I still breastfeed my 5 year-old

[TandemFeeder]

I’ve had another baby too so am now a tandem feeder. Happy to answer any questions.

But losing milk teeth can takes years. My DS lost his last one age 14. Or do you mean just the front ones? If you mean all of them then it could be ages.

Wow. Just wow. What an awful thing to say. There’s literally no need to compare these things - they’re not comparable or related in any way. But while you are, there is 0 need to breastfeed until 6 but there IS a need to use formula, whether that’s for physical reasons or mental health reasons. People like you are the reason women who need to formula feed become so mentally stressed and harbour such guilt for what is a necessary and life saving measure.

While I'm sure it's nutrient dense and beneficial - so is good. societal and social norms are also beneficial and exist for a reason. Have you considered the hidden harms - like your child's core memories when they look back at this time, they might be teased at school or just simply look back and question why they were breast fed at 5. Is it more for you than the child?

I would feel weird if as a grown up, I could remember sucking my mum’s boobs…

I do remember and it does feel slightly weird. Mother stopped well before I started school though, around two and a half I imagine.

No. You’re right. I don’t know for definite. What I do know for definite is that extended breastfeeding is never harmful. It’s funny how people say back and watched those accusations flow and the second formula feeding is criticised the jump in with fact checking.

here is what we know.

Breast feeding is optimal.
Fornula feeding is an adequate alternative. It is better than nothing but it is not optimal.
Extended breastfeeds does not harm children, it comes with benefits.

So what I get curious about when mothers breastfeed well past the age our Western (or British) culture deems too old is they give all the health benefits of mother’s milk as the reason, which is great, but why not put that same milk in a cup? I just don’t understand why anyone would want their child (not their baby, not their infant) hanging off their boob rather than drinking the same liquid out of a cup? I ask as a mother myself.

Absolutely not judging you. By “can” and “cannot” I’m including: couldn’t latch, couldn’t produce milk, mentally couldn’t do it, weirded you out, had to go to work, psychologically draining etc etc etc

Which is the difference re breastfeeding a 5/6 year old. You CAN stop doing that.

The context of the thread is not BFvFF ,the context is the age that OP is still BF her child to . Many people on this thread who disagree with OP are BF their babies!

I don't understand why anyone is bashing formula feeders. Formula is perfectly fine for a baby's needs. Just because 'breast is better', doesn't mean formula isn't good enough.

The baby's needs should be balanced with the mother's needs. I breastfed till one year each time; I found it really difficult. After six weeks, my DC also had a bottle at night, which helped them settle better. We are not all highly efficient milking machines.

cautionary warning about her teeth as well as jaw shape

But why would you stop if it benefits the child to continue?

If your ds tells kids at school that you’re still breastfeeding, he’s going to get bullied. And parents will think you’re weird. Just stop. Your kid doesn’t need it.

Loosing latch is more about shape of the mouth.

For all the concerns others on this thread have raised and more.

My heart goes out to you. I had difficulties early on with both of mine and needed some help.

My advice would be to have professional support lined-up in advance. First time round I went to a breastfeeding group whilst still pregnant and got to know the leader who was a lactation consultant. I then got her to come over straightaway after the baby was born as had latch problems.

Second time round I asked to meet the hospital’s infant feeding specialist in advance and then arranged for her to come and observe one of our first feeds.

Wishing you all the best for September.

Dear? What are you 90?

You simply cannot say extended breastfeeding does not harm.

There have been PPs on this thread alone fed until later on that have issue with it.

This is creepy and weird. You’re doing this for you not him. You probably need some therapy to find out why. He’ll get bullied at school for still sucking his mums t*ts. When do you intend to stop / if ever?

I think this is relevant. Also age 6 you will have clear memory of being breastfed which if you are a boy might be a bit unsettling?

Not on of the concerns on this thread come from a place of fact. They come from some warped views and not knowing facts.

It doesn’t. There is not a single piece of peer reviewed research that cites any disadvantaged or negative effects.

So it is for you as well as him then.

Re shape of mouth, shorter duration or no breastfeeding is changing the shape of the palate and also other structures in the skull.

it’s thought that this has led to an increase in sleep apnea, moth breathing etc. (nose breathing is much healthier, helps anxiety and all sorts of other health related things)

it’s certainly led to higher likelihood of over crowded mouths. Extended Bf helps to spread out the teeth more (clumsy explanation) which helps with cleaning.

So PPs who were EB’d who have come on and said they have their reservations are not fact? Not to be believed? Not evidence?

ok.