I'm still breastfeeding my 2 year old, ask me anything!

[milkandmoreso]

DC is 2 and 2 months.

Ask me anything you like People in person seem to! Just out of sheer curiosity, and I don't mind at all.

I only ever encountered support (possibly with the exception of a few hard partying friends who had no issues with the bf, just wanted me out with them!).

Some quite breathtaking ignorance on here OP which is interesting and a bit depressing. My question does that make you feel OP & what could be done to help educate people who state nonsense like I am not convinced it is the greates thing for your toddler !?

[NOTE: Facts about benefits of breastfeeding past a year...

Protection from illness for the toddler - a stronger immune system, less prone to colds, ear infections, allergies. Specific antibodies produced by the mothers body in real time in response to illnesses they encounter.

Long term: lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol. Less likely to be overweight or obese, and to develop type-2 diabetes. Brain development id aided by omega-3 fatty acids, or DHA, that are unique to breastmilk.

Sounds pretty great for the toddler to me!

Unless when you say the OP is doing it for her benefit & selfishly reducing her own risk of certain cancers (like breast and ovarian), I mean that is a bit ‘me me me’ & sod you toddler 🙄]

@CloudyVanilla

BeCaUse bOoBIes iS SexUal

Or some shite like that. It's terrible isnt it?

I’m the same! My DD is 2 years and a month old.. she is v chatty so asks for it, but also understands she can’t feed when we’re out and about. Both my mum and MIL weaned at about 6 mos but have been really really supportive of me BF for so long. Didn’t think I’d continue for so long, always thought it would be weird once she has teeth or can ask for it etc but it feels perfectly natural. She has maybe 2 feeds a day max, and sleeps through the night so bf hasn’t affected that past 1 year.

@Bisquick

I’m the same! My DD is 2 years and a month old.. she is v chatty so asks for it, but also understands she can’t feed when we’re out and about.

Why not?

I’d imagine because of the bigots @Shmithecat2.

The “ keep your sexy boobs for your man” brigade. The “ simply by feeding your child you are passing judgement on all bottle feeders “ brigade. Along with the “ I didn’t do it so it must be weird and icky” battalion.

I’m still feeding DS at 2.5, about 3 times in 24 hours. I don’t feed him in the day unless he’s ill and the last time I fed him in public was in a&e a few months ago.
I would have happily stopped a long time ago but he has a couple of minor feeding issues and if I hadn’t have kept feeding him he would have lost weight. The dietician was very pleased he was still being fed.

I didn’t plan on feeding this long, I have had a lot of negative comments but there are a lot of mothers out there who have fed for a long time.

I was aware of the WHO ideal of feeding until 2 but more education on extended bf is needed in uk especially amongst HCPs.

I’m still in nursing bras and they’re worn out, so I’m going to have to buy some new ones

Im still breastfeed my 4 year old to sleep.

So you worry it'll go on too long?

Well done OP! It's nice to see there's more of us breastfeed toddlers. I'm still feeding DS at 2 years and 3 months. He feeds often, it's more like a cuddle for him nowadays, but it's normal, natural and I do cherish the connection. My goal for 2020 is to gradually cut down on the number of feeds, although I'm in no hurry to stop completely.

Well done OP. I find it disconcerting how people think this is a weird thing to do. It is,sadly, unusual but social pressure and the need to go to work don't make it easy. I breastfed my last child until she naturally stopped around three years old though it was only a bedtime quick comfort feed by then.

I stopped at just shy of 13 months. I’m not sure I wanted to stop but unfortunately I worked shifts which meant I missed seeing DD for the days I worked, I couldn’t get a drop out of my breasts by expressing and she was never a big eater anyway .. I don’t think she even batted an eyelid at transitioning to cow’s milk full time but hey ho.

She only ever bit me once when I did BF though and I am intrigued how it feels with more teeth? (She was a gummy thing)

Did someone above actually say they find it weird after 9 months or did I read that wrong?! What the hell am I supposed to do with my 10 month old who is too young for cows milk and needs milk alongside his food until he's 12 months?! Views on breastfeeding in this country are just so wrong.

Mine turns 2 in a fortnight and I’m still breastfeeding. From the start I said I’d feed till 2 because that’s the WHO recommendation. Beyond that it’s really up to him. He does say Milk! or Feed me! or put his hand down my top but usually not when we’re out. I’ve started saying no if it’s night time or shortly before a meal.

I agree that breastfeeding has been good for his health. Other people’s kids constantly seem to have runny noses whereas mine never does. He’s had a couple of colds and a norovirus that would have resulted in hospitalisation if I hadn’t been breastfeeding. I was sick of it after the first six months but kept going because of the health benefits.

I actually wish he’d stop because the hormones are ruining my sex drive and preventing me losing weight because I’m constantly hungry, and I’m sick of being clawed at. But parenting is about self sacrifice so I’ll keep soldiering on until he wants to stop. I won’t be having another child though, partly because I’d feel obliged to breastfeed again and it’s been such a huge burden. It really limits how much help anyone can give you because you’re the only one who can feed the baby.

@BeardofZeus

She only ever bit me once when I did BF though and I am intrigued how it feels with more teeth? (She was a gummy thing)

Ds had a full set of teeth at 18mo (got his first 2 teeth at 4mo). It doesnt feel any different whilst they are actually feeding, but if they're being lazy or falling asleep on the breast, they do tend to hold on to the nipple with there teeth and leave a fill set of marks 😮😂

To answer the question about Why not feed when out and about - it isn’t very comfortable for me any longer - she’s taller, I can’t just pop her onto my lap and feed as comfortably.. I still feed her on flights - helps her calm down. But also I don’t think she really needs it in a time sensitive manner the way she did as a tiny baby. It’s a source of comfort and helps us connect and calm down after a busy day etc, but if she’s just hungry / thirsty then a snack or water will do when we are out and about.

Brilliant op

My friend breast fed her son till about 4.
My daughter now helps at classes with breast feeding mothers who are struggling.

@milkandmoreso how did you avoid ever doing night feeds? Please tell me your magical secret, I’m still feeding my two year old every two hours overnight