SIX MONTHS

[mrsmartin1984]

I need a whinge. I am fed up with the perception in society that we should only BF till six months and there after it's weird. The NHS advice isn't to breast feed till six months, it's too EXCLUSIVELY breast feed till six months then start supplementing with solids. My DD is coming up to 7 months and people have started saying "are you STILL breastfeeding her?" or "you can stop breastfeeding soon". I have no intention to stop any day now.

I was on another forum yesterday about breastfeeding in public and several people said you could do it by law until they are six months. NO you can breastfeed in public no matter what age your little one is. Although you properly won't see elder children feeding so much because they don't feed as often.

I know that allot of women go back to work around this time and this makes breastfeeding more difficult. And all the formula companies advertise their follow on milk after six months with "breastfeeding is the best start for your child but if you decide to move on try our follow on milk". But seriously why is six months the witching hour. Why have several of my friends said "we started introducing formula at four months and gave up breastfeeding at six"?

And seriously why would I give up? Breastfeeding was a nightmare in the first few weeks. But now it's easy peasy. Why would I give up so I could fanny around with bottles and powder? And how much worse criticism will I get after a year, two years?

[DizzyPurple]

Ignore them all. Keep going as long as you and your baby are happy. I fed dd1 for a year, and dd2 for 3 years and still have a few regrets giving up with dd2 when I did.
The choice is yours.

[nancerama]

Other parents have been pretty supportive of my decision to continue beyond 6 months, although very few people know I still feed my 2 year old as it's just bed time and mornings now. Perhaps I've been lucky with the circles I move in though.

Childless friends on the other hand... I guess they know no better.

[TheBookofRuth]

IME it gets easier to deal with the longer you do it. I'm still breastfeeding my 19 month old DD with no immediate plans to stop, and no-one comments anymore - to my face, at least! I'm sure there are some of them discussing my weirdness behind my back, but I couldn't care less. DD and I are happy, and DH is supportive, and anyone else's opinion don't matter.

[TheBookofRuth]

Sorry "weirdness" should have been in inverted commas - I don't think it's weird that I'm still breastfeeding, I just know other people do!

[smirnoff861]

Personally I plan on stopping at about 6 months but I have already had comments about when I am going to stop and give my baby "proper" milk?? I admire anyone who breastfeeds and I don't think anyone else can comment on how long you do it for whther it is 3 days or 3 years!

[gretagrape]

Nanerama - I think maybe you have just been unlucky with your "childless friends" - most of my friends are childless and actually it's other parents that have been more judgemental towards me re breastfeeding (intended to feed until going back to work after 12 months, but in the end had to move to Neocate due to multiple allergies).

My friends that don't have children have been much more easygoing and actually interested in talking to me about it, whereas my 'friends' with children are very judgemental if I choose not to do things that they did with their babies because I am going against the grain/whatever is fashionable at the moment.

Op - you are right to rant. Do what you want and sod the lot of 'em!

[louloutheshamed]

I agree. I bf for 18m and by the time
I got to 6m it was
So much easier to carry on than to stop! Why would you stop just when it gets really easy? Also the other thing I couldn't figure out is that it seemed stupid moving to bottles at 6m, when they are supposed to be off bottles by 12mo. I know they say to use a cup but my ds couldn't really manage to get a lot from a cup at 6mo. So for me it seemed a lot easier to just carry on bf!

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Also by about 10 months DS was able to manage fine without milk during the daytime when I wasn't around (only 2 days a week at first), with an attempt at drinking from a cup. By 13 months I had a night away without him too.

So its not like having a morning, evening and maybe one or two more if he wants BF has any impact on our lives. Its a quiet snuggly time when my rampaging toddler has a healthy cuddly drink.

Much better than when he was feeding 12-15 times a day.

[MonstersDontCry]

Oh I know exactly how you feel. I have a newborn and people are already asking me when I'm switching to bottles. Er never! I'm also feeding my just-turned-2 year old in secret because I can't be bothered with the comments. The only people that know are my mum and DP.

[nancerama]

I guess my friends with children of the same age all share the path of least resistance with me - few bf, but we're all making it up as we go along and support each other with whatever works for us.

My friends without children use their sisters as a yardstick. If their sisters stopped feeding at 3 months they use that as the norm.

I remember being asked when DS was 7 months when I was going to stop feeding (whilst DS was attached to me). "In about 5 or 10 minutes" I replied.

[mrsmartin1984]

I found childless friends most judgmental. I guess they see breast feeding as a real burden. While I see FF as a burden in both time and expense. The other people (who I try and avoid) who are the worse are the mothers I meet on antenatal classes who all intended to BF and FF for whatever reason. They are the ones who tend to make the most snide comments. But hey I am happy with my decision, I don't think the same can be said for them.

[happydaze77]

Well said OP - I agree entirely with your whinge

[tory79]

Yes, I get a lot of slightly horrified expressions if ever I have cause to metion that I still am feeding ds who is 2 in 3 weeks. That is even from people who have or are breastfeeding. A lot of people have no idea that recommendations exist to feed until children are at least 2. My usual answer is just to say that I intend to carry on feeding him until I have a reason to stop ( although I think he is winding down himself - wahhhhhh )

[NoComet]

Smile sweetly and say six months, I have every intention of BFing for six YEARS!

Actually feeding DD2 for well over six years was a total accident, I didn't EBF her sister for much over six days and by six months she'd long since thrown such massive tantrums at the idea she got only FF.

Feeding a older child last thing at night and on weekend mornings when they'd snuggle up for a hug anyway is not exactly a chore