Extended breastfeeding

Caleb is still BF but only morning and night. He gets too distracted when we are out to BF and is happy to drink water out of his sippy bottle anyway.

DP used to ask all the time when I was going to stop but I think he's given up now. He can see how much Caleb loves cuddling up to me first thing in the morning for a feed to want to take it away from him perhaps.

I've never had any negative comments about extended breastfeeding but then most of my friends and family have kids that have all been breastfeed so I don't expect any negative comments.

Lol, I say I'm going to go to school and push my titties through the fence, that gets a laugh or 3 (and a few really???? looks, lol) I'm aiming for hopefully no longer than 2.5...

Wow, you are doing an amazing job keeping up with the bfing!

I love bfing, I really do. Keira was fed up untill 18 months and probably plan to do it about the same with Maddi. Its going to be a sad day when I have to stop.

With Keira I had never even thought of giving her formula so she was only ever breastfed untill 1 and then we slowly introduced cows milk. By that stage I decided it was easier to just feed at home as she would never sit still enough for me to keep discrete. By about 18 months we were down to just one 'comfort' feed at 4am and it was getting tiring not being able to have a full night sleep. One morning I just decided not to feed her and she went back to sleep and never woke for it again.
If I even mention the fact she used to feed from me now she gets all grossed out and embarrassed.

It was great for loosing all that extra pregnancy weight too, just a shame I ended up loosing my boobs as well

*bump*
Charlotte likes to get up on my knee at the moment and "assume the position" lol.
I'm thinking about weaning, have been for a bit, on and off. Part of me would finish tomorrow if she would have a bar of it, but (the bigger) part of me wants to do it forever, then she is still my baby....

good thread girls!

I'm still feeding Anyssa, and for the last couple of weeks we've been down to just morning and night. She hasn't missed her lunchtime feed at all.

I'm not sure when I'll cut another feed down, but at the moment I'm happy to carry on like this I'm wearing normal bras and can wear anything I like without having to worry about boob access - that is great. I'm also still losing weight without dieting or doing much exercise, so I think the bf is helping.

On the advice of MonicaMouse I've decided to continue to "go with the flow" about how long to feed. She still loves it first thing in the morn, but is sometimes more interested in her books before bed, so I'll take her lead.

Very cute about the bubbas that get their toys to snuggle in for a feed!

DP would probably prefer if we stopped bf soon. He thinks it is a bit "sick" when we're all in our bed in the morning and she lifts up my PJs and latches herself on.

ETA- Its good to have this support here - most of my coffee group seems to be weaning just because everyone else is, and it seems to be the norm. I've just read "what to expect, the toddler years (the 12mth section) and it strongly advocates stopping bf at 12 mths, but the reasons it gives are very unconvincing!

Edited by DJ

OK here goes. Heavily paraphrased coz it's long:

From pages 31-32, What to expect, the toddler years:
1If you don't initiate weaning, your child will be rushing home from school for a snack at the boobie

2.Most paediatricians recommend weaning at a year because:
a) the child has already gotten optimum benefit from bf, and will be easier to wean at one than 2
b) milk cannot meet nutritional needs alone
c) milk pooling in the mouth can cause tooth decay
d) reduces appetite for solids
e)mothers spend so much time bfing that they forget to play games with child etc
f) feeding lying down causes ear infections
g)toddler and mother become overdependant on each other (and cut Dad out of the picture)
h) baby won't learn to self-comfort (from hurt etc) if they are used to getting boobie
i) effect on spousal relationship - it says that bf may satisfy your emotional and physical need for closeness and deminish your interest in sex

I've run out of time for a response to all that, but "whatever" pretty much sums it up....

That is appalling!

OMG I can't believe someone would write those stupid reasons. At first I thought they were just funny, but now I am actually really annoyed, coz some people are going to read the book and actually believe what the author is saying.

DJ wrote: OK here goes. Heavily paraphrased coz it's long: From pages 31-32, What to expect, the toddler years: 1If you don't initiate weaning, your child will be rushing home from school for a snack at the boobie 2.Most paediatricians recommend weaning at a year because: a) the child has already gotten optimum benefit from bf, and will be easier to wean at one than 2 b) milk cannot meet nutritional needs alone c) milk pooling in the mouth can cause tooth decay d) reduces appetite for solids e)mothers spend so much time bfing that they forget to play games with child etc f) feeding lying down causes ear infections g)toddler and mother become overdependant on each other (and cut Dad out of the picture) h) baby won't learn to self-comfort (from hurt etc) if they are used to getting boobie i) effect on spousal relationship - it says that bf may satisfy your emotional and physical need for closeness and deminish your interest in sex I've run out of time for a response to all that, but "whatever" pretty much sums it up....

What a load of cockamamie! Is it an american book???

Yeah, it is an American book (this is the Australian addition). It is 1994, so the latest version might be different. The book is part of the "What to expect when you're expecting" series.