We had a women in the office I worked at who breastfed her child until he was 3.

At least a year is considered the best, but every mom and every baby are different. If you enjoy it, are capable, and the baby takes to it then that's wonderful and you should do it as long as you are comfortable. However, if for some reason it doesn't work out then don't feel guilty. There are plenty of formula fed babies who grow up perfectly healthy. It is suggested you try for at least a month though.

I only breast fed my second child two weeks, and she turned out to be my healthiest, and had the best teeth out of all my children. Good luck, it really is a personal choice. Any breast milk for a baby at the beginning is great. Do it if it feels right to you.

I breastfed my son till he was 15 months old. At 12 months, I cut down to one feeding a day, since he was getting whole milk, too. I would breastfeed him first thing in the mornings, and then the day he turned 15 months, I just stopped it completely. He did just fine, and it didn't hurt me at all to dry up after that.

That is entirely up to you and your baby.

When my oldest was born, I breast fed for about 2 days. She was nursing for about an hour at a time and was only taking about an hour break and wanting back on the breast again. After 2 days of that, my husband told me to put her on formula. He was afraid that if I wasn't getting sleep, I would get sick and that wouldn't do her any good. As soon as we switched her to formula, she was content and would sleep 3-4 hours in between bottles.

When my second one was born, I again attempted breastfeeding and this time everything went smooth. I weaned her after about a month because I had to go back to work. I wish that I had stuck with it longer and pumped at work. But that is all in hind sight now.

The biggest thing is, don't let anyone tell you that your baby is too old to breastfeed. There is nothing wrong with a child still breastfeeding when they are 18 months - 2 years old. That is a wonderful bonding time between mother and child. You do what is right for you and your baby.

iluvandy wrote:

QUOTE:
I have heard of people breast feeding up to a year old! I couldn't do that because of their teeth!

My daughters teeth really are not a problem. She started biting me well before she had teeth, but it was pretty easy to get her to stop. She didn't know she was doing anything wrong, she was just testing things out.