How Long to Breastfeed: Average Age to Stop Breastfeeding

TL;DR: This blog provides comprehensive insights on breastfeeding duration, emphasizing it’s a personal choice without a “normal” age to stop. Here are the main points:

• Personal Journey: Breastfeeding duration varies greatly among mothers and babies, influenced by personal circumstances and baby’s needs.
• Statistical Insight: Most infants receive only breastmilk at six months, and around 35.9% continue up to one year.
• Reasons to Stop: Common reasons include lactation issues, cultural norms, and lack of support.
• Physical and Emotional Changes: Stopping can lead to discomfort, emotional changes, and hormonal shifts.
• Weaning Process: Gradual transition from breast milk to solid foods starts around six months.
• Long-Term Benefits: Extended breastfeeding up to two years is beneficial, offering protection against various health issues.

Let’s be clear, breastfeeding is a highly personal journey. The experience of one mother can vary drastically from the next, and even different babies can have unique feeding habits or circumstances that can impact how long they breastfeed.

This being said, it’s important to know that there’s no “normal” age to stop breastfeeding. The choice is ultimately up to you and your baby!

Let’s explore more about the average age to stop breastfeeding and tips for ensuring your baby gets all the nutrients they need as they grow and eventually weans.

When Do Moms Typically Stop Breastfeeding?

There is truly no recommended age to stop breastfeeding, and it varies from mother to mother. However, there are some interesting statistics about the average age to stop breastfeeding that can help you better understand this transition.

The most recent Breastfeeding Report Card by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that at six months (the age when babies can be introduced to solid foods), 55.8% of infants received some breast milk, and 24.9% received breast milk exclusively. By 12 months, 35.9% of babies still received some breastmilk, but none were exclusively breastfed.

There’s no golden age to stop breastfeeding. The average age for breastfeeding to come to an end truly depends on your lifestyle, your baby’s eating habits, and ultimately how comfortable this journey is for you and your little one.

That is why it’s hard to say when you should stop breastfeeding. For some moms, it’s right at the six-month mark, while others wait until their baby is ready to wean and continue to supplement with breastmilk for a couple of years.

Reasons Mothers Stop Breastfeeding

According to the CDC, 60% of mothers report not breastfeeding for as long as they wanted to.

This can be due to issues with lactation and latching, cultural norms, or a lack of support/unsupportive work policies.

Choosing to stop breastfeeding can be an emotional choice, especially when it’s outside of your control. It’s always important to have a strong support system by your side during every step of your breastfeeding journey.

What to Expect After Stopping Breastfeeding

When you choose to stop breastfeeding, your body goes through several physical and emotional changes. These include:

1. Discomfort: You may experience breast engorgement or discomfort as your body gradually reduces milk production. This is common and can be managed with cold compresses and gentle handling.
2. Mood Swings and Emotional Changes: You might feel mood swings, sadness, or even a sense of loss after weaning, as breastfeeding involves emotional bonding with your baby.
3. Menstrual Irregularity: Your periods might become irregular for a short while after you stop breastfeeding. This is because the hormones controlling lactation also influence your menstrual cycle.

There are also some weird symptoms after stopping breastfeeding that can also be attributed to these hormonal changes:

• Changes in Body Odor: Some women experience a change in their body odor due to hormonal adjustments.
• Skin Changes: You might notice changes in your skin texture or an increase in acne, which is linked to hormonal shifts.
• Fatigue and Brain Fog: As your body adapts, you might feel unusually tired or experience ‘brain fog,’ making it hard to concentrate or remember things.

A Walkthrough of Weaning

Eventually, you will start the process of weaning your little one.

Weaning is the process of slowly switching a newborn’s diet from breast milk or formula to more solid foods. Here are some important things to remember, no matter if you’re completely weaning your baby or are continuing to breastfeed with complementary foods.

How Long Should You Breastfeed a Newborn?

Newborn babies require frequent feedings and the most milk as they grow. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend that babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life.

Breast milk provides your baby with all the nutrients they need to grow. Breastfed babies have been shown to perform better on intelligence tests and are less prone to being overweight or developing diabetes later in life.

It’s recommended that newborn babies nurse for 10 to 15 minutes every two to three hours. However, they may also cluster feed for 25-45 minutes, which is typical behavior. The length of time your baby breastfeeds isn’t always an indicator of how much they’re eating.

That’s why it’s important to monitor your baby’s feeding frequency, wet or soiled diapers, and weight gain.

After Six Months

At the six-month mark, you can begin to introduce solid foods to your baby. WHO explains that around this time, babies often have more nutritional needs than milk alone can supply. It’s important to introduce other foods to help their growth through gradual weaning.

You can begin feeding your baby complementary foods two to three times a day between six to eight months. Between nine and 11 months, this can increase to three to four times a day.

At this point, you may notice that your breastfeeding sessions are shorter as your little one becomes more mobile. However, they may still have longer sessions in the morning and evening.

Complementary Foods

Complementary foods to breastfeeding are often pureed, mashed, or semi-solid. Think of the types of baby food you see at your local supermarket!

Infant cereal with added iron, pureed vegetables, fruits, meat, and other protein-rich foods are ideal as they go through growth spurts and start being more active.

After Nine Months

Is it ok to stop breastfeeding at 9 months? That’s up to you and your little one!

If you begin the weaning process at the six-month mark, your little one might be ready at this time to switch to solid foods and formula altogether. It’s always best to gradually reduce your nursing sessions instead of abruptly stopping them.

After One Year

By one year, your baby is ready for more finger foods and solids, and they’re likely already drinking out of cups. When your child reaches this age, it’s also easier to know their cues for when they want to breastfeed. Some children may want to breastfeed during the morning and night, while others will in short bursts throughout the day.

You may also want to get on a consistent schedule with your baby. Since your milk production is heavily dependent on how often you breastfeed, having consistency can help you maintain your supply. While your schedule is up to you, you may consider breastfeeding your one-year-old three times a day during typical meal times. Or have anywhere from five to seven shorter sessions throughout the day.

Long-Term Breastfeeding

Once your child reaches two years of age, it’s often considered long-term breastfeeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers and babies breastfeed beyond one year and up to two years. That’s because the benefits of breastfeeding long-term are associated with protection against diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancers of the breast and ovaries.

Breastfeeding shouldn’t be your toddler’s main diet, but it is still a great way for a mother and child to bond and gain supplemental nutrients. At this age, your child should be eating a balanced diet as you do. Breastfeeding sessions may be shorter, but your toddler can find comfort in breastfeeding when they’re tired or sick.

Celebrate Your Breastfeeding Journey

Breastfeeding can be a precious time in your life, and weaning your child can be an emotional and bittersweet process. A piece of breastmilk jewelry is a great way to commemorate the bond you’ve created with your baby for the decades to come so you can always remember your breastfeeding journey.

Explore one-of-a-kind breast milk jewelry at KeepsakeMom today.