*Spin Off* How young is too young to wean?

[MummaBear03]

For me anything under 2 would be too young. If a child of mine weaned before 2 I would use EBM in a cup and on cereal until 2, even if the child was not interested in feeding from the breast itself.

[Lillynix]

For me personally, anything under 18 months is too young.

[SuperGranny]

hi, I weaned my babies for different reasons at different ages. I didnt even think of 'baby led weaning', had never heard of it at the time I was bfing. My first I weaned at 9 mths, my twins I weaned at about 9 mths, and my last I weaned just short of 12 mths. They went straight to a cup, and straight onto normal cows milk, I never had any bottles or any formula. I was able to give any foods, no allergies. Marie.

[WorkingClassMum]

Ideally it'd be b/w 18 months and 2 years.

As for EBM - not all mummies can express

[Nowhere]

doesnt it depend on the baby I would of thought like anything it would be a thing to read the childs ques as apose to the whats whats of being a mum on a parenting forum or a out of a book.

Same as whens to old, i dont think there is a set age, I think ts should be the baby (or child) and tthe mum to asses there own situation

[MummaBear03]

Yep it does depend on the child, but according to all research 2 is the minimum age I would personally wean unless it was for a drastic reason like unable to tollerate breastmilk.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

I am the same.. I will leave it up to DS to wean after 2 but before then I would rather he didn't. Basically.

[NonnyMouse]

For me right now, anything before 1 is too young, although I intend breastfeeding DS until at least 2. If he had showed signs of wanting to wean before 1 I would have done everything in my power not to let him.

With DD she self weaned somewhere around 7-9 months and I felt this was way too young but didn't have the knowledge or support to keep her going.

[AM]

It's too young until they self wean.

[TeamAwesome]

I don't have a blanket cover though for me I've weaned as I've been pregnant with the next baby and m/s takes a lot out of me. I almost wasn't going to wean as soon as I got the BFP with this bub as DD1 I weaned when I was 4months pregnant however after losing our last bub I wanted to be in the best place I could be which turned out to be a good thing as I got hyperemesis and pregnancy induced hyperthyroidism, despite drinking 2L of water a day could and would get dehydrated fast had I been BFing I would not have been as well able to cope with what was happening not to mention would have affected my health on top of what was happening. Though DD2 was 26months when we weaned.

Also not all mums can express.

[Nowhere]

It's too young until they self wean.


I agee, well unles they are primary lactose intolerance ( not playing at t or over load) or unable to tolerate protien etc.

[Gabi]

I'd never thought about it.:o

I'm going to say about 9 months. This is the age most of my friends stopped feeding their babies, and the age I was when I weaned. I don't think this was 'too young'. I don't know that I'd want to stop then though, weaning is not on my horizon yet and DS is 22 months.

[CookiesRYum]

It too young if they still WANT to fed... I personally hope my kids won't self wean before 18mths..

but my nephew had enough by 9mths...

[Benji]

:yes: when bubs self-weans. 2 yo is the youngest I would *prefer* them to wean.

[Laksa]

My first son self-weaned at 13.5 months when I was pregnant, I felt it was too young. He wouldn't take EBM in a cup either...

My second is now almost 18 months and showing no signs of wanting to stop :)

[jade24]

I believe it's personal choice and whenever is right for the mother, or the child, then that is the right time to wean.
My DS1 self weaned at 11 months (but I persisted for another month) and then I weaned my next two children at 14 months. I am lucky enough to make plenty of milk, but when it comes to expressing :no: I've never been able to get anything out. Very frustrating, as this means I have to be with my children 24/7 until they are weaned. By 14 months, I am needing some 'me time'.

[Thermolicious]

I used to say this but emotionally feeding DS1 10 times a day is too much for me so I have dropped him down to 2-3 times a day.

Anything before 2 is too young for me, I would offer EBM until they were at least 2.5yrs.

[The Fox]

It's too young until they self wean.
:iagree: although I would really hope that it wouldnt be before 2 years old although I really dont think ill have that problem with my DS :laughing:

[Sheer Bliss]

I don't think there actually is a real answer for that for me. I could say that 6months is too young, but TBH I think it depends on individuals and their situation. For me personally, I think it's time to wean when mum and/or baby (ideally both at the same time, but we don't live in hypothetical land) are ready to wean, so I don't actually have a minimum age for it.

DD was weaned around 11months, I wanted to feed for longer, but feeding a baby in a hip-spica cast was logistically a nightmare, as was feeding her for the week she was in traction, so I expressed and fed her then. The stress also contributed to drop in supply, and then I returned to work. It was less than I had planned, but I don't think it was too young - if that makes any sense. My twins are older than that already, and no signs of weaning anytime soon. But my situation is different now.

TBH I honestly think that it's threads like this that contribute to the divide between formula and breastfeeding. What works for one family and baby may not work for another.

[MsMummy]

For me, I anticipate feeding my son until he's at least 2, which is less than 5 months away now.

I think 1 is a bit of an arbitrary age for weaning. You know, at 11 months they need breast milk, but magically don't at 12 months.

I actually don't know how I would wean my son anyway. He attacks me when I get home from work, and he still feeds overnight (and screams if he doesn't get his boob). I thought they just magically weaned, but I've realised that you actually have to actively wean them (eg. by giving them a substitute in a bottle).

[Gabi]

.

I actually don't know how I would wean my son anyway.
:laughing: Me too.

[MummaBear03]

For me, I anticipate feeding my son until he's at least 2, which is less than 5 months away now.

I think 1 is a bit of an arbitrary age for weaning. You know, at 11 months they need breast milk, but magically don't at 12 months.

I actually don't know how I would wean my son anyway. He attacks me when I get home from work, and he still feeds overnight (and screams if he doesn't get his boob). I thought they just magically weaned, but I've realised that you actually have to actively wean them (eg. by giving them a substitute in a bottle).

Nah, mine went from feeding many times a day (before and after work as much as she could fit in haha) to "I don't want it anymore" and "No thanks" every time I offered. I had to express in the shower because they got so full and she refused to have any more. She was 2.5 at the time though so we had a good run while it lasted.

[LilMissnBoo]

Anything before 6 months is too young.

DD1 self weaned at 17 months, I'm hoping to feed DD2 for as long, but she doesn't seem as attached to the boob as DD1 was, so I have a feeling she may self wean before then.....

[Fuchsia!]

Whenever. Each individual mothers situation is different. Ideally it would be 2yrs, but not everyone is able to do that due to many many reasons.

For myself my goal would be 1yrs old, if i went over it wouldn't be a big deal, but if i went under, again it would be a big deal.

Everyones different, including babies and i don't think i can put a rule on when everyone else should stop feeding.

[Tam-I-Am]

I would fight to keep a baby on the breast before 18 months. After that, I'd be a little sad, but more inclined to let the bfing relationship go.

[MsMummy]

Nah, mine went from feeding many times a day (before and after work as much as she could fit in haha) to "I don't want it anymore" and "No thanks" every time I offered. I had to express in the shower because they got so full and she refused to have any more. She was 2.5 at the time though so we had a good run while it lasted.

There's hope, then.:D I just can't bear the thought of having to refuse it to him one day.

[lozie2]

Whenever. Each individual mothers situation is different. Ideally it would be 2yrs, but not everyone is able to do that due to many many reasons.

For myself my goal would be 1yrs old, if i went over it wouldn't be a big deal, but if i went under, again it would be a big deal.

Everyones different, including babies and i don't think i can put a rule on when everyone else should stop feeding.

:iagree:
My goal was 3 months we are now at 1 yr,
why do bfing mums make bottle feeding mums feel useless! Sorry i have been criticized so much lately because i have decided to keep my morning feed only and give my DD a bottle of cows milk at night, this decision wasn't made lightly and im sick of being told i should keep feeding a child who isnt putting on sufficient weight or developing.
Sorry rant over!

(i am not having a dig at any1 here)

[MummaBear03]

:iagree:
My goal was 3 months we are now at 1 yr,
why do bfing mums make bottle feeding mums feel useless! Sorry i have been criticized so much lately because i have decided to keep my morning feed only and give my DD a bottle of cows milk at night, this decision wasn't made lightly and im sick of being told i should keep feeding a child who isnt putting on sufficient weight or developing.
Sorry rant over!

(i am not having a dig at any1 here)

I'm sorry you feel that way. It's not nice to be judged for feeding a baby the best way you can.

I started this because some people have such strong ideas on the upper limit and when it becomes unacceptable and some were even quite forceful with their views on how old too old is, so I thought I'd see if anyone had a minimum age. For me it would be 2, without any medical issues or anything. Of course, some things go wrong, so I'm thinking all going well, with an average baby/child, the minimum I'd feed to would be 2 years even if it meant only using EBM on cereal or something if self-weaning from the breast itself happened prior to that age. I don't have an upper limit.

[brogeybear]

I am the same.. I will leave it up to DS to wean after 2 but before then I would rather he didn't. Basically.

Thats how I feel. Definitely too young before 1 year old and pushing it before 18 months, but you cant force some bubbas I guess. I hope to feed my next one until at least 2 y/o and would fight to do it until 18 months. :o

[quitecontrary]

I fed my dd til she was about 21 months old, she decided that she had had enough as there wasn't that much there to interest her as I was about 6 months pg with ds by then. I had to let her self-wean as I did not have the strength to wean her myself. I felt that she would feel rejected if I weaned her just because I was pregnant. She was a lot more "addicted" to it than it seems my son is. In retrospect I could've stopped feeding her earlier in my pg, as it was extremely painful for me. I was going to tandem feed if she had kept wanting it though!

[ICanDream]

I don't think I can put an age on it. Personally I have had such a rough time feeding both my kids and then my health deteriorated and I had to wean DS at 10mths. It broke my heart but I had to put myself first or I wouldn't have been in any shape to do anything, let alone breastfeed.

With DD I am breastfeeding but again I have to see what my health does so every day that I get through is great. At nearly 5 months I would be heartbroken if I had to stop but if my health turns she will suffer a lot more from having a sick mum than being off the boob.

So I guess for me it's for however long I can hold my health out but hope for at least 12mths.

[Annabella]

I have always said at least til they are 12 months ( i noticed someone thought that was an arbitary age to say- not sure why?) with the hope I/they will want to go longer. With DD1, she was 13 months when she stopped b/f, she weaned herself but I was ready for it, I was really feeling like I needed my body back again, not sure why but prob coz of all the issues me and my husband were having at the time and I think I just felt so tired and used up, if that makes sense? As it turned out, she just stopped wanting it, I found out a couple of weeks later that I was pregnant again (so didn't get my body back after all!).

DD2 self weaned at about 16 months. Again, I was ok with it, not as ready as I was with DD1 but felt nice having my body to myself again.

I'm now b/f my DS. I plan to go to 12 months+ again, its up to him really. Although, with the girls I got my period back when they were 1, when I was only feeding twice a day. If he is feeding more often (they were sleeping through the night by now whereas he wants it during the night so I think he's more into it than them :)), is there a way to make yourself get your period back earlier? Just thinking if we have another one, I don't want to leave it too long?

[Looshkin]

I think the absolute bare minimum to aim for is 2 years.

Considering the world average weaning age is 4, I think often women confuse nursing strikes with self weaning, which is a pity because so much pressure is on women to stop once they hit 6 months - even bloody super nanny is on telly making mums feel bad for feeding their child in the normal biological way. I think it must be hard on women feeding 2 or 3 year olds out in public when their babe is hungry, and that makes me awfully sad. If the bare minimum to aim towards is less than the actual recomended minimum (who, unicef , aba etc) then the problem with large proportions of people being of the opinion that 12 months is just fine, and that anything on top of that is extra is that i believe it contributes to the lack of support of women doing full term breastfeeding (because 12 months is adequate and they are just doing it for themselves or something, right? etc ad nauseum)

At 2 years of age, 448 mL of breastmilk provides:

29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements

Which is heaps!

[MsMummy]

I have always said at least til they are 12 months ( i noticed someone thought that was an arbitary age to say- not sure why?) with the hope I/they will want to go longer. With DD1, she was 13 months when she stopped b/f, she weaned herself but I was ready for it, I was really feeling like I needed my body back again, not sure why but prob coz of all the issues me and my husband were having at the time and I think I just felt so tired and used up, if that makes sense? As it turned out, she just stopped wanting it, I found out a couple of weeks later that I was pregnant again (so didn't get my body back after all!).

DD2 self weaned at about 16 months. Again, I was ok with it, not as ready as I was with DD1 but felt nice having my body to myself again.

I'm now b/f my DS. I plan to go to 12 months+ again, its up to him really. Although, with the girls I got my period back when they were 1, when I was only feeding twice a day. If he is feeding more often (they were sleeping through the night by now whereas he wants it during the night so I think he's more into it than them :)), is there a way to make yourself get your period back earlier? Just thinking if we have another one, I don't want to leave it too long?

I said it seemed strange to nominate 12 months. I don't see why 12 months has any more significance than 15 months or 2 years. Most babies won't wean themselves at 12 months, so why is it the accepted age to wean?

I agree with Looshkin entirely, and particularly about the nursing strikes. My son had a nursing strike at 3 months of age. A friend (who has 4 children and has breastfed them all to varying degrees) suggested he was weaning, and that's what her son did. When I explained about nursing strikes, she realised that is happened with her son but she had just never heard of them.

[kuddles]

I believe that BF is a very personal thing filled with very real struggles and outside influences.

DS has loved BF since day 1 however it took him along time to work it out. He was a windy bub but responded very well to BF. I started off with small goals because BF for me was hard and painful especially when DS started teething at 3 months and had 2 teeth by 4 months. I saw and talked to everyone I could. So my first goal was 3 months and then 4 months. Then 6 months, 8 months and 12 months. Now that DS is one I will try and BF through winter to build up immunity and then I will see where I go from there.

[Hollywood]

In ideal circumstances, 2 is the minimum that I would wean and future babies, and I am still breastfeeding DS who is 3 and a quarter. I am letting DS self wean when he's ready, but with future babies I will just wait and see how I feel at the 2 year mark as to whether I want to keep going (may well have had enough by then!)