Still nursing two to three times a day at 16 months.

[Anonymous]

Is this unusual? DD nurses big time first thing in the morning and a little at night before bed. Some days she asks to nurse during the day and other days she doesn’t. I work from home so it’s not an issue and it doesn’t seem to have a negative effect on her appetite for solids except in the morning. She will only drink water from a cup - no cows milk or breast milk.

Older DS weaned himself at 14 months I think because I was pregnant and I either didn’t have enough milk or it tasted different.

My friends and in-laws think I’m nuts to still be nursing. And they say it’s going to be hard to wean her after 18 months.

Personally, I love nursing especially first thing in the morning but want to do what’s easiest/best for her.

BTDT advice? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it’s unusual if you use the word “usual” tone the vast majority of American women who start out breastfeeding. No, it is not unusual if you mean natural.

My children, all exclusively breastfed at the breast, weaned themselves after they turned two. After about one, I think it was only for the connection.

Keep offering cows milk. Try different cups including small open cups.

[Anonymous]

The morning nursing session was the hardest for me to give up! I loved the dozy morning cuddles in the quiet morning. My kids are the ones who stopped it or else I’d probably still be doing it.

Our pediatrician, without judgement, said to wean before 18 months or be ready to do the long haul. Same with bottles and pacifiers (although I never used either).

[Anonymous]

None of that is anyone's business.

Do what you want. She may decide that she will wean herself at X months, and she may not. She will (probably) not be nursing at 4 or 5. The relationship is between the two of you, and either of you may end it at anytime once you decide it does not work.

[Anonymous]

Why are you entertaining your friends and family’s opinions on this topic?

[Anonymous]

I nursed my first for over 2.5 years. Going strong with my 16
month old now, who still nurses about every 4-5 hours. I’m too exhausted and don’t have the stomach for sleep training so I still nurse him at night, too. My kids love to nurse and have strong opinions about it and frankly while I’m not an attachment parent I also don’t have a strong feeling about weaning so on we go. These days will be gone soon enough and I don’t think I will regret the late night snuggles and nursing that went on longer than others approved of. Babies don’t keep, as they say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I nursed my first for over 2.5 years. Going strong with my 16
month old now, who still nurses about every 4-5 hours. I’m too exhausted and don’t have the stomach for sleep training so I still nurse him at night, too. My kids love to nurse and have strong opinions about it and frankly while I’m not an attachment parent I also don’t have a strong feeling about weaning so on we go. These days will be gone soon enough and I don’t think I will regret the late night snuggles and nursing that went on longer than others approved of. Babies don’t keep, as they say.

Same. I never wanted to sleep train and follow my kids cues. All three slept thru the night (12 hours) by 12 months and weaned when they were ready at around two and two-and-a-half.

I NEVER voice my opinion on sleep training or breastfeeding but, man, others opposed certainly do.

OP, you will know what’s best for your baby. My youngest dropped the morning nursing session last when she started sleeping 12 hours and heard her older brothers up.

[Anonymous]

So, I legit nursed until my kid was 4. It is absolutely no one's business but yours and your child. It is only taboo, because we have made it taboo. And, yes, it was pretty hard to get her to wean but she did when she was ready. She is a healthy and well-adjusted kid today. I feel a sense contentedness that I was able to be present and with her and feed her this way for as long as we did. The value of nursing goes well beyond any nutrients breastfeeding imparts, it physical as well. The cuddles...the contact. It relieves stress for them, and if anyone wants to take that away from the two of you, screw them really. You do You.

[Anonymous]

It’s definitely harder to wean after 18 months, but just decide what’s right for you. My youngest kept going until age 3, but I definitely had to deflect criticism from my in-laws.

[Anonymous]

It's totally normal.

[Anonymous]

My first stopped at 14 mos as well (I was pregnant). With #2, by 16 mos, I was down to twice a day - morning and night. We're at 18 mos now, I just dropped the morning feed, and was worried there would be an issue - there was none. I plan to drop the evening feed when some teething is done.

I wouldn't pay attention to anything friends/family have to say. I would talk to the doctor to make sure they don't have any concern about solids intake, nutrition, etc. After awhile, kids really need to get iron and other nutrients from solids - there isn't enough in breastmilk, and you want to make sure your kid isn't going to be resistant to texture if they aren't getting a lot of solid food exposure, so you just want to make sure you are covering those bases. Then do what works for you and your baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's totally normal.

Not if “normal” means the majority. “Natural” might be a better word.

And while the pressure might be “breast is best” for newborns, it certainly is not “breastfeeding past a year”. Lots of judgement on breastfeeding a toddler!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's totally normal.

Not if “normal” means the majority. “Natural” might be a better word.

And while the pressure might be “breast is best” for newborns, it certainly is not “breastfeeding past a year”. Lots of judgement on breastfeeding a toddler!

+1. Your a bad mother if you don’t breastfeed until the baby is six months old and you’re a weird woman if you breastfeed past one year.

[Anonymous]

I would limit it to AM/PM only and give her a cup of cow's milk when she asks during the day. I nursed until my 1st was 18 months and very easily eliminated the AM session by coming into her room in the morning with a sippy cup full of milk. The PM was a little harder, but we did it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I legit nursed until my kid was 4. It is absolutely no one's business but yours and your child. It is only taboo, because we have made it taboo. And, yes, it was pretty hard to get her to wean but she did when she was ready. She is a healthy and well-adjusted kid today. I feel a sense contentedness that I was able to be present and with her and feed her this way for as long as we did. The value of nursing goes well beyond any nutrients breastfeeding imparts, it physical as well. The cuddles...the contact. It relieves stress for them, and if anyone wants to take that away from the two of you, screw them really. You do You.

4 years old!?!