Although im proud im still breastfeeding my 14month old dd...

[Pointmeintherightdirection]

...but i have recently started a new job and it has come up that im still bfeeding her, and i have been greated mostly with "oh yeah i saw that programme where that woman was still feeding her 8yo!! - it was awful" i find it strange how everyone automatically goes to that thought when they realise im still bfing, im not going to still be feeding my dd when she is 8, and i find it so sad that i should be greeted with such an overwhelming negative response, one girl said the other day that she only tred it for a few hours after birth and she thought it was the most disgusting thing in the world, why any woman would want a baby sucking on there boob all the time baffles me! id really LOVE to say i can rise above it, but i am starting to feel like maybe it is a little rare to be feeding past 10/11+ months!?? I also have found i feel less and less ok with feeding her in public now..... not sure why. How many mums still feed their 12month+ baby's in public?

[ELF1981]

not in public, though have no reason not to. My dd is 14 months old, she gets milk while at the CM in the day (I recently stopped expressing in the day) but b.feed from me in the weekends, evenings and morning.
Tell them to all go spin and keep their opinions to themselves.
Not very helpful comment but it's my attitude at the moment!!

[CorrieDale]

I still do at 16 mo on the rare occasions, usually involving teething, bugs or cold, when DS wants a feed other than morning and night. Caused a few eyebrows to leap at Socatots, I can tell you!!!! (Rather less so at playgroup where they're pretty much used to it. And I don't think anybody notices at Starbucks or other eateries.)

[lemonaid]

I don't in public (DS is 21.5 months) but then he doesn't ask in public because he's too busy wreaking havoc...

There are all sorts of snappy comebacks but I think you're right to stay detached and professional given it's a work situation. Maybe after "oh yeah i saw that programme where that woman was still feeding her 8yo!! - it was awful" respond by smiling brightly and saying "It was a bit extreme, wasn't it? Fortunately there's a big difference between an 8 year old and a 14 month old...". Or with the other girl stick with the old favourite "I think clearly we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that one".

I had a positive experience the other day. A friend of a friend who I've met a few times said "are you still breastfeeding him?" and I said (words to the effect of) "umm.. yes, a couple of times a day...". She gave me a big smile and said "Isn't it great?". I was

[SweetandTenderTatties]

My ds is 19mo, and I do feed him in public, if he asks (can't usually get through any trip out without him asking at least once!) I don't always feel comfortable though, and as he is getting older I am beginning to wonder whether people notice and what they think. But that doesn't stop me from doing it. If ds wants feeding, he wants feeding and that's it! I never see anyone feeding an older baby/toddler out so I'd like to think that maybe I'm encouraging others who would like to and perhaps challenging the general attitude that it's just not the 'done thing'.

It can get a bit isolating when you are the only person you know 'still' bf past a certain age, there are a whole load of new issues and situations that you want to talk about but nobody understands! I have recently started going to La Leche League meetings, which have been brilliant for meeting other mums who 'still' bf.

It is really that people often jump to a negative when you mention bf an older baby, instead of acknowledging that you are doing a really good thing.

[Pointmeintherightdirection]

Thankyou ELF, Corriedale, Lemonaid, SweetandTenderTatties, have realised maybe im being a little too sensitive, and should be proud instead! i will feed dd for as long as SHE wants, i will try harder to feel less self conscious next time im out and she wants a feed! - fingers crossed

[WhizzBangCaligula]

I think you probably need to carry around a stack of WHO leaflets detailing the benefits of non-curtailed breastfeeding.

[WhizzBangCaligula]

You can put them in the baby-paraphanalia bag along with all the nappies etc.!