How old was your lo when someone first made hilarious wisecracking remarks like "bitty"?

[ReverseThePolarity]

Because this Christmas I got no end of jokey comments from rellies about how long I am intending to bf ds for.

"I bet ds will be like that man off Little Britain, you know, 'bitty'".

"When do you think you'll stop feeding him? When he goes to Uni?"

"What do you think his first word will be? 'Bitty'?"

And so on. All made in a happy jovial jokey way and one or two wouldn't have been so bad but by the end of the Christmas holidays I was getting really effed off with it.

These are the same rellies who when I was struggling with bf told me I was being stubborn and should ff instead. Of course now I've continued they're apparently immensely proud etc. etc. but I wonder... are they really? If so why all the jokey comments?

And ds is not even nine months old yet!!

So I wondered, how old were you when you got your first "bitty"-esque jokey comment?

[ReverseThePolarity]

Sorry meant how old was your lo not you obviously.

[TheOldestCat]

Well, had similar experience with relatives at Christmas. Hilarious, eh? DD is 13 months.

But I learned I was 'disgusting' and a 'freak' for BFing past six months when I went back to work.

just ignore em and hold your head up high!

[WigWamBam]

No-one ever dared did ... and I fed until dd was 2 years old.

If their comments upset you then you must tell them - otherwise they will think you're happy enough to go along with the joke and it will never stop.

[MamaG]

How RUDE

I'd ahve flipped if someone had said taht to me

[belgo]

I was still pregnant and said to a friend I wanted to bf and she brought up 'Little Britain'. I didn't know what she meant, having never watched it.

[stripeymama]

"She'll grow to need that if your not careful" said exMIL when DD was about three months old.

[ReverseThePolarity]

WWB, I kinda did tell them, but it was put down to me being overly sensitive and not being able to take a joke. "Oh we're only joking RTP, come on, be able to laugh at yourself occasionally, don't be such a spoilsport" and so on.

Belgo you got the comment before you had even started? Your lo was pretty young then!

[callmeovercautious]

When DD was 13m and I went back to work. I was talking to another Woman I know BFed her 2 DSs for 6m each. She had told me so before I had DD so I thought she would be a bit of a friendly ear.

She looked shocked and said "are you still feeding her? People will start making "bitty" comments soon."

I just said, "yes I am and actually you are the first to make that very supportive observation thanks!" and walked off. She did say sorry later but the damage was already done iykwim. I know it was a round about way of saying it but she was obviously thinking I was odd otherwise she would not have said it.

[stripeymama]

Luckily Little Britain was not around when DD was a baby.

That bitty sketch has a lot to answer for - it seems to have given the ignorant masses a catchphrase that obliterates any need for good manners, thought for the welfare of a baby, and apparently the WHO guidelines too

[numptysmummy]

I've had amusing friends trying to teach dd that since she was about 6mths old! She prefers to call it boobie though! Have to say that i've never had any negative comments and i've fed 4 past 12 mths,dd4 being 17mnths.

[ReverseThePolarity]

Stripeymama "That bitty sketch has a lot to answer for - it seems to have given the ignorant masses a catchphrase that obliterates any need for good manners, thought for the welfare of a baby, and apparently the WHO guidelines too" too effing right.

But because it's comedy if you don't laugh then you obviously "can't take a joke".

When ds is verbal I'm almost tempted to teach him to say "bitty" whenever he wants milk. No one could make the joke then as it would already be happening.

[ReverseThePolarity]

Numptysmummy that is nice that you have never had negative comments.

[numptysmummy]

Could be due to the f'$* off glare i give people when i'm feeding. Seriously tho,i know i've been lucky.

[stripeymama]

Oh yes very comic to make a mockery of the natural and best way to feed a baby. Obviuosly I am an uptight Victoria Gillick type with absolutely no sense of humour.

The sheer ignorance of people who rabbit phrases such as 'bitty' makes me want to poke them with a big stick. If they have a problem with bf - well farking say so and come out with a real and reasoned argument for me to counter.

Otherwise go and put a blanket over your head if seeing a baby being fed bothers you that much.

[ReverseThePolarity]

Yes, it's the double whammy isn't it.

"You're weird for bfing" AND "you've no sense of humour."

I'm not sure which is more insulting!

[numptysmummy]

Also makes you a beard wearing lentil weaver.
Although i don't consider being a hippy weird, i have had that mmentioned. I have been asked when i'm going to give up a few times to which i always reply when she's ready - never seen any mums in school at lunchtime to give a breastfeed.

[ReverseThePolarity]

Lol @ "beard wearer". Dh now has a beard and I call him a "beard wearer"!

[mandler]

God got that too - at 11 weeks. Stupid puerile idiots, Little Britain indeed has a lot to ansewer for. I had to go to another room in every house I had been in over christmas so as not to offend the sensitive souls I am somehow related to

[onepieceoflollipop]

My mil was looking forward to coming to the panto with us this year, or so she claimed! All of a sudden she cancelled saying that she disapproved of us taking a 4 month old baby. She only said this after dh said that it didn't matter what time dd2 wanted a feed as I would be feeding her whenever she wanted! B/feeding - in the theatre - whatever next!!

The ils don't say anything but their faces say it all - how distasteful and embarrassing they think it is.

Mandler I sympathise.

[VictorianSqualor]

LO isn't even born yet and I was reading bf stuff last night, said to DP that I was disappointed with only bfing DS until he was 9months and wanted to bf this one til at least 2years.
He said 'What if it grows up saying things liek bitty?'
I rolled my eyes and said don't be so ridiculous, but I doubt it will eb the last comment ever get, if onyl people could be more original.
(I am having my third so recieved comments when bfing previously but never related to how logn I'd feed for, or from friends/family)

[Jackstini]

Have been pretty luck so far (dd 21 months and still feeding)
I have had the odd 'how long are you going to feed her for' to which I reply 'I don't know, she hasn't told me yet'
As it's only really 1 feed a day now just before bed I am not often public
OPOL - that is shocking how ignorant your MIL is

[cmotdibbler]

I think the first bitty was about 9 months. A colleague often brings it up. I was VERY good on New Years Eve when a friend said 'you wouldn't like it if I taught him to say bitty would you ?'. I just said no very firmly - she is childfree by choice and doesn't need a lecture, plus DS (19 months)was actually feeding at the time and its tricky ensuring that he doesn't somersault off the sofa with nipple still attached at the best of times !

[sushistar]

My LO is 4 wks and sofar most people have been fine with my tasteful but public bfeeding (IYKWIM) except one relative at xmas who said 'i knew you'd be the kind to whack their baps out at every oppertunity!'. I don't think they meant any harm but i thought it a little insensative...

[laundrylover]

DD2 is 21 months (waves to Jackstini!!) and still feeding. I feel like I've actually changed a few people's minds about extended feeding as at my Tots group everyone is very relaxed about it although I don't often feed her in the day she does ask loudly for 'booby' and then 'just a little bit' when I say no.

Also my MIL said to her the other evening - 'do you want booby or cow's milk?' which made me giggle!

[laundrylover]

You should have replied 'what, the loving mother kind??', Sushistar.

Well done for whipping 'em out - I did it everywhere as an easy way of keeping my babies quiet...most memorably during weddings, funerals and whilst signing the deeds to our new house.

I would like to see more boobs peeping out in public, never mind at someone's house over Christmas!