To think their is NOTHING wrong with extended breastfeeding or wet nursing?

[Thisisaname]

Look at the comments below

I was researching extended breastfeeding and came across this.
I see nothing wrong with this, I wouldn't be 'scared' for life if I could remember being breast fed or found out I was given someone else's milk.
I think the only 'scarring' would come from going from the natural environment of being fed from something to then finding out a large majority find it sexual, not the actual feeding itself.

Another one skeptical of the one who anesthetizes children with mouths full of rotten teeth because of EBF.

When you hear hoofbeats, think horse, not zebra. It's candy/soda/poor dental care.

I agree kiwiinkits, for me bf is for babies and toddlers not something a 5,6,7 plus child should still be doing. They should be moving on from that, yes that is why we wean toddlers off dummies and bottles

Teir was someone I know of who did bf her child and believed in natural ter, weaning and so let the child decide fr themselves when to stop, this child was coming up to their 7 birthday and still was bf, she had to set a stop date and intervene to wean this child from the breast

If EBF causes tooth decay then half of the world would have no teeth.

I think the evidence shows that breastmilk on clean teeth does no harm - it's breastmilk combined with other sugars which is harmful. But as it doesn't sit around in the mouth (like liquids from bottles can do) it's unlikely to do much harm at all.

Responsibleadult - what a load of rubbish - please don't post such inaccurate crap.

The rotten teeth from Bfing is a lie and a myth. If BF tots have dental problems, it is because of other factors in their diet/lifestyle. Every study done on the topic shows that breastmilk does not cause decay. Shame on you for peddling such bullshit.

Bottles and dummies are not really comparable with breastfeeding. Bottles and dummies can cause problems with teeth whereas breastfeeding helps to aid proper jaw development and Bertie is right that breastmilk is not the cause of tooth decay (why would we have evolved to produce milk that rots our babies' teeth? That makes no sense).

Not sure what the point of your story is, piglet- some children take longer than others to wean. It's normal for children to reach milestones at different points and it's normal for parents to change their minds about their parenting choices.

How would people feel if I said (with evidence to back me up) that mothers should feed for 5,6,7 years? The word 'should' is horrible. The only 'should' that mothers need to do is make their own choice that suits them based on evidence and not pressure from others.

Simply not true about decay. We were told this when dd had decay problems but found out years later it was due to acid reflux. Consultant patiently explained to us how it couldn't possibly be breast milk. Would have thought anaesthetist would have known this (shrugs).

Sorry, that should say 'with no evidence to back me up'.

Oh we have the its sick and disgusting blah blah blah brigade... Erm.no iys normal term bfeeding but we are so.indocttinated by breast=sex culture that people cant seperate the two.

There is a great blog (has been.posted on mnet) about a mum who lived in mongolia for a while. All babies bfeed there and its normal to feed up to age seven+ in fact the longer a child feeds the better. They see bfeeding and bmilk.as amazing. Its worth reading.

My eldrr boys arent freaked out or repulsed by bfeeding, they see it as something normal babies and children do.

I find the name calling a bit sad tbh. If you dont like it then dont do it. If it works for another mum and child then whats it to.you? Its easy to.say its disgusting/sick etc over the internet. Would any of you say it in rl life to someone that was bfeeding? If you would then i am very glad i dont know you.

Can't find the original blog but here's a copy- Breastfeeding in the Land of Genghis Khan

As always, these threads bring out high emotions. Those who dislike bf older babies/children of course are entitled to their opinion, but I wonder what the reaction would be if I said similar things about people who used bottles/dummies past the age of 1. No doubt there would be outrage!

The fact is that unless you have actually done extended bf you really don't know what you're talking about. You may dislike seeing it, but you certainly are in no way close to understanding it. It's a completely natural process and evolves and changes as the baby/child gets older. It's about far more than nutrition, has very little to do with what the mother does or doesn't want and is a really lovely thing to do for your child (if that's what you choose). Everyone has their cut off point, ime it's different for each mother and each child. I imagine it would be unlikely I would be still feeding a teenage child for instance. I bf DS1 until just over 3 and DS2 is still bf at 2.5. When he will stop is anyone's guess.

People shouldn't feel the need to justify how they feed and nurture their own children (and yes, bf is about both those things, not just nutrition). There are loads of myths, spread by the ignorant and the plain nasty.

Thanks eau i love that. It really shows the cultural/societal.difference in attitudes towards bfeeding!

kiwiinkits is it unnecessary babying to feed the same children milk made for a cow?

Well eau we are all entitled to our opinion and for me it's not right. I don't see why an older chid needs to be bf its like babying them and not wanting them to grw up, yes parents have to sometimes intervene to guilde their chidren forward

I would never say or pass commebpnt ypto a mother if I saw it but I would privately think to myself. There was an article a while ago in a woman's weekly of a mother still bf her 13 year old boy, and a picture of him accompanying it. Obviously he has not self weaned and really ought to. I was seeing that

Yes, we are entitled to our opinions but when you are saying that other parents are doing something wrong (even though it's not based on any evidence) and that they should stop you surely must expect that opinion to be challenged? If you don't want to breastfeed a 5, 6 or 7 yo then that's fine.

It's not physically possible for a 13 yo to breastfeed, I call bullshit on Women's Weekly.

As a mother that bf her toddler (and intend to carry on for as long as ds chooses), I can't help but feel disappointed when I read/hear other WOMEN say that extended bf is wrong or makes them feel sick.

Western society has it all wrong when it comes to what's actually "normal".

Also, I thought that biologically, mothers are programmed to feed their babies until about 4 years of age or when they lose their sucking reflex.

But it's only considered 'babying' because you think it's something only babies should do. I actually don't agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion on breastfeeding. Sure, if you don't want to do it, then don't (hell, I gave up at 12 weeks so I'm hardly one to talk) but saying that is disgusts you and that it's not 'normal' is just wrong. It's only not considered 'normal' because we've had this breasts=sex=women's body are property idea shoved down our throats for generations now, and completely forgotten that breast feeding is actually the biological norm and breastfeeding well into toddlerhood and early childhood is actually very normal and natural too and not something to be gawped at. Maybe if you stopped clutching your pearls and saying how disgusting it is, and actually look at why you think that, we'd make some progress.

Women's weekly also featured the kind of crazy folk who breastfeed their dogs. So I'm going to take anything they publish with a handful of salt.

I get all sorts of comments from family members because ds3 still has a bottle before bed at 22 months. He enjoys it and it obviously makes him happy. I don't have the heart to take it away from him yet, I'd feel the same if he was bf.

Saying that I think certain family members would feel the same if I was still bf him. I was having trouble with the newborn latching so gave him a cup feed, which the toddler decided he wanted to finish and I could tell my mum thought it was a little gross!

why are you reading Closer? Or rather read closer, but dont them complain after!!!

you realise their ABC profile is thick celeb obsessed divs dont you????

Its a bit like reading the comments on a EDL website, and them complaining people are racist

NO food we give our babies/children is as good as breast milk, it's a fact, no matter how 'varied' the diet.
I wish people would get a clue.

Also,
Breastfeeding and co sleeping creates emotional stability in children, which ultimately makes them more independent.
Why does a child need independence anyway?