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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

At what age does breastfeeding become weird?

594 replies

TransatlanticCityGirl · 12/05/2012 23:16

My MIL made a comment today about a mother who breastfed her child until she was 5 years old - as in, 'can you believe it???? that's just not right!'

Which got me wondering, where do most people draw the line in terms of how old is too "weird"?

OP posts:
Gincognito · 12/05/2012 23:18

Gawd, this is a tired ol' topic.

DuelingFanjo · 12/05/2012 23:18

what do you mean by weird? weird for who?

and what do you mean by 'am I being unreasonable?'

DuelingFanjo · 12/05/2012 23:19

ps, I think you should definitely stop when they have moved into student digs.

StealthPolarBear · 12/05/2012 23:20

I'm 32. Breastfeeding not weird to me yet.

pinkyp · 12/05/2012 23:22

Weird? Why would it get weird?

rainydaysarebad · 12/05/2012 23:22

This was a topic on BBC Breakfast this morning. There was a woman who breast fed her daughter up to the age of 4. Personally, I think you should stop once a child is weaned - 5 year olds don't need breast milk nutrionally, and it stops them from building their own immune system.

EclecticShock · 12/05/2012 23:23

I think it's personal, depends on mother and child. I think it's nutritionally not required after 18 months in the uk but that's just my opinion. In other countries or cultures that might differ. I stopped at a year and although I would have happily gone on, ds just didnt seem to want/ need it any longer. As the child gets older, you're probably talking about only feeding once a day IMO. Personally, I would have stopped at 2, but that's just me.

2shoes · 12/05/2012 23:24

I am glad you asked this as i have asked on the other thread.
I am trying ot understand why someone would choose to BF a 4 year old like the one in the news thread.
why do people do it? if a child is eating food, do they need it, please some one tell me

StarshitTerrorise · 12/05/2012 23:24

How can it stop them building their own immune system Confused

manicbmc · 12/05/2012 23:25

I'd say the woman at a school concert trying to bf her very angry 3 year old was weird. The kid clearly didn't want to be bf in the middle of the afternoon and just wanted to run up and down shouting 'knickers'. Hmm

As a nice bedtime comfort thing, I see no weirdness. A lovely way for a child to snuggle down.

Gincognito · 12/05/2012 23:25

Oh but the correct answer is

'Any longer than I did/ plan to do it for is weird'

2shoes · 12/05/2012 23:25

but surely they can snuggle down with a teddy?

moajab · 12/05/2012 23:26

How does it stop them building up their own immune system?
And breastmilk continues to have nutritional and emotional benefits. Children are weaned at 6 months but still need milk - it's up to the parents if this comes from a cow, a sheep, a goat or their mum.

Gincognito · 12/05/2012 23:26

It stops them from building their own immune system?

WhereTF do people get this shit from?

StarshitTerrorise · 12/05/2012 23:27

I'm about to give birth to my 3rd and like it or not he's going to be bf forever.

In between bfing I have mourned the loss of a natural product no pharmaceutical company can replicate that has an effect for pretty much every ill.

manicbmc · 12/05/2012 23:27

I'd say up to about maybe 3 ish - you know the sort of age where you might be discouraging dependence on dummies/bottles. Or is that just me?

Noqontrol · 12/05/2012 23:28

I don't care what other people do. How old is too weird? Dunno, don't care. Why does it matter? You do what's right for you and your child.

moajab · 12/05/2012 23:29

The woman at the school concert was probably trying to stop her toddler from disrupting the concert. Ok, it didn't work. I've tried sweets, books, colouring to stop my toddler disrupting school concerts and they often don't work either, but no one thinks I'm wierd for trying it.

2shoes · 12/05/2012 23:29

why won't anyone answer my question, I AM trying to understand, but what ever thread I post on, people just get arsy

LoopyLoopsTootTootToots · 12/05/2012 23:29

All this 'when they eat solid food' bullshit annoys me. Most babies eat solid food by 6 months.

entropygirl · 12/05/2012 23:29

Why do people always blame the mum?

Having spent much of the day trying to BF my DD I can tell you that it is already impossible to feed them if they don't want to at 11mo let alone 5yo....

chandellina · 12/05/2012 23:29

Who cares? When is a child too old for a cuddle? That's basically what it is when my 5 year old nephew is breastfed. Yeah that's right and it's no one's blinking business whether he wants that or his teddy.

manicbmc · 12/05/2012 23:31

This kid was not up for a feed. She was struggling and kicking hell out of her mother as she got her boobs out and tried to force her onto them.

Maybe she should have asked her what she wanted as she was very articulate and saying 'no, mummy' very loudly.

rainydaysarebad · 12/05/2012 23:32

You pass antibodies through your breast milk which prevents child from making their own antibody memory cells. This is why breast fed children are least likely to catch ailments when exposed to them.

Really don't want to get into a discussion about breast feeding - I give my son 1 bottle of formula a day and want him weaned off my boobs by the time he's 1 year. I'm for formula and breast feeding. Yay!

Flisspaps · 12/05/2012 23:32

When the child decides they've had enough .