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.

I cannot take you seriously. I think you are having fun at other peoples expense.

No I’m not. You’re saying extended breastfeeding - a norm and benefits child is comparable to delayed toilet training. It is not.

And on today's edition of: 'things I'll be telling my therapist 20 years from now'.

Weird.

Part of the benefit of human milk for children is the anti body exchange. If a child is fighting an illness the body recognizes this via the breast and produces the antibodies the child needs.

Adults who have human milk will drink it from a cup same as cow milk but human milk is healthier from humans be that for children direct from the human or for adults or children from a cup

The oldest I BF any of my children was 2, it was very convenient as we were renovating a house which wasn't very hygienic for washing cups and it helped her to settle at night. I could easily have just given her a cup at any stage from 12 months, she wasn't really bothered either way.

All children are different, one of my boys simply weaned himself onto a cup at six months, whilst eating with us at the table in the evening.

Children lose the ability to latch when they lose their milk teeth, the world natural weaning age is 4-7 years old, with an average weaning age of 4 years old.

Therefore, breastfeeding naturally stops when dictated to by biology.

Genuine question, with no agenda. If your child had a friend over for a sleepover, would your child ask to breastfeed? Would you be comfortable with feeding them with their friend there?

As an adult, I don't think I would like to have very clear memories of sucking my mums tits.

Yes he did actually used to express to me when the baby was very young that he was jealous that she fed so much more than he did.

My answer was always that he didn’t need it in the day like she did as he could have food and drink, yet that he could have his bedtime milk as usual. He accepted this.

Although I did let him feed when he came to visit us in hospital for the first time.

I found all this so amazing when I was feeding. And the colours of the milk that people produce depending on how their body is responding! Sometimes more yellow, sometimes with a blueish hue. The science behind it all is incredible.

Whether you like David Walliams is a bit beside the point.

The point was that those sketches showed a grown man being breastfed. I don’t suppose for a minute you are advocating that. The salient point is, however, where does that line get crossed - from something natural and healthy to something ridiculous.

I’m not saying I know; I’m just asking where you would draw that line - on the assumption you do draw it.

Or not, if someone is actively encouraging it.

The antibody thing is interesting, all four of my children caught Chicken Pox when my youngest child was a couple of weeks old and BF. The oldest three had a fairly standard dose of the illness, the youngest had just two tiny spots and wasn't really ill at all. It probably gave her immunity though as she has never caught Chicken Pox later in life. I had shingles at the same time!

I loved breast feeding my children but I’ve got to be honest after only three months I finished with each. I don’t remember why specifically as it was years ago and they are now adult but both only got 3 months. Maybe something happened physically or mentally with me that made me go onto formula after the same time span for both. They weren’t any more ill than anyone else at school and don’t suffer any particular ailments now. I don’t think I could ever have been in a place where I wanted to carry on for years.

"Or not" what?

A woman cannot force a child to breastfeed. When they lose their milk teeth they naturally lose the ability to latch. No woman can 'actively encourage' them to continue breastfeeding when they can no longer physically latch.

So many judgmental comments. But lovely to see lots of positive ones too!

I admit I found feeding bigger toddlers from about 2 years plus weird. Then I started breastfeeding, learned more about it and become so passionate about all things breastfeeding! I BF until 3 years 4 months and have trained as a breastfeeding supporter.

It's such a shame feeding older kids isn't more normalised and it takes people being open about it educate everyone so thank you OP

Honestly, you need to give it a break. Your sentences just don't make any sense.

@Leftrightmiddle I'm pretty sure the antibody protection is for newborn and young babies and doesn't apply once they are 5 years old.

It would take something pretty exceptional for me to feed him in public now. A broken leg maybe?!

I wouldn’t do it on the school playground no and would only do it at all if he asked.

Where did I mention force? As is clear from this thread, many people think that some mothers encourage this activity way beyond what is considered the norm.

I’ve never seen any stat for the self weaning age to start at 4. It’s always put at 2 and many sources put the upper age at closer to 4.

Let's be honest,
"His mother breast fed him until he was six" sounds like something you hear said in a documentary about a serial killer.

I know it’s hard to keep up with the questions OP, but I’m genuinely curious about what you would do if your child was one of the small minority who remain able to latch despite losing milk teeth. Do you have a cut off in your own mind, or would you continue as long as your child wanted to, even if it got as far as secondary school?

The level of hostility towards anyone who is not 'conforming' or 'questions' and has the temerity to do so is a bit unsettling.
So the message is clear ladies. You must breastfeed. Not only must you do so, you must do it with multiple children. And for as long as they want. For that makes you a true mother and woman.
This is the lesson of today on this thread.

I have a question, @TandemFeeder. If you are feeding a toddler and then give birth, you are presumably producing milk all through pregnancy. Does the colostrum kick in for the newborn in the usual way?