When to end

when is the right time to end breastfeeding? My sister-in-law's son breastfed til he was beyond a year old. is that normal?

I guess there is no definition of 'normal' - it is what ever suits you and your baby!

If you can feed exclusively for the first 6 months, you are giving your baby the best possible start.

If you feed baby until 12 months, you avoid having to introduce formula and move baby onto cows milk.

If, like the World Health Organisation (WHO) reccomend, you feed until baby is 2, they will have the best possible start to life with lots of health benefits for the both of you.

It is a personal choice - in the beginning, i was happy to reach 6 weeks, then i kept extending the goal, and finally we did a joint weaning effort just before my sons 2nd birthday when i found out i was expecting again.

The important thing is that you have given your baby the best possible start, and how long you continue to do so is entirely up to you!

this is a link to the WHO page about how and when to introduce foods, and how much your baby needs at what age:

http://www.who.int/features/qa/21/en/index.html

and this is the WHO take on breastfeeding:

http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/facts/en/index.html

I'd say the normal time is whenever your baby says its time to end. If we were like any other mammal on the planet, around 6-8 years would be the "normal" weaning age. In actuality the average weaning age across the globe is about 4 years old. This is because in countries where breastfeeding is considered the norm or where formula feeding is deadly, most mothers don't wean until the child decides.

I say, go for as long as you and your LO feel comfortable with it Sod everyone else.

I agree its normal when its normal for mum and baby.

Olivia stopped at a year but im hoping to go two years+ with Charlotte.

It's upto you

Its a very personal decision .

I breastfed my first two for just a few weeks & yet im still feeding Emily and she is over two years old & she doesnt show any signs of stopping. I will allow her to decide when she no longer needs it.