This is my first post here on BB in such a long time. My DD Eva will be 3 in Feb '11.
Every day I am questioning whether I want to continue BFing her.... She absolutely loves it, and would have boob 6 times a day if I would let her... but at the moments its nighttime before bed, and in the mornings when she crawls into my bed.
As Eva gets older, I'm finding I am losing my confidence WRT being open to others about still BF her... and I'm fairly sure that once she's 3, I won't be admitting to anyone that she is still BF. Not that I think there is anything wrong with it... but just to avoid the questions and comments of those that don't (want to) understand.
I also think I am at the point where I get really frustrated/irritated with her BFing... I sort of feel like I just want myself back... but I dont know if that should outweigh her wants/needs??
Are there any others out there still BFing at this age, and how are you finding it? Do you wish your child would wean, or do you want to wean them? Or are you happy to continue as long as they want?
I am still breastfeeding my 3 year old but now that I am pregnant I think she will wean soon, actually I hope so as it is ouchy to feed whilst pregnant for me. I find that I am not telling many people that I still feed, she knows she only gets it before bed now, though I think she would have it 6 times a day if I let her as well.
Ambah, I bf Lucy until she was 4. She self-weaned, although I think she'd have come back if I hadn't discouraged it weeks later. She still reminds me how much she likes boobie!
At 3 she was bfing twice a day, morning and night. I cut out the night time one at about 3 1/2 because she was using it to delay bedtime more than anything. There were no dramas. I was very happy to stay with the morning one until she weaned, it meant she'd snuggle in bed with me and go back to sleep (I am not an early morning person ).
I told many people I was still bfing her while I was and TBH I didn't get any negative feedback. Mostly it was my family and other preschool mums. Some were surprised, but most were quite positive. And I had a walking example of the benefits - she never had a single sick day from preschool until two weeks after she weaned.
BTW I was completely sick of bfing about three months before she weaned. Hence the reason I didn't let her come back. For me, the sleeping in continued to outweigh my fed-upedness for a few more months.
yep we are still feeding here. We feed mainly at 'dawn' which is anywhere from about 3am and as we co-sleep I don't really know how often he feeds between then and when we get up between 6.30am to 7.30am but I think it would be at least twice. We were feeding more often and have within the last 2 mnths cut out an afternoon feed and before bed feed.
I had plans to wean DS now (OH is away for 3 weeks cause I know there will be tears and OH can't handle it) but he has been sick and he had a few days where he fed through the day. When he asks for it through the day I mostly try distraction but if he sick then I will feed him.
I find I don't have to tell anyone I am still feeding as it happens when it doesn't affect anyone else but I brace myself if I do JIC I get negative feedback.
DS loves his 'boo' and because he isn't feeding as often as he would like (he too would feed heaps if I let him) he often wants to cuddle them and even pretends to feed from them which I am happy to let him do cause it's the transition for us and he did get a lot of comfort from them. I am mostly happy to follow his lead and keep feeding for as long as he wants but I am hoping he is ready to stop when he turns 3.
Thanks heaps for the responses everyone!!.. its reassuring to know that there are others out there reaching the 3yo milestone as well.. My GP thinks the fact that I still BF is pretty much unheard of, which I find interesting. Its funny... I always said I would probably wean Eva by 2yrs... then it turned into 2.5, and now I tell myself 3. I just am not sure that if I follow her lead it will happen anytime soon, and I really think that *I* am ready for it to happen soon. I like the idea of a gentle transition, so I may have to really think creatively, as DD is very strong willed, and I really don't want us to argue about her having 'boo', or have her crying or tantruming about it... I know thats not fair, I can see what a comfort thing it is for her.
DS1 is 28 months old and still going strong!! I cant see him wanting to wean anytime soon, somedays he wants to feed more than DS2!!!! I do have days of wishing he would wean but he loves it so much and I enjoy feeding him mostly just not when he harrasses me too many times in a day!
BellyBelly Life Member
How many people are still BFing over 2.5yr olds?
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