At what age did u stop breastfeeding ur child?

Question

I was watching the Tyra Banks show and she was interciewing a british woman who still breastfeeds her 8 yr old daughter"!!! And they showed a tape of the mother breastfeeding the 8yr old..it was the most disturbing thing I´ve ever seen. The is alsmost sexual harrassment against the child to basically force an a big 8 yr gil to to suck on the mother´s breast..And the kid was huge!! She was even taller than the mother!! nuff said..what u age u stop beastfeeind ur child?..

Answer 1

I have four children.  They weaned themselves at 16, 17, 15, and 13 months.  I'm willing to nurse up to their 2nd birthday, but that hasn't happened.  They all weaned during my first trimester of pregnancy with their younger sibling, so it's possible there was a milk supply reduction.  Or maybe they would have weaned then anyway.

Answer 2

6 months. I personally think anything longer than 12 months is too long, they bite.

Answer 3

Breastfeeding should stop when either mother or child decides to stop.  If the 8yo was forced, then, yes, it was abuse.  

I nursed until just after 1yo with both of mine.  Would have gone longer if the milk supply had stayed, but it didn't.

Answer 4

I stopped at 6 mos.  I heard of women that do that--and their reasoning was for nutrious needs and bonding. But to each its own.  You do what is healthy for you and your child--every family is different.

Answer 5

I nursed each of my three children. They, however, chose when to stop nursing.

They all signaled on their own when they were ready to end the nursing stage. Mostly when they began to refuse the breast, or even turn away from just after a few minutes of nursing then they may be showing that they are ready for the next stage. Most was after about 4-6mths.

Some do it long after their child had grown teeth, if you can handle the pain of them biting during their teething stages them great for you.

good luck.

Answer 6

2.5 with both.  Why?  Because they still can't communicate like a normal child would, and when they are sick I know that I can give them something that will help them feel and get better.

Once they stopped showing interest, I stopped.

Jessla...That is not true.  Cows milk does not have the natural anti-bodies that are SPECIFIC to the child that breast milk does, nor does it change as the child does.

Answer 7

I stopped at 14 months. He was ready and I was ready.

Answer 8

3 days. it grossed me out

Answer 9

I stopped breast feeding my 1st 3 days before his 1st b-day. My daughter turned a year old July 11th and she is still breast feeding not as much, but mostly at night. I think anything over 2 is weird. 8 is really over the top. LOL

Answer 10

Bfing an 8 yo is SUPER creepy.  *shivers*  

I nursed my daughter until she was 21.5 months.  Other people thought that was maybe too long, but it was none of their business.  I wouldn't be able to breastfeed a child my daughter's age now (2.5), but I would be ok with going to 2 or a month after that.

Answer 11

The AAP recommends a minimum of 12 months, while the WHO recommends a minimum of 24 months.  Both agree that nursing should continue as long as Mom and Baby both want.  And that's just what we did in my house - my son self - weaned at 15 months.  There were no tears, no stress from weaning - it was just a relaxed, natural process.  Still, I wouldn't have dreamed of nursing an 8 - year - old.  If my son still wanted to nurse at that age, I think I'd seek help from a professional.

As a side note, if that child continues to nurse, how is she going to rebel as a teenager - by drinking a carton of cow's milk instead of attaching her 14 - year - old self to her mother's teat?  I also wonder how much guff the other kids gave that poor girl at school when they saw her on TV.

*ETA* Rachel is right - it's completely untrue that they need to be weaned when they get teeth.  It's impossible to bite while actually nursing, and they quickly learn not to nip afterward.  Yes, my nipples are still intact.  =)

Answer 12

everyone to their own. it is not effecting anyone and she does not force her 8 year old to feed. You may not agree with it but they are happy. How can it be sexual harrassment when it has nothing to do with s*x. It is peverted minds that link it to something sexual.

Mine by the way were 2.5yrs old. And contrary to the person above said.. Mine never bit

Answer 13

when there 13 is a good age

Answer 14

I stopped at 5 weeks because it was so emotionally draining for me to breastfeed and my daughter was thriving while being formula fed.  I would have done it longer if it had worked out better.  I think every child should have the opportunity to breastfeed in the beginning.  I would have definately stopped by the time my child was walking and could demand the breast.  That is just me.  Here comes the thumbs down, but seriously I would feel like a freak if it went on any longer.  On top of that the nutritional value of it is not greater than that of regular milk after the child is a year old.

Answer 15

My kids were 13mo and 15mo, but thinking back I wishe it was a bit longer.  It is such a special close bond with ur child that I really miss it.  I think 8 is a bit over the top myself but I don't see it as abuse.  That duo probably need to get some help with attachment issues though! By that age the nutritional value is minimal anyway, most of the childs diet is thru her food, and the immune properties r not really necessary unless the child had some severe health issues.