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AIBU?

To bf a 3 year old?

348 replies

fannyanddick · 27/02/2018 00:04

My dh mentioned that I shouldn't tell anyone that I still breast feed as they will judge now that our child is three and that I should think about stopping. I only feed her once a day but she loves it and doesn't want to stop. Last time I said 'you're getting a bit big for milkies now', she said that she loved it and didn't want to get any bigger or grow up and more.

What is the general view? Is she too old?

OP posts:

Report

Atticusss · 27/02/2018 00:06

Depends what your social circle is. Find your local breastfeeding group online and local groups. I felt judged for weaning mine around 2 and a half. Go to another group of friends and I felt judged for still feeding past 1. It's all relative. Do what YOU feel is right, it's your body.

Thehop · 27/02/2018 00:07

No! If you’re both happy then feed as long as you want!

I fed my youngest son until he sekfcweaned at 3.5yrs and will let current baby do the same. I don’t force it in anyone’s face and am very discreet.

To each their own, we’ll done!!!

WhatCanIDoNowPlease · 27/02/2018 00:07

Course not! Make sure your GP knows before they start writing you prescriptions, other than that it's no-one's business to have an opinion really.

frasier · 27/02/2018 00:09

Each to their own, it's no one else's business.

gamerchick · 27/02/2018 00:11

I did until 3 1/2 and it was more than once a day.

I was very glad to stop

Natural term breastfeeding is nobody’s business.

seasidelife · 27/02/2018 00:15

I'm still feeding my 3 year old, it will end soon enough and I will really miss it! I figure if we got this far then might as well get to the end of virus season.

Allthewaves · 27/02/2018 00:17

Honestly I wouldn't be telling people outside bf group. I'm personally not a fan of extended bf. I would never say or make comments but in my head I would think it's a bit odd tbh

BearsandHearts · 27/02/2018 00:18

I fed my 1st until I was pregnant with my 2nd so just over 2 years. As soon as I was pregnant my 1st decided he didn't like milk any more. My 2nd was fed until he was 3. If you're both happy crack on

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 27/02/2018 00:20

I fed dc5 until 3 but that’s because I couldn’t face stopping and the bloody milk sweats.

I lied to be honest as your are judged. I had a hen do abroad for 2 days so got the kick to stop. Was really relived actually as I left it far too long.

However it’s your call.

fannyanddick · 27/02/2018 00:21

It seems really rare and that is even though most of my friends have breast fed. I think my dh is not a fan of extended bf, but to me it seems so natural and normal.

OP posts:

ShackUp · 27/02/2018 00:24

If someone is 'not a fan' of natural term BF then I just assume they don't know what they're talking about.

Enjoy your one feed a day OP while it lasts DS2 is still BF at 22 months and I don't know how much longer I can put up with it

Booboostwo · 27/02/2018 00:24

I was seated next to a woman I had just met at a relative's dinner party. The discussion got onto babies (i was pregnant at the time) and oddly enough, as it wasn't particularly relevant to anything, she told me she had a 'crazy cousin' who was still breastfeeding her 2yo...she chose the wrong person to complain to as I then introduced her to my still breastfeeding 3yo.

Yes many people will pull a face but do what works for you and maybe don't volunteer information to avoid the hassle of having to deal with judgmental busibodies.

gamerchick · 27/02/2018 00:30

I believe that if people stopped called it extended breastfeeding then the happier people will be tbh. You’re not extending anything and again it’s nobodies business.

BzyB · 27/02/2018 00:36

Meh, do it til it’s no longer working well for both of you.
I had though age 3 would be my cut off for dd2 but the way it worked out ( new baby!) I didn’t stop and she stopped herself around 3y 4m.
Dd3 seems to be cutting back herself now at almost 17m but tbh, I’ll be ready to stop if she wants to , but not ready enough to push her to stop if you know what I mean!
It’s been a lovely experience and Ill miss it

Waddlelikeapenguin · 27/02/2018 00:41

Nope not u at all.
Why would you out energy & effort into stopping doing something that works for both of you?

Faroutbrussel · 27/02/2018 00:48

I BF my DS until 4 1/2, Only at home one or two times a day. It was way easier to stop than I thought it would be, though he still says he misses it and he's 6! I don't think anyone else was aware he was still BFing, maybe my sister, He did try and put his hand down my top a couple of times in public and I remember another mum saying in a nice way "it's funny how they still r emember the comfort of BFing even though it was long ago" I just smiled.

Booboostwo · 27/02/2018 00:57

That is lovely Faroutbrussel! If only they were all like that. I was discussing breastfeeding with my 3.3yo today who not only has forgotten that he was still breastfeeding this time last year but thought that the very idea is disgusting!

hotsouple · 27/02/2018 01:07

I think if your child is 6 and pawing at your tit for milk in public that's not on, too many formed memories and ingrained behaviors that are gonna be inappropriate as they age. That's just me though. Also, your sons future girlfriends are going to be hella weirded out.

badg3r · 27/02/2018 01:08

I bf DC1 till 2.4 when I got pregnant again and had to stop because it was making my uterus contract! He fed for a few months again after DC2 was born. I did get some odd looks, I didn't volunteer the information but if people asked directly I didn't lie. Now I think, bugger it, it's not that weird and certainly nothing to be ashamed of, and the more people talk about it the more it will normalize extended feeding.

ShamelesslyPlacemarking · 27/02/2018 01:09

I gently weaned both my kids at the same time, the youngest was just 2 and the eldest was 3.5. They both still enjoyed it (as did I most of the time) but I had reached the end of the road.

They are a couple of years older now and still occasionally mention remembering it and how much they loved it!

Nobody ever said anything critical to me about extended BF, but to be fair I am known for being unafraid to tell people to fuck off and mind their own business, so I imagine any potential critics sensibly opted for a peaceful life.

Ivebeenaroundtheblock · 27/02/2018 01:11

it's 100% a personal choice. and up to you who you mention this to or not.

ShackUp · 27/02/2018 01:12

Also, your sons future girlfriends are going to be hella weirded out.

He won't be breastfeeding when he's 17. Maybe his future girlfriends will have been natural term BF too?

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Booboostwo · 27/02/2018 01:12

hotsouple all for you.

ClemDanfango · 27/02/2018 01:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hotsouple · 27/02/2018 01:15

If I met a man and he told me he breastfed until he was in elementary school, I would probably see that as a red flag just because thats a REALLY involved mother. I don't want that lady as a MIL.

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