How Long Do I Need to Breastfeed?

i believe that they incourage you to do it for atleast four months but really its all your choice to continue to breast feed or not. dont be pressured to continue if you dont want to :). a good formula is good start supreme its very gentle and its the onl one my daughter could take after i stopped breast feeding her at 2 months. good luck!

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Hi J.,
What you have done is great- and if you can go longer I would. The physical health benefits have been outlined for a while, and just recently a new study points to VERY strong psychological benefits. If you are interested, I will look for the link, but the basic lowdown was that children who were breastfed had a 36% (HUGE!) less chance of ending up with a behovioral issue (I'm assuming this includes ADD, etc.) Interestingly, the correlation was very direct- the longer the breastfeeding, the less and less likely a parent could report having had a behavioral/sociological issue as the child developed. My husband found the article and actually thanked me- for there were times I struggled against everyone (including my doctor to make it to 11 months.) So- you need to weigh the pros and cons and do what is right for you, but maybe this will give you another thing to weigh on the pro side!
All the best,
S.

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You should switch when you want. I had to stop at 6 months because my daughter demanded more food than I could produce, so that made my decision. No worries about the health of the baby .... some women are unable to go even 6 months, so kudos to you for meeting your goal. Now work on weaning the little one - maybe swap out a bottle or 2 a day at first.
Good luck!

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As long as you can-it's the best for baby!!!!!

J.,

I understand how you feel...breastfeeding can be amazing but, exhausting too...and, I see you have a toddler to so I can only imagine.

With my son, I had to wean him before a year because I got sick and needed meds that he couldn't have. We made it to about 7-8 months, and I switched to formula at around 9 months. While, they say at least a year is best for sure, I would give it at least another couple of months! I think there was a reason we did 9 months, but I can't really remember...if you can stick it out, I would keep it up!

Best of luck.

I would recommend nursing as long as it is enjoyable for you and the baby. It is REALLY healthy for the baby till well past a year. Their immune system is only 60% developed at 12m. Your milk will help them SO much. Your milk is made for your child; not in a factory like formula. I would say avoid preservatives and chemicals, sugar, salt... as long as possible. Go look at the Le Leche League site or their book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. THe benefits are endless. My son has never been sick and he's 23m. Not to mention their good dispostion from the bonding, helps in the toddler years to have that foundation.

My pediatrician said that anything was better than nothing - even just a week is better than not doing it at all. If you feel you've done your time, then you have every right to stop now without being judged! There are only so many sacrifices we can make for our children - our sanity counts for something too! lol

you should be fine! they only say that you need to breast feed for the first 6 months

Formula was made for a reason. It has all the nutrients your little guy needs. I say, go for it! :)

Coming from a Mom who breastfed #1 until 25mos and #2 until just over 3 years of age, I say - YOU do what is best for YOU. You've already given your child a wonderful gift! I say kuddos to a Mom who gives it a week. Sure the longer the better - but for who? If you kept going just because and became resentful because of it then nobody would benefit. So your question of how long do I need to breastfeed can really only be answered by you.

Best wishes whatever you decide,
M.

You know, I tried so hard to breastfeed for longer, but I only made it five months. I work full-time and my baby was huge and hungry! I felt so guilty for quitting, but why should I have to feel guilty? She is a year now and been on formula for seven months. She is healthy and happy and is never sick and has no allergies. You have to do the best you can. If you stop now, it won't have been for nothing! Even one day of breastfeeding is good! You have done a great job and you deserve your boobs back. Go for it!

Hi J.,

Our Children are very close in age, I have a 4 year old daughter and a 5 month old. I was going through the same things as you, so I did this. I dropped all the mid day feeding, and supplmented the bottle, but I still nurse at her morning feeding (7amish) and her evening feeding (6:45pmish). I do not pump at all during the day, I only feed at those times. Which I think is doing her good, especially with bowel movements, and antibodies during the winter season. But 6 months is great. Either way you will make the right choice.

Hi J.,

All health research and opinions aside, here's some food for thought.

Cow's milk is evolutionarily designed to best nourish baby cows until they can graze on their own.

Goat's milk is evolutionarily designed to best nourish baby goats until they can graze on their own.

Soybeans don't lactate and don't have babies.

Human milk is evolutionarily designed to best nourish baby humans until they can eat solids on their own.

Do what YOU want. 6 months is great! What anybody says DOESN"T matter.

Stop when you are ready. Your son will be fine and you should congratulate yourself for breastfeeding him.

You've done well, mommy, it's OK to stop now if it is not working for you. However, keep in mind that it is just the start of flu season... Just food for thought. You have given your son a good start with your milk and I don't think that you should feel like you are letting him down if you go to formula. He'll be fine and you can start to "get your body back!"