When is it time to stop breastfeeding?

In your opinion, when is it time for a toddler to stop breastfeeding? 2? 3? 6?

There are some women who go into school age with breastfeeding:
Age six
link [www.dailymail.co.uk]

And age eight...
link [abcnews.go.com]

Personally, I'd probably wean them off at 2. Yeah, breastfeeding is a great way to bond, but after 2 years, I think it's time for a little independence.

I think age 2 or 3 is a good age to wean them off the breast. It's up to you really. I saw a programme once where women were still breast feeding there 8 to 10 year old, imo that is so wrong.

There's really no need for that. It's definitely, at that point, more for mom than the child.

For my three, two of them were until 9months and one at 6months. That's due to me not producing milk anymore at those times. I personally wouldn't have gone longer then 1yr.

My mom breastfed me for 1yr and that was because I no longer wanted to be breastfed at that point. My mom stopped breastfeeding my sister at 2.

Babies start eating baby food from 5months on(providing they have gotten the hang of eating and swallowing the pureed food) and by the time they are a 1yr old, the have gotten the necessary antibodies and nutrients from the breast milk to aid in their health.

IMO, after 1yr, there is no need really, since they are getting more nutrients from 'grown up' food. It seems it would be more out of habit or bonding then anything after that.

I can agree with that. At the absolute lastest I'd cut off by age 2.
My aunt breastfed my cousin until he was 4. She says it was a comfort thing for him.

It's really up to the mother, I personally find it weird that a mother would breast feed passed the age of three, but perhaps they have their reasons. Some will ween their child sooner and it's usually, especially with my cousin, so that they can start looking for jobs again or introduce their children to other forms of nourishment and food.

I never breast fed my son due to having to work and my breasts would not cooperate with a breast pump. I guess if I had the time I would have and probably only until he was almost three.

I fed my daughter to 9 months and she just seemed to prefer the bottle.

My son fed to the age of 4 and went from breast to cup.

It depends entirely on the child and how easy/ convenient it is for the mother. In some countries prolonged breast feeding up to the age of 8 is a matter of necessity for survival.

Oh man, what a subject to wake up to first thing Monday morning.

Well that's your own fault for going onto the parenting forum really

I would say 6 - 9 months, maybe a year if they are particularly stubborn. I think I'd try and mix in bottles from the beginning though, partly so it's dad can do the feeding thing and partly so it wouldn't just be used to one.

I stopped at a little over a year... The first time he bit me!!!

I stopped at around a year, but just because that is when it seems like it is "normal" to stop around here. I don't see anything "wrong" with going longer, but don't see a lot of purpose to going longer. At that point it is safe to substitute cows milk. I wouldn't have stopped sooner or I'd have had to buy formula. Not buying formula was a major reason for me to breastfeed in the first place. However, my daughter didn't really seem ready to give it up at that point, didn't eat as well at that age as my son had, etc., so with her if I had it to do over, I'd probably go longer. Beyond 2 seems down right cumbersome, but women do it in part because the world health organization recommends it for toddlers in countries where infant mortality is high, food is scarce and water is often unsanitary. It doesn't have quite the same importance in first world countries.

When I say so...

...nomnomnom

infant girls can stop quite early.

Boys can carry on breastfeeding to around age, say, 45.

As long as it's not with the mother hopefully.