BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Breastfeeding At what age do you think a child should wean?

At what age do you think a child should wean from the breast?

When the child is ready. Anyone who has been around babies and children realizes that they don't all come in the "one size fits all" variety!

Some may wean sooner, and some may wean later.

Any pediatrician worth his salt will recommend breastfeeding for at least a year.

With all 3 of my children I had completely different experiences.

My oldest nursed for about 6 months before I started to dyr up - but I blame a lot of this on my family (not husband but mom and dad). They were so completely against nursing, because they didn't do it; and would sabotage me every chance they got. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Unfortunately I was only 20 at the time, and did not have much knowledge myself, so let them influence me.

By the time my daughter came along 6 years later, however; i had done lots of research and had grown in my own confidence. She nursed for a year (despite nasty comments from my family) - and i still feel this was my "perfect" nursing experience.

My last child, I was very sick with. And many of my medications tended to make him unhappy (thrush, stomachaches, colicky). Plus I was so exhausted from all that had happened, that it was too hard to pump and nurse to increase my milk supply. He wound up weaning at about 4 months (and i still fell bad about it!)

I think a year is a great period of time. After that, they are starting to become more independent - and can go on milk and so many other nutritious foods, that it doesn't really hurt them nutrionally.

I know it differs, but when they are up running and talking it may be time to consider the cup... I've been to the mall when a woman was breastfeeding her child, had to be about 5 or 6. Now, out in public on top of it all. Just did not seem appropriate, and he seemed way too old.

Interesting topic. Our grand-son has just turned 3 and is still breastfed. The reason being I think she is trying to keep him a baby as I do not think there will be another baby but doing so she is doing so much damage to that child. He has become so possessive, she can not do a think even go to the toilet with out him screaming the house down.

I think around a year is great. Can you imagine a 3 year old teeth.........OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 17 month old is still nursing and I'm delighted. So is her doctor. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Remember that the World Health Organization recommends 2 years! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Of course I believe ANY breastfeeding is better than none.

I plan to become a lactation consultant eventually but I need to be a counselor first. I need 2500 hours of experience before I can even take the test.

Everyone has their own oppinions about this, but to me, when a child is old enough to start verbally asking for some milk, it's time to hand him a cup. I chickened out of breastfeeding my twins because I just thought it would be too much for me and I was still working full-time at the time. I did pump breast milk for them for the first 3-4 months, but even that was difficult to keep up once I returned to work.

We're having a new baby in a few weeks and since I'm now a SAHM, I really want to breastfeed this one. My only consideration is that I have MS and my neurologist is going to want me to go back on medication as soon as I have this baby, but I can hold him off for at least 6 months. No one in my familiy breastfed, so I'll be the "odd" one, but I can hold them off too.

A year is plenty. Neither of my children went a year but then again they starved the first five months. Not sure what was going on. I had plenty of milk and they nursed constantly, they gained weight but they were always screaming........ until they started on solids at 5 months.

We didn't think they were starving at the time but as I look back I can't think why else they were screaming non stop.

Why do you think this?

Sounds like maybe some food allergies were going on??