They advise to at least age of two. I honestly believe in self weaning when baby is ready. But to each is their own. Baby Has to have formula or breastmilk till age one or it will jeopardize their physical, mental and developmental health needs

That's true. I foresee a lot of arguments in my future!!

Honestly be pushy right back. If you don't put your foot down about your parenting decisions now, they will just ignore them when watching lo.

I have very pushy family members and have to listen to their inputs everyday....and especially since they will be taking care of my baby while I'm at work. But you guys are right. I will breast feed my baby until we are both comfortable not breast feeding anymore.

As long as you feel comfortable or till baby weans but I plan to wean when baby gets teeth but it may be sooner because of my job and the heat I endure may drop my supply

Also, you might be interested in reading about delaying solids and baby led weaning. They are both methods of introducing solids.

Kellymom.com is a great breastfeeding resource.

The recommended minimum is 1 year, and many studies are showing benefits for 2 years. The World Health Orgnaization and the American Pediatric Association now recommend 2 years.

Personally, I breastfed my first for 15 months and my second was weaned a couple of weeks after her 2nd birthday. I didn't nurse her outside of the home after she turned one because society is so cruel, but honestly? People will criticize you whatever you choose, so just choose what feels right to you and forget about them.

My baby girl just turned 17 months and we just weaned off the day feeds but she feeds at bed time and over night still.

Ya, any replacment milk is too early before a year. Before that they need either bteastmilk or formula, and that's a nutitiobal requirment, not a parenting choice. Just tell them that! As for cereal, the recommendation is 6 months. If you do your research and decide to go by the old 4 month recommendation that's up to you. I truly believe starting them at 2 or 3 months is unsafe. They can't sit up appropriately and don't have the correct tongue movements yet. Especially when it's put in a bottle baby is very likely to choke. Many people completely skip cereal now because it has basically 0 nutritional value and rice cereal has been shown to put baby at risk for diabetes and obesity. Just tell those pushy family members that you will do what you want!

Thanks ladies. That's what I had planned on doing. Someone just asked me yesterday how long I was going to breast feed and I said until my daughter tells me not to anymore (not literally, just until he doesn't want it anymore). Then they said I should put her on soy milk and start giving her cereal at 6 weeks. I think that's too early and breast milk is more than enough. I want my baby healthy and I want to make the decisions about her feedings, not anyone else

You should Breastfeed as long as you and your LO want. I plan on doing it until she's no longer interested in it.

Awww six months :( that would devastate me lol were eight months and still going, I think most people are uninformed on breast feeding. Do what you think is right :)

You have to do what is going to work for you and your baby.

I would go to the library and pick up a few books on the topic for you and your mother.

I plan on bf at least a year.

I worked are a day care and alot of working mothers continued to bf or pump until 18 months. But that might have been due to the center I worked at meals and snack time did not offer bottles.... and most kid did not have any transitional issues.

My aunt Breast fed my cousins til they were 4 and 5.

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for as long as mother and baby are enjoying the experience, up to and beyond 2 years of age.

My lo is now 15 months and still breastfeeds about 3 times a day. I work full time outside the home, but we find time to nurse before and after work and before bed. He is not dependant on nursing to fall asleep. It's just a nice snuggle time for us

Yep, ignorance at its finest. My daughter just weaned, at 27 months old. Almost two and a half. And I mean weaning from BREASTfeeding. Not pumping and giving it in cups, that only makes it harder for you. There is no perfect answer for how long you should breastfeed your child, but I would say as long as you can, or as long as you are both still happy doing it. The longer the better. But it's completely up to you and your baby.

Thanks September mommy. I wanted to take a breastfeeding class but my work schedule won't permit it. So I guess the next best thing would be to head down to Barnes and noble.

I highly recommend reading a breastfeeding book and not info that is sent to you. You can also take classes that are covered by insurance. Babies are biologically designed to nurse at least 3 years. Assuming you don't give bottles or cow milk, or get pregnant, babies won't wean themselves much before then.

Thanks Jenn. I will definitely try to educate her on the benefits. I think that society has alot of ppl thinking a different way bc of what they see or hear what other ppl do. It is my child and I should be able to do what I want....it's nice to have advice when asked for tho.

Oh and just an FYI, most time babies aren't actually ready to wean at 12 months. It usually after 18-24 months!

Pp, definition of ignorance is being uneducated. It's just people use it wrong constantly. But I understand why you say it's a different problem, op

Op, I'd try to educate her. 2 years is actually the recommended time now. But 12 months is the minimum if you don't want to use formula. I'd give her facts about breast milk vs formula. Maybe she just doesn't know how many benefits there are!

I will do that. I already read all of my emails that I get from various baby companies but I just wanted some opinions.....especially since I am a ftm. And it's not ignorance, she's just stuck in her back in the day times and that's prob when her and the rest of my family stopped breast feeding

Did your mom bf? Mine didn't and she is the same way. She says "Cut her off at 3 months" I honestly don't think it's "ignorance" but just being uneducated. It was hurtful to me the lack of support from my mom but she just couldn't relate. So just educate yourself and set small goals and as you meet them reevaluate and see if you want to continue. My guess is you will once you make it past 3 months as it's easy peasy ;)

Good luck!

Have your mom read some material on bf, it suggest at least a year... She sounds ignorant in the subject