10 months and already being hounded about quitting nursing

[mbeare]

My daughter is almost 10 months old and EVERYONE keeps asking me when I'm going to wean her. They all encourage me to stop at a year (none of them have ever breastfed) and for sure by 18 months. I'm not feeling like I want to stop at a year. I enjoy the bonding we have. My sister in law bf until her daughter was 3 and this didn't go over to well with the rest of the family. I've done some research and try explaining to them but they all seem to have their minds made up. Plus, we just moved to the area and I haven't made any friends yet so they are my only real social interaction. Feeling frustrated and bossed around!

[Jacksmommy]

Don't let it get to you. I used to get the question a lot. I sometimes still get little nudges that I should wean. My son is 3 now. I'll nurse him til he's ready to stop.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Tell them all to stuff it.

Your baby, your boobs, your business. Plain and simple.

[kohlby]

With DS, I got the questions a lot from 9-18 months. Then they gave up. He's almost 5 and still nursing. No one bothered to ask me about when DD was going to wean at any point since they knew better! She's 2.

I'd just let them know that you're comfortable with it and feel the benifits are worth it. When people ask me when I'm going to wean, I tell them that I'll know when we're there.

[mbeare]

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm new to this site; it's nice to hear from like minded people.

[BoobySnacks]

I got the same grief with DD when she was about six months old and it continued until she was about 3 years old. I guess they shut up then because they figured I was going to bf her until she went to college. Funny thing is, she self weaned right about the time people stopped buggin me at just after 3 yrs old. I havent heard much this time and DS is almost 10 months old and still breastfeeding like a champ. I have gotten a couple of "your not going to breastfeed him as long as you did Sami are you?" but for the most part, they are probably just assuming I will. I saw, who cares what other people think, you know what your dd thinks and that is all that matters :)

[Elizabethdaisy]

Tell them all to stuff it.

Your baby, your boobs, your business. Plain and simple.


this. I have been getting this alot since kyler is almost one and still breastfeeding. he doesnt really eat anything else so I dont see stopping anytime soon. good luck.

[StElmosFire]

Tell them all to stuff it.

Your baby, your boobs, your business. Plain and simple.

This is what I have done. :hugegrin:

[oomaumau04]

Just wanted to offer a little more encouragement. I know how you feel; I have no like-minded friends or family in the area where I live, and I've gotten the "you're going to want to wean now that she's getting teeth" excuse already. (My dd is only 7 months old.) I'm almost afraid of what it will be like once we pass a year, if, God willing, we're still nursing. But I KNOW it's worth it. DD loves to nurse, and I do too. It is great for her and that's all that matters. Keep it up! You're doing a great job with your baby. :)

[momofboys]

Please dont let people encourage you to stop breastfeeding. My family was the same way, trying to encourage me to wean my son when he turned a year old.(none of them breastfed either) It made me mad. I told them when he and I both were ready than it will happen. Until then, let us be. He weaned himself at 14 months, he is 17 months now. I loved nursing my son and I still miss it at times. Dont let people get to you. Weaning you child too early could cause emotional problems with you and your daughter. Let her decide when she is ready to wean. Good-luck and GOD-BLESS

[bdbutterfly]

My 1 year old is breast feeding only and my family is starting to drive me insane but at the end of the day, like the other girl said my baby, my boobs... So you go on doing what you're doing...

[mamapowell]

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/barmjohnson/Blinkies/Breastfeeding/stillbreastfeeding.gifhttp://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/lngroads2u/Proud.jpg

[stephie]

I agree with everyone this question helped me. My boss said yesterday when I told her I was going to pump, "your still nursing? Isn't she a year old?" She had a look on her face that I should have stopped along time ago. I said "she is almost 11 months, not even ready for cows milk yet. How is that unusual? I chose to breastfeed, if I wasn't she would still be getting formula wouldn't she?" I don't get it she even breastfeed all 5 of her kids for 6 months then she stopped. But she should now how great a successful breastfeeding experience feels. And the benefits are out of this world for a mother.

[mbeare]

I just don't understand people some times! I told my family that's been hassling me that I plan on introducing my daughter to a sippy cup more after she turns a year old but I'm going to let her decide when she's ready to wean. I also ordered the book How Weaning Happens. Good luck with the boss! :)

[mbeare]

I told them I have a plan and it could change. I am forever changing because I am forever educating myself! They'll deal with it :)

[mbeare]

In my head that's kind of how it will work for us. I'll introduce her to a sippy cup more (she has one at each of her meals three times a day) and slowly but surely she will wean and I will be a sad, sad mess! :( But, like a friend of mine said "You'll have other babies that you get to nurse"....so I guess there is that to look forward to. My babies always seem to grow up faster than I want them too!!

[stephie]

I am the same way I am going to be heart broken when I stop nursing. I have even gone as far as thinking I can pump and donate or put the milk in her cereal. I don't know what I will miss the bond and cuddle time or the lactating, I will miss the big boobs for sure, I love the fact that I have cleavage now and my shirts look right without padded or push up bras. But I think I will just miss the lactating part. Is that weird or what..But my kiddo is only 11 months and we are not stopping anytime soon, But I think about it alot now that all the questions on when I am going to stop are pouring in.

[kelleywin]

You may regret "forcing" your babe to wean b/c of other's opinions...you'll never regret not "forcing" your babe to wean.

[Babyhellfire]

the honest answer: "When she is ready"

..and then ,really you don't even have to tell people she is nursing past 1 or two or so(assuming you aren't spending huge amounts of time with them).. i think most people just ASSumed my dd had weaned,and if those people were nags to me about it(and I knew they would NEVER change their veiw) I went ahead an let them assume it,I never lied..but i never said. lol

[DecemberBaby]

My baby is four months and my mother already talks about weaning along with hubbies family. I feel for you. The only thing we can do is pray for strength not let the comments affect what we want and baby wants.

[Jennalicia]

I concur with the other ladies on this. I got pestered with the first son, but managed to nurse for 12 1/2 months. With the second one, I let him nurse until he weaned himself. I got flack because I was pregnant at the time with the third baby. People told me that nursing him would make me miscarry. He was 19 months when he weaned. I had a healthy baby girl full-term three weeks ago.

[kelleywin]

Good for you!
That's something I've wondered about. I plan to keep nursing my 14m/o, and want to be pregnant within the next year. Glad to know it works to be able to do both.

[mandeloo]

yeah!! tell em to shut up!
My lovely family and friends decided to play on my insecurities about my weight with my daughter. They assured me that once I stopped nursing her that pregnancy weight would finally come off.
Do ya know what happened? I weaned her at 10 months because I gave in and was convinced that was the only way I could lose the weight and found out I was 8 weeks pregnant that same week.
The breastfeeding Gods smite thee!!!!!!! Muahaha. Some luck there.

pssst...breastfeed until they wean themselves, it was the only effective birth control for me! No pill could outdo the magic of lactation. I WAS ON THE PILL when this happened! On the pill AND nursing..I take the nursing out and WHAM.

[pattyk]

Oh, how I remember what you're going through! Unfortunately it is all to common to get judged because you extend nurse. Advice: Hang in there and come to this site to remind yourself you are not a freak and there ARE other woman who nurse their babies past 1 year!

[vickikreiner]

I've been there too. I wish those close to us could just suck it up and give us the support we need that the sh*t we don't! Thank godness for all the women here!

I agree with what Red said and add... next time they ask about weaning say "I don't know, when did YOU stop successfully nursing?"
You said they didn't nurse, so this bit of sarcasim may quiet them for a bit!

Keep on going...for the physical, emotional, and psychological health and intelligence
of your baby!