There's no single "average" age to stop breastfeeding, as it varies globally and personally, but health organizations like the WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months, then continuing with solids for 2 years or beyond, while anthropological studies suggest a natural weaning age for humans can range from 2.5 to 7 years. In Western countries, many stop around 12 months due to work or social norms, but extending beyond 2 years offers continued benefits, with no harm evidence, and a study showed a common range for extended breastfeeding was 2.5 to 3 years.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for up to 2 years and beyond, but many parents choose to wean between 1 and 2 years, or even earlier, depending on their circumstances. It's a highly personal decision based on factors such as maternal wellbeing, child health, and practical considerations.
Globally, occasional breastfeeding up to age 8 is considered normal and healthy. In our culture breastfeeding is taboo to begin with, so when we hear of an older child breastfeeding, our tendency is to turn our noses up.
The WHO recommends breastfeeding for 2 years. The average age of weaning around the world varies but falls between 2 and 7 years old.
The 5-3-3 rule is a gentle sleep training method for older babies (often around 6 months) to reduce night feedings, suggesting you wait at least 5 hours for the first night feed after bedtime, then 3 hours for the next, and another 3 hours for any subsequent feeds, using other soothing techniques (shushing, patting) for earlier wakings to encourage self-soothing, rather than immediately feeding for comfort. It aims to differentiate hunger from comfort-seeking, but it's a guideline, not a strict mandate, and needs to be adapted to your baby's needs, ensuring they still get enough calories during the day, notes Momcozy and Reddit users.
Percent of mothers who breastfed were as follows: never (28.6%), 6 weeks (50.3%), 6 months (26.4%), 9 months (16.6%), 12 months (9.7%), 18 months (2.7%), 20 months (1%). We windsorized the 2% of mothers who reported breastfeeding longer than 24 months.
Coco Austin defended her choice to breastfeed her and husband Ice-T's daughter Chanel, now 9, until she was 6 years old, saying it was an opportunity to bond.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests breastfeeding for at least 2 years. Anthropological research shows the natural age for weaning in humans is between 2.5 and 7 years, so continuing to breastfeed your toddler is well within the range of normal.
Facts to Consider: After 12 months of age, nursing interactions tend to become more important to your child. After 18 months, for some children, weaning becomes harder with each passing month.
Only 11.5% of US children breastfed for ≥24 months. Breastfeeding rates decline sharply by child age, especially at 6 and 12 months. Results indicated significant differences in breastfeeding ≥24 months by maternal age, caregiver marital status, child race, and household income level.
Alia Bhatt recently spoke about her postpartum journey, sharing how breastfeeding her daughter Raha naturally helped her lose weight. But what drew attention was the pace of her recovery, sparking online conversations.
Rule #2: The Breast Milk Storage Guidelines.
The 4-4-4 Rule. Or the 6-6-6 rule. Basically, breast milk is good at room temperature for 4 or 6 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 or 6 days, and in the freezer for 4 or 6 or 12 months. Different professional organizations have varying recommendations.
Conversely, breastfeeding accelerated the rate of recovery, and women who breastfed exclusively had an average biological age about one year less than those who used formula.
Some mothers lose weight when they stop breastfeeding while others gain weight, but both are normal and healthy. Another factor is your hormones.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states that "[h]ealth outcomes for mothers and babies are best when breastfeeding continues for at least two years and continues as long as mutually desired by the parent and child.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years or longer.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
Parents age 40 and older actually show increased happiness with each child (up until 4 children which again is associated with decreased happiness). This difference in age occurs regardless of income, partnership status, health status, country, or what age you have children.
Toddlers have a huge world to explore, and breastfeeding provides them (and their parents!) with some quiet time in their busy, waking hours. Often, breastfeeding serves as a “home base.” It can help toddlers feel more secure while they stretch their new-found independence.
Mothers often feel guilt, a sense of betrayal, or a loss of connection, which can trigger depressive symptoms. Hormonal changes during weaning, including reduced prolactin and oxytocin levels—key for milk production and maternal calm—are believed to contribute to mood swings [1,17,18].
Children with prolonged duration of breast milk intake and children breastfed irrespective of duration were more prone to exhibiting better speech functions.
10. On 10 January 1971, after returning from a walk with her friend Claude Baillen, Coco Chanel died on her bed in the Hotel Ritz. Her last words to her maid Celine were, “You see, this is how you die.”
Cardi B opens up about breastfeeding as she gears up for her fourth child, while Stefon Diggs remains focused on the game. According to PEOPLE, Cardi B spoke to her fans during a livestream on X Spaces a few days ago, where she opened up about the emotional and physical toll of breastfeeding.
NiCole LaVergne Coco Austin,has admitted to going under the knife for breast augmentation but after decades spent denying it. She had her breasts enlarged to a curvy 39DD when she was 18 years old.