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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to breastfeed my toddler in public?

367 replies

RainbowsFriend · 03/12/2012 21:10

My 18 month DD still breastfeeds a lot. Day and night, if I'm around and not at work.

I don't have a problem with this, (although I would like more sleep! Grin) but it's increasingly becoming awkward when out and about, as toddlers don't cuddle in nicely but squirm and pop on and off a lot.

Today we were in a garden centre cafe, and having polished off most of her lunch, half of my sandwiches AND most of a flapjack, DD wanted mummy milk.
So I obliged. As discreetly as possible with one top up/ on top down, DD tucked in under my jumper and facing a wall.

Then all I can hear is the group of mums on the table behind me saying "it shouldn;t be allowed when they're that age - they should be down to morning and evening feeds MAXIMUM - in fact they should be on formula/cows milk by 6 months/a year" etc. There were about 5 mums all loudly discussing it....

I think my daughter should be allowed mummy milk for as long as she wants it personally. She's not still going to be feeding aged 8 - and she's only 18 months now! I am getting VERY fed up with stares when this happens and really don't want to be confined to the house. I could ask her to wait, but she doesn't really understand that yet - and just asks louder and louder Grin

So WIBU to feed her in public?

OP posts:
wreckedone · 16/03/2013 20:27

YWNBU. My nearly 22mo still nurses morning and evening and in between very rarely if he's hurt himself badly or is ill. I nursed him at playgroup yesterday as he'd been belted round the head with a wooden bus and had a fit as a consequence-got some very odd looks off other parents, but couldn't care less. We also call it Mummy Milk-milk from cows is Cow Milk, so milk from mummy is Mummy Milk....

raisah · 16/03/2013 20:42

I do still feed my 2 yr ds out & about discreetly & no problems so far. I have tried weaning her off but because I work f/t its been hard. She sees it as a bonding time for us as we've been separated during the day. It makes her happy so Im happy to oblige.

Littlefish · 16/03/2013 20:52

ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD
ZOMBIE THREAD

chubbychipmonk · 16/03/2013 21:00

Ermm. . Not feeling breast feeding an 18 month old, kinda makes me squirm a bit & personally I wouldn't do it. . .

HOWEVER if I was in public & saw someone do it I wouldn't be so rude as to stare & then discuss it loudly so that the mother could hear me. That's just fucking ignorant. I'd have turned round & told them to mind their own bloody business unless they needed some extra milk for their tea!!

MrsMoosickle · 16/03/2013 21:03

What's a Zombie Thread?

DrCoconut · 16/03/2013 21:14

DS asks for booby now. He will be 2 in a few weeks time.

chubbychipmonk · 16/03/2013 21:32

Ah, just realised its a zombie thread. Means its way old & been dealt with. Look at the date it was first posted.

Mother2many · 18/03/2013 21:05

Don't let these people bother you...your child is what's important.

I also bf in public and I did up until my child was almost 4!!! My family gave me the biggest issues, but I could care less what other people think!

In fact if I were you, I would of turned around and let them have a good look! or I would of at least said something to them.

At your toddler's age, I was bf ALL THE time too!!

Proud of ya!

idshagphilspencer · 18/03/2013 21:11

zombie thread

Tancub · 18/03/2013 23:04

YANBU. Keep going for as long as you and your little one like. Nothing wrong with 'mummy milk' either in my view.

I sat and listened to my boss slag off mothers who bf their toddlers to colleagues. Even though it wasn't directed at me as I'm quite sure she didn't realise I was still feeding 20mo back then, it's not easy to ignore people when they voice their opinions so loudly about something so personal.

I also don't understand why some people think because a child can ask for it they shouldn't get it. Does this apply to other things, like a sleep, a drink, a cuddle?

msjones80 · 19/03/2013 00:36

Of course you arent! You're doing something wonderful for your son and if the rest of the world has a problem with it, it's "their" problem.

Psst, a scarf helps Wink

MyShoofly · 19/03/2013 01:59

I didn't bf either of mine and I still think YANBU at all. I don't get the judgements many are making on here....toddlers are so young - why deny them this source of comfort and excellent nutrition if they want it and if mum wants to give it just because some people are wired about breasts?

those woman were rude to make loud unsolicited comments.

xMinerva · 19/03/2013 06:50

I fed my ds2 in public whenever he wanted it & he fed until very recently. He's 2 1/2yrs old now.

It didn't occur to me not to feed him when he wanted. I never got anyone comment either.

People who think it's a bit "yuck" or "icky" or "sick" to see a human toddler being fed human milk in public are probably a bit "sick" themselves.

YANBU.

xMinerva · 19/03/2013 06:51

Oh and my son used to ask for "boobie" in public.

Bet "mummy milk" sounds better now doesn't it. Wink

xMinerva · 19/03/2013 06:51

Oh and just realised it's a Zombie thread

Sorry Blush

pigletmania · 19/03/2013 07:35

Yanbu at all but mummy milk does sound a bit twee, I prefer breastmilk

HardWorkerNotAFool · 19/03/2013 09:20

Who gives a crap about when the thread was first started? Hmm Doesn't mean that it's no more relevant today.

"Zombie thread" or not, OP, YWNBU. I fed DS until he was 16 months old and he stopped of his own accord. I still miss breastfeeding him and would have happily continued for much longer. In fact, DS is now almost 4yo, and my breasts are STILL producing milk!

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