Can I stop breastfeeding at 20 months?

Can I Stop Breastfeeding at 20 Months?
Stopping breastfeeding is a deeply personal decision that varies from one mother to another, and it can be influenced by a variety of factors including health, lifestyle, and personal comfort. If you are considering weaning your child at 20 months, rest assured that this is a perfectly acceptable choice.
Understanding the Timing of Weaning
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond, as long as it is mutually desired by both mother and child. However, many mothers choose to stop breastfeeding before this period, and doing so at 20 months is not uncommon. In fact, statistics show that while a significant number of infants are breastfed at birth, the rates drop considerably by the time they reach 12 to 18 months, with many mothers transitioning to other forms of nutrition during this time.
Nutritional Considerations
By 20 months, your child is likely consuming a variety of solid foods, which means that breast milk is no longer their primary source of nutrition. At this stage, breast milk serves more as a supplemental food and a source of comfort. If you decide to stop breastfeeding, it’s important to ensure that your child continues to receive adequate nutrition from other sources, such as whole milk, fortified plant-based milks, or a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins.
Emotional and Physical Aspects of Weaning
Weaning can be an emotional process for both mother and child. It’s essential to approach this transition gently. Gradually reducing the number of breastfeeding sessions can help ease the process. This method allows your child to adjust to the change while still receiving the comfort of breastfeeding during the transition.
Physically, your body will also undergo changes as you stop breastfeeding. You may experience changes in breast size and shape, and it might take some time for your body to adjust to the absence of breastfeeding.
Support and Resources
If you feel uncertain about the weaning process, consider seeking advice from healthcare professionals, such as a pediatrician or a lactation consultant. They can provide personalized guidance and support tailored to your situation.
Ultimately, the decision to stop breastfeeding at 20 months is yours to make. Whether you choose to continue or to wean, what matters most is that you and your child are happy and healthy. Each drop of breast milk you provided has contributed positively to your child’s development, and your parenting choices will continue to support their growth in new ways.

How to stop breastfeeding a 2 year old naturally?

One approach is to drop 1 feeding session a week until your child takes all the feeds from a bottle or cup. If you want to give your child pumped breast milk, you’ll need to pump to keep up your milk supply. If you are weaning your child off breast milk, slowly dropping feeds can help avoid breast engorgement.

What is the most common age to stop breastfeeding?

As the AAFP notes, according to anthropological data, the natural age of self-weaning (meaning weaning determined strictly by the child) is about 2.5–7 years old. Obviously, not everyone wants to nurse that long, but it’s nice to know it’s an option that’s normal and actually pretty common all over the world.

What are the negative effects of breastfeeding too long?

For example, duration of breastfeeding experience has been shown to correlate negatively with parent-reported antisocial and aggressive behavior in children from 4 to 11 years of age [43]. These effects on antisocial behavior appear to extend well beyond childhood into adulthood.

Will a toddler naturally stop breastfeeding?

Natural weaning
One thing is certain: all children eventually stop breastfeeding. They grow and change dramatically in the first few years of life, and their interest in nursing changes too. Children want to nurse only as long as it fulfils a need for them. A need that is satisfied goes away.

Is it okay to stop breastfeeding at 20 months?

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning. It is up to you and your baby to decide when the time is right.

At what age is breastfeeding no longer beneficial?

There are many professional associations that recommend breastfeeding beyond 1 year, but to date there is no evidence that extended breastfeeding is harmful in any way. There is currently no known age when breastmilk is considered to be nutritionally insignificant for a child.

Are there benefits to breastfeeding past 2 years?

Breast milk continues to provide good nutrition and immune protection to your child during the second year of life and beyond. It’s easy for your baby to digest, and doesn’t need to be purchased or prepared. Extended nursing also offers health benefits for the nursing parent.

How to stop a 20 month old from breastfeeding?

Gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding sessions. Start by dropping one feed at a time, perhaps beginning with daytime feeds before tackling bedtime or morning feeds. Don’t offer the breast at routine times, but when starting the weaning process, don’t refuse when asked.

How often should a 20 month old breastfeed?

Your toddler is likely nursing a few times per day, although some continue to nurse around the clock. We support continued on-demand breastfeeding as long as it works for the baby and the parent. At this age, solid foods are becoming the primary source of nutrition, and the solid food meal should be prioritized.

Why is my 20 month old nursing so much?

Toddlers breastfeed for many of the same reasons babies breastfeed: for nutrition, comfort, security, for a way to calm down and for reassurance.