AIBU to be surpised at an almost 7 year old still being breastfed?

[Toomanycuppas]

Met up for lunch with friends we rarely see last week and was not aware she was still b/f. Almost 7 year old came running back from the park, went to the mum and lifted her top up and she said "no, it's not an appropriate time for that".

I can understand that it's normal for the child but wouldn't they be teased by school friends if it's asked for/done in public?

Oh who cares frankly.Haven't you seen Little Britain series 2?

Well I'd shift in my chair a bit if that happened to me, but then I'm pretty cheeky so I'd ask if she could top up the milk in my coffee if she had some going spare.

Tbh, the woman sounds smart to me. She considered her company and put them first so she's not a die hard, maybe she's just trying to save on cash :P

YANBU but won't end well.

meh - none of your business, really

the mother dealt with as she saw fit, the child presumably acquiesced and all was well...

the child will lose the ability to suckle pretty soon anyway (usually happens at age 7 ish)

I would find it odd at first simply because it's something that is pretty unusual. However, each to their own I guess!

Yeah, YANBU to be surprised, but going beyond that and if you were to start judging, then you are. Up to them really.

It wouldn't bother me enough to start a thread on MN about it. She can do what she likes. Plus she told the child 'no'. I assume the schoolfriends don't know.

Snoooooreeeeeeeeeeee

is it the weekend? school holiday?

whoooooo cares!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

YANBU.

I'd be surprised given how unusual it is in this country to breastfeed past a few weeks let alone a few years, but I'd probably just think 'fair play' and nothing more.

I stopped feeding dd with a heavy heart at 16 months, but I can fully understand how and why others carry on.

YANBU, Extended breastfeeding isn't my thing, but I vaguely see why some people chose to go on to age two or three...whatever floats their boat blah blah. But SEVEN? Why on earth does a seven year old still want to breastfeed for feck's sake? No doubt I will be flamed for saying this, but surely there's a point where it just gets a bit weird.

of course yanbu to be surprised

Ridiculous!!

There was a thread last night about a dd starting her periods at age 9!! And that's not uncommon these days. Hope that doesn't happen to this 7 yr old!

I agree with somewhere.

Whose needs are being met here? I imagine the child is capable of drinking/eating properly by now - that all her nutritional needs are being met without her diet having to be 'supplemented'? Wonder what your friend's reasons would be for continuing this long.

Jolly odd IMHO.

Olympia, really? So potentially two years between being breastfed and starting periods!

I would find that quite odd too, yanbu to be a bit . The child needs a helping hand towards the weaning process

My friend was 9 when she started her periods

I agree with somewhere there has to be a cut off somewhere, or where do you stop. I read in a magazine of a 13 year old boy being bf still , that is just plan mad and yes I deeply questioned the motives of the mother.

I agree with olympia

With things like this the only issue I see is if the child relies on it then it could be a potential problem when it comes to normal 7 year old things like sleepovers and brownie camps.

A seven year old shouldn't still be bf. Even the mother has an inkling of this, otherwise she wouldn't have used the word 'inappropriate', meaning that she only does it in private .

It is about the needs of the mother and not the child. The child should have total independance in regards to eating and drinking. I wouldalso find it strange that a seven year old would come to their mother to be fed during play. There is lots going on in that senario.

I disagree. A lot of sad attitudes and humphy faces here. She prob said it was inappropriate as some people would react this way, as they do to a toddler being fed.

A 13 yr old is highly unlikely to be physically able to bf as their adult teeth will be in and palate changes, so latching is unlikely.

The child is only six then.
I am surprised the child asked in public, none of the older nursing children I have met would ask after being three / four years old.
I would be even more surprised if the mother was not well on the path of weaning and had been doing so for several years. Again nursing older children is done at the childs request not the mothers IYSWIM.

But if the child came running after playing, it was through thirst, so really should have instinctively wanted water, not to be bf. There could be a bit of learned helplessness going on there.

Good god.. at 7 I could cook a basic meal for myself... I cannot imagine why on earth a child that age would be breastfed.