At what age should I stop breastfeeding a child?

At what age should I stop breastfeeding a child?

Rebecca Charlton (Lactation Educator & Registered Dietitian, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles) gives expert video advice on: When should I start breastfeeding my baby?; What nursing supplies does a new mother need?; How do I breastfeed my baby correctly? and more...

You should continue to breastfeed your child until you and your baby have made a decision to stop breastfeeding. There's no set age limit. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends and requests that you breastfeed your baby up to one year. However, at any point during that time it will be between you and your baby if breastfeeding continues to be an important part of the mother-baby dynamic. Breastfeeding is about you and your baby being in synergy and understanding one another. So, when that comes to a point that it's no longer the right choice, you'll know it and your baby will know it. If that's at nine months and you're ready to transition, or if it's at 19 months, that's between mother and baby.