Extended breastfeeding

Hehe, I had the "you're STILL breastfeeding?!" comment from a midwife at the hospital on Sunday while visiting a friend and her newborn. I just said "she's not even 1 yet" then the midwife said "good on you" so I guess she was just asking, not judging. Chelsea still BFs 3 times a day and once or twice overnight

eden was havig the same amount at 1yr as 1 month.

My girl is 15mths, sleeping through at night but having on average 6-12 feeds during the day (I don't count, but sometimes I feel like all she wants from me is milk!). I am quite relieved to read flutterbys post that hopefully she might cut down sometime soon...

Pfewwww, so relieved to hear that more babies are feeding quite often.
It just didn't feel right to suddenly restrict feeds after I've been BF on demand all year.
Wow Cuppatea, 2-4 feeds a day, that sounds nice. Don't really see that happening anytime soon though.Today it felt like she was tapping my chest ALL day long (her indication she wants a feed). Often she just wants a quick snack.

Hi, I'll be joining in here soon too! Lydia is still demand fed, anywhere from 4-10 BF's a day and once over night. I have no plans to stop any time soon! I normally feed her at home, usually after she wakes up from a sleep but also for comfort (usually after she's jammed fingers in something or similar! Not every time, but when nothing else helps), and when she crawls over and starts burrowing into my chest...

I am personally of the opinion that Plunket has no idea what they're talking about, and I only go to appointments to get her book filled out. Most people I've come across are really supportive of extended BFing, although maybe it will change after she turns 1!

Geez I was told at 9 months 5-7 feeds was to many and to cut down to 3

Funnily enough he cut down on his own to 3 day feeds and one night feed although not every night.

They are all so different... Plunket can only go by the guidelines that MOH give them....

I am already getting looks when i feed him in public and he is the size of your average 6 month old LOL

He is quite small, but he gets off the boob and walks off, makes him look even older than he is. Is not that often that I end up feeding him in public though and mostly I only do it if he really really wants a feed, cos if he would just kind of like one then he normally ends up faffing about cos he wants to see what else is going on around him.

Melnel, he did the exact same thing, just sorted it out himself, they know what they are doing. Plunket should just tell mums to trust the lead of the baby if you ask me.

Edited by two_boys

I planned to stop at 12 months with James...so at 11 months I started trying cows milk and different sippy cups etc. Nup....didnt happen and what do ya know....we've passed 12 months and I dont see it stopping any time soon.

I was also in the "if he can ask for it by name , he's too old camp" but meh, I dont care now.

I dont feed in public for 3 reasons a) James wont feed with ANY distractions b) all his feeds are pre sleeps and c) it stops people looking at me funny or asking questions. When James needs a sleep I just excuse myself to his room to "put him to sleep". Who knows what i get up to

He's currently on 3-4 feeds during the day and maybe 1 overnight. But it varies depending on when he wakes and what we do. If we are out and about he skips it.

I'd love to get to just morning and night but I need to come up with another strategy for getting him to sleep.

I have actually been wondering if he even NEEDS it from a nutritional point of view these days or is he just comfort sucking.....he never took a dummy like his brother...I guess I was his "dummy"

I'll join in here too. I remember being about 7mths pregnant at a friends for a barbeque and we were all discussing extended BFing - all were in the 'once they walk & talk they're far too old for boob' camp.. including myself!
But I honestly love BFing DD. It's comforting for both of us and I love having the one on one time with her. So as she approaches 10mths, my initial plan to wean her at 1 has been revisited and I've decided to just see how things go.
Most people are really surprised that we're still going. DH isn't too pleased about me feeding her as a toddler, but too god dang bad!
Oh and Plunket - my nurse is fantastic, she thinks it's great that everything is going well, my Karitane Nurse on the other hand, has repeatedly informed me that more than 4 feeds per 24hours after baby turns 6mths is TOO MANY - So like SquishysMum, I only go to get the book filled out.

So in summary, still demand feeding, anywhere between 4-8 sometimes 10 feeds per day. Great to see lots of others doing the same

It is a comfort thing when they get older.
I have found my daughter is a lot easier to say no to as she has gotten older. She is 20 months old & still has 3 or 4 feeds a day on an average day.
Generally first thing in the morning she will climb out of her bed & come for a feed, then after lunch & before bed are the normal times. Occasionally she will fit in an extra feed in there somewhere but thats fine by me as she normally sleeps a good 10-12 hours at night. I make sure she gets plenty of dinner & a nice warm bath before having a quick feed before bed has really helped with getting her to sleep all night, but all my kids have been good sleepers so I think its just in her nature to do so