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.

It’s hanging out with the evidence that extended breast feeding is a safeguarding concern and bad for children.

Jokes aside, where do you they learnt it?

Does she only have milk teeth? Is her jaw that of a six year old ?
No so not comparable
The jaw changes along side losing first group of milk teeth. There for your 10 year old would not be able to BF regardless of still having some of her old teeth

....for once I am speechless.

BF 5 year olds, 6 year olds...what in the ever loving Jesus...

Stop the world I want to get off.

Really great questions! Thank you.

We’ve had a lot of involvement from health care professionals due to difficulties both I and my youngest (independently) have had. I can honestly say that the response we’ve had has been incredibly supportive. I’ve had more than one doctor go to great lengths to research whether certain drugs were safe whilst breastfeeding. One drug said in its accompanying small print blurb that it was not compatible with breastfeeding but my doctor consulted more up-to-date sources for me of her own initiative who confirmed it was in fact fine.

I’ve had more than one HV congratulate me for feeding so long. There was just one midwife who was a bit off about it asked when I was planning to wean. These responses suggest to me that extended breastfeeding (the official definition is breastfeeding beyond a year) is more common than many realise.

It’s so far not come up with teachers or with dentists.

I night weaned DS at 14 months and yes we were at the time co-sleeping (I can’t honestly remember now the exact age at which that stopped). I think we probably could have done it sooner and would try for sooner with my youngest.

I was explaining what my point meant, by way of using a different example.
I am aware wearing a nappy is different from breastfeeding.

You haven't made a joke.

Where is your evidence that bullying is always the parents' fault?

@sellotapechicken blimey your a bit angry. No my oldest is doing what kids do being mischievous and also he's going through the transition of having another sibling. I already told him he's too old to latch on now, as his he is weaned teeth etc. we love our science and biology functions. Plus the idea and the memory compared to the reality of it is very different. As he is starting to talk about crushes etc. For him it's more knowing that his connection and bond with me is still there. My youngest as well she's going through some mild regressions and panics about not being the youngest anymore. It's all natural and normal. Just got to take it in my stride. I personally don't care how anyone feeds their kids. I've got plenty of mum friends who mixed, formula and some exclusively pumped ( that was amazing to me). Main thing I was concerned with how they were. As we all had pnd badly at different stages. For me I couldnt pump I tried but boobs said no. So when emergencies came up baby took a bottle then went back to bf. 🙂. No fuss no worries.

Kids don’t need plenty of stuff but are given it?
I mean as humans there isnt much we need but life would be pretty awful without some nice stuff!

This came from comments that five year olds will naturally bully other kids about feeding, dummies and nappies. I responded to say I don’t think five year olds do naturally bully about that stuff, they learn it. Older children and adults are a different kettle of fish, this was about small kids. I think small children who say such things say them because they’ve been taught them.

I have said that this is how I, personally, am doing my bit to stop bullying. I want to raise kind, confident children who don’t engage and don’t bully. If I can do that then I will be damned proud of them. That poster wanted to know how I would stop bullying and, as I said, I can’t. But if I can raise decent people who say ‘I don’t accept that/I won’t join in with that’ then that’s what I feel I can do.

ETA - my feelings come from being badly bullied and from my supposed best friend joining in with the bullying but then wanting to be my best friend. I don’t want to raise kids like her, she was almost worse than them. I want to raise children who say ‘I won’t be joining in with that’. This is my opinion only.

Hear ? I still have clear memories from when I was 5 and I’m in my late 30s. I think it’s grim when they are old enough to remember to be honest .

I literally just answered.

Sure.

Breastmilk doesn’t loose nutrition? ! Surely you must know that children need certain vitamins and minerals to grow well. It’s part of a varied diet.

I cannot help but feel this thread is peculiar. The AMA aspect is not that much.

Can I ask a question ? Are those feeding 'later' in the UK or in the USA or somewhere else ?

One benefits the child. The other is a developmental concern.

They are interconnected.

Without providing any evidence. What you literally said - 'joking aside' - was: 'Where do you they learn it?'

Will there be a thread promoting how many children you should have soon ?
Just wondering.

There was an article in a paper the other day (can’t recall which) giving the average of how many kids every woman should have to support the human race. So, probably!

Those of us who breastfeeding past school age do also teach our children how to be 'normal' children. Yes, they do get comfort from bf (the closeness I suppose, rather than the actual milk itself), but they can also get comfort in other ways. My daughter gets upset at school, she is comforted with a cuddle from the teachers or whatever they do with all the other kids. When she's at friends houses or sleepovers wirb cousins and grandparents she can be comforted as any other child would be. I don't have to drop everything and run to her with my boobs. They're not anything different - they eat and drink from plates and cups, have playmates etc- they just might have a quick few minutes of boob (I hate that phrase tbh, but irs not really having a feed by this point because its literally a few mins) before bed, in the morning etc.

I've never told my child to keep it a secret. I don't know whether she's told any of her friends at school but to her, its a normal thing so she's not likely to go around saying anything because it's normal to her as having a glass of milk or whatever before bed, so nothing she'd probably think was something worth mentioning.

I think it's great you're breastfeeding older children. I breastfed mine, but one weaned himself off it at 1 yr old and the other at 2. I'd have been willing to go longer as I found it very relaxing.

The question I have is, are you worried the older one consumed all the colostrum meant for the newborn?

I'm in the UK.

Please do say if you live in the USA as it may explain some differences in understanding.

How?

It’s with the extended breast feeding is awful evidence.