https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:52:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1818354 Fri, 15 Aug 2014 14:30:02 +0000 Giulia1977 1818354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If both you and the baby are happy why not? :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1811864 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 13:06:15 +0000 fairy 1811864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kept breastfeeding (LO is 14 months) because my daughter still nurses to sleep for all naps and bed and at this point she signs "milk" whenever she wants it, so I know she still wants to nurse. I love the nursing cuddles and it is nice to not worry about feeding her other milk and great that she still gets the health benefits of breastmilk. I know she wont always want to cuddle with me so I am soaking it up!</p> <p>It is really annoying when people/family comment on my continued nursing but it's none of their business! I just let them know that it really isn't a strange thing and that it is recommended to continue as long as mutually enjoyable. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1811588 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:44:43 +0000 swurlygurl 1811588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To save money on cow's milk?! Haha. DH's family would totally accept that response over anything else.<br /> Making it past a year wasn't even close to an option for us, but I hope it will be for this baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1811569 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:36:48 +0000 regberadaisy 1811569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO wasn't any where near ready to stop so I did not have the heart to end it. And DH &amp; I had agreed 2 was our max.</p> <p>My mom asked when I was going to stop when LO was FOUR months old. 4. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1808638 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:32:44 +0000 Adira 1808638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No one really asked me, probably because after 12 months, I was only nursing first thing in the morning, so no one really knew I was still doing it. But if people asked, I would've said we were going to continue until he self-weaned, which he did at 14.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1808591 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 05:34:19 +0000 Pumuckl 1808591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to just say that he wasn't ready to quit and I didn't mind it. Before he was a year I used to say that I wouldn't start making bottles NOW this far in. .. </p> <p>I don't know why people care so da** much about it. It ain't nobody's business but mine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1808518 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:22:22 +0000 Sapphiresun 1808518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually just say I'm planning to do it until she self-weans. We just hit a year old, and I'd say the last three months people have been inquiring. </p> <p>Or if I'm in a joking mood I say I don't want to have to start making bottles in the middle of the night, and having to give up the extra cookie calories I "earn" by still nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1808490 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 23:28:16 +0000 birdofafeather 1808490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i kept going because we wanted to and had no reason to stop! she still felt little, i wasn't inconvenienced by it and it was part of our bonding. like @arden: said too, i wasn't as worried about her food intake because i felt like breast milk evened it all out!</p> <p>now that we're done at 18 months, i miss it sometimes, but i do get so many cuddles! i was worried about sleep issues (definitely in the "throw a boob at it" camp like @grizz: ), but we got past those about a month before we fully weaned and it's been great since! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1808104 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:36:59 +0000 bpcmarj 1808104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: the boob is the ultimate back to sleep aid. It still works for us at 27 months!!</p> <p>I kept going because WHO recommends it and because she really, really does not want to stop! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1807831 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 11:00:58 +0000 kml636 1807831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AmeliaBedilia: I'm definitely going to use that line! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1807759 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 09:10:27 +0000 avivoca 1807759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: All hail the mighty sleep inducing boob! I tell my husband all the time that I don't know what I'm going to do when I can't just throw a boob at her when she's fussing/tired/sick/teething. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1807745 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 08:32:54 +0000 lovehoneybee 1807745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My long-term goal was a year, and anything past that was lagniappe. Good for him, good for me, why wouldn't I? He weaned at 15m because he had his first cold and was too congested to latch on properly, and I wasn't pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1807740 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 08:26:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1807740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- it's the healthiest choice for her (they can't really argue cows milk is better than mothers milk)<br /> - it's working for us<br /> - why does it concern you? </p> <p>I usually just left things vague, it's healthy, it's working and until either of those things change we will continue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1807691 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 06:46:18 +0000 honeybear 1807691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>'Because your grandchild is going to be a genius.' ;)</p> <p>In reality, I trotted out the WHO recs and explained that so far, the immunity-building benefits seemed to be working for us. We went nearly 2.5 years and he only got Roseola that entire time, there was not even a cold apart from that. </p> <p>Regarding weight gain, it didn't happen to me, and I think that's because LO self-weaned very gradually. I wouldn't stress about it if you go slowly. I never gained anything back and the point at which he slowed down on the BFing coincided with the point at which he was way more active, so I naturally started getting a lot more exercise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year/page/2#post-1807681 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 06:04:39 +0000 Dandelion 1807681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No one asked me why with D, but I probably would have told them MYOB. I know my MIL will wonder with M. I'll tell her the same (but nicer). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807680 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 06:03:45 +0000 Dandelion 1807680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I lost weight after weaning D. My metabolism slowed while I was bfing. Once I weaned, my body was no longer hanging on to every calorie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807641 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:21:32 +0000 lemondrop 1807641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got the same questions at a year- that was my original goal, so then everyone and their next door neighbor wanted to know when I was going to wean. </p> <p>I was not emotionally ready to wean at 12 months and neither was my little guy. He was still very much a baby at that age and we were both enjoying it. We reduced feedings from 12-18 months since I wanted to get pregnant again, and like a light switch, I was DONE when I got pregnant again and weaned at 19 months (9 weeks pregnant). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807638 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:03:37 +0000 Applesandbananas 1807638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cite the WHO recommendation and kind of harshly, in a tone that really lets the asker know I'm not entertaining any debate about it. If they're really pushy, I tell them it's the best decision for my family and leave the conversation.</p> <p>My extended family was really unsupportive about breastfeeding from the get go so I'm kind of used to the bs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807637 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:00:32 +0000 Mrs.Lilac 1807637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://m.parenting.com/entry/view/id/39726" rel="nofollow">http://m.parenting.com/entry/view/id/39726</a></p> <p>This is a very interesting article. I'm currently pregnant with my first but when I told my husband I plan to do extended BFing he thought I was crazy so I just told him a fee of these proven medical benefits. He is fine about it now. People are so ride about it though. It is none of there business! Makes me defensive already about potential criticism! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807628 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 00:14:11 +0000 JMOM 1807628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I weaned both kids around 14-15 months. The first time was so I could get my period back so we could try for another baby. The second was just more of a matter of convenience for me. He was fine stopping and i just kind of wanted my body back. I'm glad I made it that long and I thankfully never had anyone ask me why I kept on as long as I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807626 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 00:10:29 +0000 Grace 1807626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far, it's easy and I've got no reason to stop. And yeah, Grizz's point about the MOTN magic trick is actually a great reason to keep going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807617 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 23:38:37 +0000 daniellemybelle 1807617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope LO nurses past 1 year. If she does, and if anyone questions it, I will tell them that the WHO recommends nursing until 2, and that LO &amp; I are happy doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807590 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 23:07:09 +0000 ElbieKay 1807590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: haha, I have no problem telling family to MYOB! Just say that and change the subject! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807567 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:25:53 +0000 MoonMoon 1807567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: haha, this could actually be the prefect way to deflect questions! People would be expecting you to wax rhapsodic about health and nutrition and bonding with your baby, but you'd be all nope! I want to stay skinny! That'd shut people up :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807564 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:23:00 +0000 Kemma 1807564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: my weight gain started at around twelve months pp :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807563 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:18:06 +0000 Foodnerd81 1807563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: I will freely admit I'm not looking forward to the weight gain aspect of weaning! I get to eat extra and I weigh a lot less than pre preg! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807558 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:10:06 +0000 Kemma 1807558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: all hail the boobs and their magic sleep-inducing properties!!</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: fwiw, A is almost 22 months and hardly ever nurses away from home (unless we're out all day) so people might not even realise you're still nursing! You could always be all non-committal and just say that you're working on weaning which is true because your LO won't nurse forever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807553 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:00:55 +0000 MoonMoon 1807553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everything everyone has already said! I usually start with the WHO recommendations, but no one has really bothered me too much.</p> <p>At this point, I couldn't even imagine weaning-our entire system of naps, night sleep, soothing, etc. is based on nursing! I'm perfectly happy to let LO take the lead, especially because it let's me be so relaxed about everything else he is or isn't eating and drinking!</p> <p>**ugh, and if I want to be perfectly honest, I don't look forward to the weight gain that I'm pretty sure would accompany weaning...not that I'd ever admit that to anyone!** </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807552 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:00:20 +0000 ALV91711 1807552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: "No one is taking my easy go-back-to-sleep crutch from me! I like to throw a boob at all our sleep problems. It works and I'm not messing with it."</p> <p>Love it!</p> <p>I tell people that it is what works and it is recommended until at least 2 and we are just playing it by ear how long we'll go. Luckily I haven't encountered this too much, especially now that we nurse mostly just morning and night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-do-did-you-breastfeed-past-a-year#post-1807541 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 21:50:58 +0000 Periwinkle 1807541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get this all the time. While I generally only nurse LO at night now (21 months old), I can't tell you how many times a week people ask me "how's the weaning going?" I tried to wean him around 19 months (he was not interested in the slightest) and now I've sort of made peace with the fact that it makes him happy, it's still a nice bond for us, and that I also still really enjoy it. It's had to explain this to other people, but the fact that you're enjoying it (as is your LO!) should be enough, even if others don't fully understand. </p>