Page 10 | Mum asked to stop breastfeeding a TWO YEAR OLD in shoe shop.

GinaDavva · 2025-11-20T11:30:16+00:00

Mixed feelings with this one. Shaming a mother publicly breastfeeding a small baby is never acceptable but breastfeeding a two year old child in a shop? Surely at that age a bottle is more convenient in the middle of a shop? My first thought was that this was more about attention than the actual principle of the matter. After breastfeeding 3 of my own I can honestly say there has never been a time where it felt necessary to start breastfeeding any of mine in the middle of a shop at two years old. Frankly at that age they wouldn’t find much in mine anyway! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3z31jn7v1o

Calliopespa · 20/11/2025 13:15

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I'm not sure that's supported by medical evidence is it?

I didn't breastfeed even to 2, let alone 3, but I was under the impression that nutritionally it would have been appropriate. It's very common in other cultures.

ProfessionalPirate · 20/11/2025 13:15

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A fetish? You have a sick sick mind.

StartingFreshFor2026 · 20/11/2025 13:15

The 'it's the same as having a poo in public' and 'my cat is a more dignified breastfeeding mother' comments are laughable but the fetish ones are disgusting. Are those people really saying that breastfeeding mothers of toddlers are sexually abusing their children?

TrippingOverMyAssets · 20/11/2025 13:14

To be fair she does look a tad smarmy in the picture.

ProfessionalPirate · 20/11/2025 13:14

I breastfed both of mine until they were just turning 3. Admittedly after around 12 months feeds were basically confined to the house at bedtimes etc. But I would not judge any woman who carried on in public. In fact, I would rather admire her. YABVVU.

SouthLondonMum22 · 20/11/2025 13:12

Muffinmam · 20/11/2025 13:10

They sometimes have a bottle at night as a comfort. But they don’t drink throughout the day - because they don’t need to.

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Is breastfeeding a walking, talking, eating, can ask for it 2 year old at night for comfort ok then too?

BusyExpert · 20/11/2025 13:12

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Muffinmam · 20/11/2025 13:10

SouthLondonMum22 · 20/11/2025 12:55

If walking, talking, eating solid food and asking for it makes them too old for breastfeeding then why aren't they also too old for a bottle?

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They sometimes have a bottle at night as a comfort. But they don’t drink throughout the day - because they don’t need to.

BusyExpert · 20/11/2025 13:09

What nonsense.

Tiddlyswink · 20/11/2025 13:08

usedtobeaylis · 20/11/2025 12:52

"At some point". It's actually not a point though, it's an ongoing process all through childhood. Or have you done a study and determined the optimum time for this apparent sudden overnight development?

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Of course it’s not a specific point and the differences in thoughts around that are clear from this thread…but at age 2-3 that child is starting to develop language, emotional recognition, understanding of others, independence….all of which can be a bit of a roller coaster of emotions. As a parent we have to start to model how to cope with those emotions , how to start to learn to regulate in different settings, and as I said previously, there are other ways to do this then feed them. It’s a classic age for tantrums and I really struggle to understand why people think that feeding a child is the automatic go to, as there are going to be situations where that simply isn’t possible.

BusyExpert · 20/11/2025 13:06

Thirsty hungry? Then they eat and drink properly in a public place. I am very pro breastfeeding but no one needs to see a 2 year old sucking at his mothers breast in a restaurant
The price of fish clear enough for you now or do you want a more detailed explanation? Along the lines of great feeding a 2 year 9ld child in public is a fetish rather than healthy parenting

SouthLondonMum22 · 20/11/2025 13:05

Shortandfatandpaleandlovely · 20/11/2025 13:02

Amazing how many women on this thread breastfed their own children, to 6 months, always in the privacy of their home, and are so disgusted at women who breastfeed a child over 6 months and/or breast feed in public.

I breastfed mine till they turned 3, and I found the only people who were judgemental about it were women who had never breast fed.

Not one formula feeder on the thread so far, weird!

Present.

Formula fed mine from birth. Don't give a fuck if you breastfeed for 5 minutes or 5 years.

Shakeyourwammyfannyfunkysong · 20/11/2025 13:04

Tiddlyswink · 20/11/2025 12:50

"small child crying, disrupting the shop and being distressed when it can quickly and easily be soothed" ......because a child at 2 should be being supported to learn how to self soothe...we don't live in a society any more where we are with our young children 24/7 - mothers work, children go to nursery and then school, mothers have younger babies and other responsilities. At some point, that child has to learn that a. their demands aren't always able to be met straight away b. that their mothers breast is not the only source of comfort. We have an issue with dental caries in older BF children who co sleep and continue to nurse in the night because their mums dont understand that after a certain age , teeth need to be brushed after feeding! By all means do extended BF but ultimately dont treat a 2 year old as if they are a baby, they are a growing child with all of the emotional and behavioural development that involves and mums need to understand that.

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So rather than challenge and question why we are living a society in which it is pretty much impossible for most children to get what they need to develop into healthy, well adjusted adults we expect babies/toddlers to give their own brains the love and nurturing that is needed literally to grow and develop their prefontal cortex? That's never going to work is it? However much we might want it to.

Daaaaahling · 20/11/2025 13:03

StartingFreshFor2026 · 20/11/2025 12:56

Now we've had:

breastfeeding in public is the same as taking a shit in public
don't breastfeed in a shoe shop because my nursing cat can't do it in a shoe shop
no need to breastfeed a toddler, it should be able to buy itself a twix
don't breastfeed a toddler because we don't breastfeed teenagers
breastfeeding is a paedophile fetish
and this would all be sorted if we brought back mother and baby homes.

Cool. Great debate.

And the people who think that all sounds like a load of shite are apparently the crazy ones 😂

Fargo79 · 20/11/2025 13:02

BusyExpert · 20/11/2025 12:48

At 2 years they should be able to drink from a feeder cup

They probably can. What's that got to do with the price of fish?

Shortandfatandpaleandlovely · 20/11/2025 13:02

Amazing how many women on this thread breastfed their own children, to 6 months, always in the privacy of their home, and are so disgusted at women who breastfeed a child over 6 months and/or breast feed in public.

I breastfed mine till they turned 3, and I found the only people who were judgemental about it were women who had never breast fed.

Not one formula feeder on the thread so far, weird!

Fargo79 · 20/11/2025 13:00

I can't even get triggered by silly people like OP any more 🤣 Oh my God, a 2 year old being breastfed?? In public???? OP, maybe you should consider carrying smelling salts when you leave the house, just in case. Can't be too careful nowadays.

SouthLondonMum22 · 20/11/2025 12:59

Lavender14 · 20/11/2025 12:51

This depends on the child. An autistic child may well not have been diagnosed at age 2 but would not be able to wait in the way another 2 year old might.

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Obviously exceptions will apply.

The mother acted like her 2 year old is a newborn and was so hungry and just couldn't wait. Most of the time, that simply isn't true.

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 20/11/2025 12:59

StartingFreshFor2026 · 20/11/2025 12:56

Now we've had:

breastfeeding in public is the same as taking a shit in public
don't breastfeed in a shoe shop because my nursing cat can't do it in a shoe shop
no need to breastfeed a toddler, it should be able to buy itself a twix
don't breastfeed a toddler because we don't breastfeed teenagers
breastfeeding is a paedophile fetish
and this would all be sorted if we brought back mother and baby homes.

Cool. Great debate.

Nestle is laughing all the way to the bank.

StartingFreshFor2026 · 20/11/2025 12:56

Now we've had:

breastfeeding in public is the same as taking a shit in public
don't breastfeed in a shoe shop because my nursing cat can't do it in a shoe shop
no need to breastfeed a toddler, it should be able to buy itself a twix
don't breastfeed a toddler because we don't breastfeed teenagers
breastfeeding is a paedophile fetish
and this would all be sorted if we brought back mother and baby homes.

Cool. Great debate.

Shortandfatandpaleandlovely · 20/11/2025 12:56

Hons123 · 20/11/2025 12:30

My mammals (cats and dogs) always breastfed their pups in the privacy of their own space.

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Whales and dolphins are mammals and breastfeed in the sea, surely your cats and dogs should have the decency to do this?

SouthLondonMum22 · 20/11/2025 12:55

Muffinmam · 20/11/2025 12:47

When they are walking and talking, have all their teeth, are eating solid food and asking for “bitty” then it’s absolutely time to stop.

When a child is that age they may have a bottle at night time - but they get their nutrients from food.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=FmD2Y6WxpIw&t=2s&pp=ygUUYml0dHkgbGl0dGxlIGJyaXRhaW4%3D

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If walking, talking, eating solid food and asking for it makes them too old for breastfeeding then why aren't they also too old for a bottle?

Outside9 · 20/11/2025 12:52

Daaaaahling · 20/11/2025 12:51

Liar. You don't believe anyone on this thread is struggling with their sanity. You just want to be insulting because you have nothing reasonable to say, no way to justify your position. It would be better not to post at all than to stoop to that level, honestly. But you go ahead and show everyone where you stand, I welcome it!

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Lol OK.

usedtobeaylis · 20/11/2025 12:52

Tiddlyswink · 20/11/2025 12:50

"small child crying, disrupting the shop and being distressed when it can quickly and easily be soothed" ......because a child at 2 should be being supported to learn how to self soothe...we don't live in a society any more where we are with our young children 24/7 - mothers work, children go to nursery and then school, mothers have younger babies and other responsilities. At some point, that child has to learn that a. their demands aren't always able to be met straight away b. that their mothers breast is not the only source of comfort. We have an issue with dental caries in older BF children who co sleep and continue to nurse in the night because their mums dont understand that after a certain age , teeth need to be brushed after feeding! By all means do extended BF but ultimately dont treat a 2 year old as if they are a baby, they are a growing child with all of the emotional and behavioural development that involves and mums need to understand that.

Show quote history

"At some point". It's actually not a point though, it's an ongoing process all through childhood. Or have you done a study and determined the optimum time for this apparent sudden overnight development?

Daaaaahling · 20/11/2025 12:51

Outside9 · 20/11/2025 12:44

No, I just don't believe you're all sane.

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Liar. You don't believe anyone on this thread is struggling with their sanity. You just want to be insulting because you have nothing reasonable to say, no way to justify your position. It would be better not to post at all than to stoop to that level, honestly. But you go ahead and show everyone where you stand, I welcome it!