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.

Did I though?

That’s not an answer though is it. You can hopefully stop your child being a bully, as we all should. How do you stop other kids bullying?

Posts like this make me smile because until your child leaves home at 18 or 21 or 35, they will always want to do something that you may disagree with.
Being a parent means you say 'No' sometimes.

It's really ok, you know, to say that word and follow through.

By raising decent kids who don’t bully and don’t join in with bullies. If more of us did that there would be less bullies. Which is exactly what I just said. I can’t stop other people being pricks but I can damned well do my bit. Which is what we should all do.

Well done! I am still feeding my 3 year old. I didn't think I'd get to 3 days in the beginning!!

So it’s only bullying now if the victim chooses to be a victim instead of standing up for themselves? Fuck me.

But their has to be a limit to that @ChinneyTits surely?

Have you seen the David Walliams “ Bitty” sketches?

Yes I do. Of course they wouldn’t because they know it’s not the norm and they wouldn’t want to embarrass their child either (one would hope). There’s no point saying well in other cultures it’s normal because lots of things are the norm in other cultures that we don’t do here.

Like I said before, once adult there is absolutely no discernible difference in people’s intelligence, health, life success etc. There isn’t a section of people living to 150 because they were breastfed long after our culture deems appropriate.

Which can finish at age 12 😧

Imagine starting high school and going home for some of mummy’s boobie.

and yes, I breast fed both mine until I went back to work.

Agree, but you weigh up when you want to say no and when it's really not a big deal, when they can continue to have something that has many benefits, if they want to. Shrug. It was a long time ago for me. I just remember my son stopped around 1, my daughter had health/allergy issues until 2 and it went on a bit longer. Not a biggie. Breastfeeding her after nursery was a really good way to reconnect.

I just think some people on this thread are really quite cruel about this topic, in a way they wouldn't be about someone using FF or using cloth nappies (or disposables). It's really NOT weird. It may not be the norm culturally, but it's fine? Will they go to bed tonight and think 'I'm so pleased I had a go at that woman who breastfed a toddler'. That's weird.

You’ve said the same thing again which shows you can’t actually stop someone else bullying your child. Of course we would all love to stop people raising bullies, but as you’ve agreed, we can’t stop that. Although according to the other poster OP can stop her child being bullied if she teaches him not to be a victim 🙄

Not meaning to be rude but can I ask why, beyond general brainwashing? There are zero medical benefits as far as I am aware to breastfeed this long.

Are you comparing breastfeeding a 6 year old to Martin Luther King?

Have you seen David Walliams behaviour towards other people, especially women? I couldn’t give a fuck with that disgusting, bullying prick says about anyone. And if that’s your argument? Some old tv show made by David Dickhead Walliams?

Lots of old tv shows said all sorts of things, thankfully most normal people don’t live their lives by what they say.

Brainwashing into what??

No, I’m comparing standing up for what’s right with standing up for what’s right. I was asked about bullying, I was responding about bullying.

'general brainwashing' - what does that even mean? Of course it's rude.

Because weaning is a process and it is slower for some and quicker for others.

Oh op please stop. I understand it is a comfort thing for you and your dc but if he or she is doing it for a few mins on a night, and manages fine for 2 weeks when you're on hol then they clearly don't it.

Your dc will be a laughing stock with their friends if they ever mention their bedtime rotuine.

Actually no you said we should ‘sort the bullying’ and then said we can’t actually stop other people bullying. Nobody is saying bullying is right, but the fact is it happens.

Good on you OP and others for responding so calmly and graciously to others on this thread.

My daughter fed until age 3, she's nearly 6 and remembers feeding, she will ask me about it and there's definitely no trauma lol. We discuss how she had milk from mummy and her older brother had milk from a bottle, and both of them grew big and strong. She would have continued for at least a few more months but I asked her to stop. Partially because of society's attitude! But as many have pointed out, by that age it's usually 2 mins at bedtime, hardly tying mum to the house or requiring any boobs out at school!!

My colleagues in India tell me both breastfeeding until 3+ and co sleeping until 7 years old is fairly normal and expected there. I looked it up and about 25% of breastfeeding mums continue past 24 months, especially in rural areas.

Which has been my point.

For those defending it who are getting a bit ratty at those who don’t approve of it, if OP didn’t think it was very ‘out there’ she wouldn't have done an AMA would she!

I said I can’t stop other people being pricks? I can’t stop my child being bullied but I can damned well stop them being a bully. And I said that was my bit?

You can encounter bullies at any point in life. There’s a bunch on this thread. You can’t stop other from bullying but you can be a decent persona and raise a decent person and that’s the best you can do. I’m not sure what sort of ‘gotcha’ you think you’re having, but by modelling decent behaviour and not accepting shitty behaviour I hope that helps raise strong, kind people who know their worth.

Surely the whole point of posting in AMA is to a) seek attention and b) provoke a reaction?

I am sure the OP (if this is a genuine post and not someone just bored to day) started her thread knowing full well she'd get a lot of comments that were not supportive.

She wasn't asking for advice, or sympathy, she was saying 'Ask me anything.'

A lot of women are bullied into breastfeeding it has benefits especially immunilogicaly when the baby is small and vulnerable beyond that nothing really.

No - but you seem to be suggesting the solution to bullying is to do nothing that might get you bullied. How is that remotely possible…?