Extended Breastfeeding Anyone?

I nursed my daughter until she was 25 months (3 months into my pregnancy with my son) and my son until 23 months. I admit that weaning was motherled because I wanted to be done by 2 years. But, it was very gradual and nontraumatic for both. I don't care how long other people nurse their kids, I just want my body back by the time my kids are 2! :D My daughter was such an intense nurser that she burned me out even before I started nursing my son so it was a struggle to nurse him as long as I did.

Nurse as long as you both want. 13 months is still a baby. It's not like breastmilk turns to water at 12 months and 1 day! I think south FL is a little crunchier when is comes to breastfeeding. I knew lots of extended nursers. I was just at a screening for Tangled and was getting kicked (accidentally!) by a 23 month old who was nursing right next to me. I struck up a conversation with the mom to tell her how awesome it was that she was still nursing. Not a peep out of that kid was heard the whole movie. My family was always supportive of breastfeeding and I can't think of one negative comments I ever got for nursing.

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I think of 13 months as still a baby. I made it to 19 months with my DS. Sometimes I feel bad that I weaned him before he hit age 2 but I was mostly very ready to wean when we did. Many, many mamas on this site probably would not even consider me an extended nurser since we did not go until he self-weaned at 4 :-). I really did not get any comments since I was never really a public nurser to begin with but my husband did ask me a few times "are you not going to stop nursing soon?" but that is about it. Just keep doing whatever you want, if you are both happy nursing, it is your child and your breasts so who cares what anyone else says. You are giving him a great thing and if you are still happy nursing, you should feel proud that you are still giving him so many great nutrients.

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I breastfed my second son until he was 18 months old. By that time we were just nursing when he woke up, when he went down for his nap, when he woke up, and before bed. Didn't have to deal with looks or comments from people.
Wouldn't have bothered me anyways...my son, my breast, my choice!

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I went til age 2 1/2. My husband, family, and friends all treated me like a freak and i had to hide a lot of the time like it was a dirty thing i was doing. But even nursing her before she was 1, they all were weird about.

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Come to California--- you will see lots of extended nursing-- It is not uncommon for me to see 18-24mos old nursing at the park, restaurant etc. I think its wonderful. If you are happy b/fing don't listen to anyone who isn't supportive.

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I nursed my first until he was 3, through my pregnancy with my second and I nursed both of them for 2 months. I nursed my second until 3 months or so before he turned 5. The last time he nursed was only a couple days before I found out I was pregnant with my third. My third is 18 months old now and I can guarantee she's not weaning any time soon and I don't plan on making her.
At first I would hear comments about "are you *still* nursing him with my first. I would plainly say yes, and we're not stopping right now. It's good for him and normal everywhere but in the US...and?
People don't ask me any more. 3 kids later it's quite obvious that this is the way I do things.
I always made sure I had a name that I would not mind my older child asking for. We call it "nursey" and we have a sign specifically for it.
World Health Organization recommends until the age of at least 2. American Academy of Pediactrics is behind the times. It is not uncommon for children up to age 7 to still be nursing in cultures where children are allowed to wean themselves.

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First son nursed for 22 months, daughter nursed for 24 months and I had to wean second son at 36 months because he was still wanting to "niss" three or four times a day!!! After the children got past the cute, little baby stage I took my nursing behind the scenes because while I only got one negative remark, I did get plenty of stares.
Honestly, most women were very supportive and often said they wished they could have nursed that long. That is, except for one old woman at my mom's beauty salon who said something along the lines of, "Well, if that's what you like!", as if I was getting a sexual thrill of nursing a toddler.
I miss the nursing relationship the most of all the baby stage and DO NOT regret nursing them well into their second and third years!

K.

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I nursed my son till he was 2.5 years old, gradually weaned so that the nursing was morning, naptime, evening, etc. so there wasn't a lot of "public" nursing when he was over 2. But I also called it nursing, and said "do you want to nurse?", so my son would ask "nurse?" when he wanted to nurse. See if you can change the word so it's a little less embarrassing :) - otherwise, people will just have to deal.

You're not an alien. Our culture doesn't know how to deal with this stuff, especially since the formula companies kinda convinced a few generations post World War 1 (after powdered milk was created) that formula was better than breastfeeding. Several generations have NOT breastfed, so it's not taken for granted like it should be.

My attitude was that it was my baby's health, my choice, not infringing on someone else as I was not flashing my hooters around when he nursed. I tried to be as private as possible to respect others, but I wouldn't sacrifice cleanliness, etc. for someone elses' sensibilities.

You go, girl!

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my son nursed until 3 years. he named it dinsey. he never asked in public. after he was 6 months old... we only nursed upstairs in his room in the rocking chair.. it was bedtime naptime and morning time for a long long time.. he woke up at 4 am for a snack for 2 years...!!!! I encouraged him to stop around 3...

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i nursed my first 2 for 22 months each. they both self weaned because i was pregnant with the next one. i am currently nursing my 3rd who is 21 months. i am also 6 months pregnant so we'll see if this one weans at 22 months as well:) i just nurse to sleep now but have never had any negative comments that i can remember. good luck to you and your sweet boy.

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My kids both self weaned early. My daughter at 14 months and my son at 15 months. I cried when my son stopped nursing because he was my last baby. Or so I thought. I just found out #3 is on the way and I am looking forward to nursing this new little one. My friend nursed her girls for 4 years and 2 1/2 years and is currently nursing her 14 month old. I think it is all up to you, don't worry what others think or say. 13 months is still a baby. Enjoy it while you can.

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I nursed my son until he was 18 mos old. He weaned himself.

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I BF until 17 months when my daughter weaned herself. I would have gone longer if she had wanted to. When I think of extended BF I think beyond 2 years. No one really gave me any negative responses but I know there was some talking behind my back by my neighbors. But they all know I am very pro-BF so I wouldn't expect them to say anything to my face. BF as long as you want it really isn't any one's business. And only you know what is best for your baby and yourself.

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My son was exclusively breastfed for the first six or seven months, then I slowly introduced solids. After his first birthday, he was introduced to a little water. He was never fed any formula, and he did not get any milk other than from me for the first 18 months. (At daycare, I either came in to nurse or sent bottles of my breastmilk.) I remember him asking for "boo-by," but that was usually just in the middle of the night when he woke up hungry.

I am not sure exactly when he started to drop feedings, but it was sometime during the first year. In the beginning it was all me, 6-8 (or more) times a day. Then five or six, and down from there. Sure this took MONTHS and months, but sooner or later he was down to nursing just upon waking and at bedtime. Pretty soon he would wake up and want to run and play just like after nap. The last feeding to drop was the bedtime nursing. It was still part of our evening routine, and I hated to let it go. I had to start a medication, so I needed to cut that one out too. I was a little sad to have that part of our lives come to a close. I nursed my son until he was 33 months. We still cuddle before he goes to bed.

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I nursed both my kids until they self-weaned.
By daughter self-weaned at about 2.5 years old.
My Son at about 1 year old.
My Husband was real PROUD of that, that I did that. He'd even brag about it to all his friends.

MY friends, all did extended nursing too.
It seemed to be the norm... when my kids were babies. I knew so many Moms who did that too.

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I nursed my youngest till he was almost 3. The last year and a half tho was just the morning nursing and the evening nursing and if he was sick and needy some "sucky" he would ask. At 3 i didnt have the problem of him trying to get some out in public, it was just a comfy thing for home. My girlfriends that I hung with at the time were doing the same thing... I never cared what anyone thought about me breast feeding... I was not real modest about it, didnt flip my boob out for people to see, but if my baby needed to nurse I didnt have a problem finding a bench to sit on and do it.

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I nursed my son until he was two. After a year old, he was mainly just nursing in the morning, before naps, and before bedtime so I usually didn't need to nurse him in public. I never had anyone give me any negative comments about extended breastfeeding. Most people I know seem very positive about breastfeeding and aren't critical.

I wouldn't worry about what others think, you are doing what is best for your baby. Think of all the great benefits he is getting from your milk. People need to realize that extended breastfeeding is perfectly natural and they have no right to criticize or give you weird looks. Enjoy this special time with your baby because it will go by quickly!

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Even celebs nurse toddlers.

http://blogs.babycenter.com/celebrities/mayim-bialik-yes-...

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I breast fed for 16 months 12 years ago. By that time I had pretty thick skinned. I was being attacked as soon as he was born for breastfeeding. I did not know anyone that did at that time. My son never really used any words for it. When he was hungry I fed him.

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I nursed my son until he was 2. He would ask to "nurse" and then later ask for "booby." Teaching him that word was probably my biggest regret about my nursing experience. :) Otherwise, I loved it, he loved it, and I'm proud of how we did it and how we stopped.

I'm sure my MIL especially was a little scandalized that I nursed for so long, and I'm sure that I got some funny looks from strangers as he got older. But I mostly didn't pay attention.

I expect to nurse my daughter past one year, although this time I will teach her to use a more discreet term. I'm leaning toward "pretty mama." :)

Good luck and good for you!

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I nursed each of my daughters beyond their 1st birthday...my oldest daughter is still nursing her son who just turned 3 years old...and my middle daughter is still nursing her almost one year old son with no thought of weaning.
Both of my daughters have become a sort of "breastfeeding activist"...they have gotten so tired of snide comments and odd looks when they are breastfeeding in public. ( They are both VERY discreet...I do not mean to indicate that they are not being modest and considerate of others).
I think the best thing you can do is to keep constantly reminding yourself that you are doing what is absolutely the best for your precious son and proceed with that attitude. Join a community online of breastfeeding advocates...their support alone will help you enormously!! My daughters are members of breastfeeding advocate groups both online and in their communities...and I know that gives them encouragement and someone to go to for support. If you would like the name of the blog that my daughter writes online...( one of her current series is "The Joys of Breastfeeding your Toddler) message me and I would be happy to share it with you!!

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18 months, no comments just questions from family. Would have continued but needed to stop for personal reasons. My dtr spoke early and clearly said breast feed. Good for you mama!

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My son will be 14 months on Dec. 25th and I still nurse him!! Funny, my little man is 24 pounds and 31 1/2 inches. I also don't think he has any intentions to wean himself anytime soon!!

My husband keeps asking when I will stop but it is such a comfort to him that I probably won't until he decides to wean himself or until he probably turns two. No one else has really said anything because I don't nurse him in public. I haven't noticed anyone looking when he puts his little hand down my shirt or pokes at my chest. Our day care teacher, however, recommended that I stop.

I only nurse him in the morning from about 4:30 am to 6:30 am, for about 20 minutes when we get home each day, and I also nurse him to sleep. I try not to nurse him during the weekend days but sometimes he just keeps asking so I give in.

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3.5 years and 3 years. While I generally don't give a boob about what others think, I tend to be discrete about anything we do that is not the "norm". I guess I just don't want to hear well meaning comments*. I'm happy with the decision, hubby is happy too and so are the kiddies.

*I slipped once and told a co-worker about our family bed philosophy (I nursed and worked full-time; it was a necessity!). He advised me I'd never get the kid out of my bed and proceeded to tell me about his pre-teen who would sneak into his and his wife's bed at night. When I asked him if they had followed the family bed philosophy, he said 'no'. Um, how is that a good example of why not to do it? So now I don't discuss what I don't need another's opinion on! :)

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