loves mummy boob too much to give it up so easily

 

[happy-chick]

Interesting responses girls thanks

Im still totally unsure what im gunna do, at the moment we're carrying on as normal but we plan to TTC mid next year and I would like my body back before that so I can get into shape b4 getting pregnant again, I feel really selfish saying that though!!

We're taking each day as it comes and will see what happens but its really interesting to know other peoples plans

 

[loz]

I did think about 6 months but now we are past that I want to keep going until Christmas time, but reduce down gradually. She is aready getting formula 3 days a week at the childminders.

My reasons are:

I want my body to have a rest as we are thinking of ttc again next summer.

I also think that she'll be quite big by 9 months and it will be good for her to be independent from me and the OH can get more involved with feeding etc.

She is less interested in milk feeds now she has the option of food!

She uses boobie more for getting to sleep than feeding.

OH thinks I should wind it down.

Also people keep reminding me of Little Brittain's 'Bitty'!!!!!!!

 

[LisaJ1986]

I wish i could slowly start shifting her onto bottles but she's having none of it! I've been invited out in 2 weeks but i can't leave her.

 

[lisa282]

Originally I had hoped to feed to about 6 months, with a view to settling her before i return to work when she is 8 months. BUT now that its going so well and we are both happy with it, i am starting to question that. Providing her weaning goes well and she takes to food easily, I may continue to feed her morning and night until around 12 months. Really not sure yet....