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.

[allwaysthebaddie]

startail did i read that right that you breast fed till your DD had adult teeth? Y7 ?? My stomach just turned! Sort of reminds me of that little britain sketch!

Different strokes for different folkes and all thats not for me!!! Sorry but i find it creepy after 2.

[CaseyShraeger]

Ah, Little Britain -- now I think we do have full house on our bf bingo card. Good game, everyone.

[EauRouge]

[SquinkiesRule]

Mine weaned themselves. Older one at nearly two and younger one at just past two. Dd was bottle fed.
I don't see any problem with it. My two friends breastfed their boys till nearly 5, both can remember and neither is scarred for life, they are well adjusted young men, one got married recently.
It tastes like cantalope.

[Ilovesunflowers]

As an ex teacher I find it a little strange to think school age children might still be breastfed. They are so grown up at school - writing stories, independence etc. It just doesn't sit well with me that they might still be breastfed at this age.

It's not wrong as such - it's just my feelings.

[Absoluteeightiesgirl]

Casey
My mistake for not including a selection of criteria to support my opinion. I assumed, wrongly, that it would be obvious what point I was trying to make without it being torn apart in a rather pedantic manner.
In answer to your questions no, I didn't do it myself and no I don't like seeing it either. I think it looks odd and cannot see the point of breast feeding children until they are of age where they ask for it themselves.
As I have pointed out, that is simply MY opinion. What others close to do is up to them.

[allwaysthebaddie]

Im genuinly curious to know if this is a class or race thing to breast feed after 3. Is there any proven research that says it improves the child life in any way.

Also do you think it would have any kind of effect on the child with their friends if they were breast feeding,5yr upwards, how there friends (children ) would perseive them.

casey if it WAS essential to have breast milk at age 5 - wouldnt it be available to buy is shops, in the milk fridge and also i find it strange you are happy your child has a language delay so you can keep on breastfeeding......

[ChestyNut]

Each to their own.

On a serious note if I may ask, is there a nutritional/health benefit once a child is eating a full and varied diet?

Yet to have DC but like to know the facts incase.

[Absoluteeightiesgirl]

I was only able to breast feed one of mine. I became almost obsessed with it. I breastfed her until she was a year old then she sort of stopped herself. She then ended up getting just about every illness and allergy, finishing off with leukaemia

I felt very irrationally bit pissed off after listening to my midwife going on and on about how important it was health wise ad breast fed babies were healthier blah blah blah.

[EauRouge]

Sorry to hear about your DD's leukaemia, Absolute :(

Chesty- Yes, there are still health benefits- breastmilk has loads of vitamins and minerals in a very easy to absorb form. There are also antibodies to help fight infection (a child's immune system isn't fully mature until around 5-6 years old). It also contains stem cells. The action of breastfeeding helps to shape a child's jaw and palate which can help to prevent conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea. There has been very little research though, and scientists still don't know all of the things that make up human milk.

If you're interested in reading more then this is a good place to start.

[Antipag]

Well the opening line of 'most mums give up breast feeding when their baby is about six months' proves what a load of unresearched, inaccurate bias BS this article is. I fed till DS1 was nearly 4 (had to stop DS2 when he was 1 for medical reasons). Do we really need to go into the benefits of breast milk? It doesn't suddenly stop being beneficial when a child reaches a certain age. I really don't understand why people think cows milk is preferable and 'socially acceptable' and breast milk is not. In many developing countries mun's breast feed the elderly as well because they are unable to digest anything else. Is that wrong? Not IMO.

[Inertia]

Casey and EauRouge - I think you might be calling bingo a bit early on this one.

We haven't yet had the bodily fluids comparison ( "wouldn't pee in middle of restaurant therefore babies should only be BF in the loo" ), nor a mention of only "discrete" breastfeeding being acceptable from people who don't get the discreet / discreet distinction.

[gimmecakeandcandy]

I am one on of the world's biggest fans of bf but this article is - a I agree - sensationalised and to say she will bf until the child to teenage years is going beyond what breastfeeding gives to a baby or a child.

[thegreylady]

I think each to her own and I would never judge another woman for her choices.To me bf past age 2 is just odd but that's one opinion.

[Antipag]

It is VERY unusual for a child to continue to feed once all the milk teeth have gone. The article is skewed enough but the comments below are ridiculous. People's perception of breast feeding in this country is still terrible IMO. I don't know when it began but I know a lady who had her child in the 70's and when she told her doctor she planned to breastfeed he said 'but surely YOU can AFFORD not to breastfeed'. I think the media often portray EBF in the same way as this article, with the subtle undercurrent of 'this woman is crazier than a box of frogs' running through it.

[OxfordBags]

I can tell you for a fact that my Ds, who is nearly 2, can walk and talk whilst BFing. The child has a bright future in the circus, if nothing else!

These mags are trashy bollocks for thickos who get off on bosom-hoiking over boring-ass shit presented as sensationalism.

Anyway, humans lose the ability to suckle at about 8 at the most, so she won't be able to Bf him into his teens (like the mag dodn't persuade her to say that purely for the shock value, pfthththth).

People who have a problem with Bfing or extended breastfeeding are the ones with the issues, not the mothers doing the nursing. Nothing more lovely and natural to BF (if it's right for you). We have so much fun, as well as bonding, me and DS. He brings my breasts presents and all sorts!

BTW, most women who Bf beyond 6 months or 1 yr often do it very privately exactly because of idiotic notions like those expressed in the Closer comments and all too often on MN, so the real figures of how many mothers nurse for how long are totally unworkoutable.

[OxfordBags]

Btw, I am disappointed that no-one has mentioned babies stopping once they have teeth. I have my dabber hovering over that one on my bingo card!

[BubblegumPie]

Nobody has said, "Not once they have teeth" yet.
I like that one, because not only can you pull the universal milk teeth argument, but also MIL was born with teeth so I have a handy real life example of why that one in particular is crap.

[BubblegumPie]

xpost with oxford

[BubblegumPie]

moresnow six months?! I'm impressed!

[Enfyshedd]

DD is nearly 9mo and doesn't like formula. I returned to work a fortnight ago and have never had much success with expressing apart from the first few weeks, so DD's just down to evening/night/first thing in the morning feeds, then water during the day when she's with the CM or DP. She's had some solids since 4mo (one meal a day up to 6mo) & has been a 3 meals a day plus snacks girl since 6.5mo apart from when she was ill over new year.

How long did I expect to BF for? I have no idea - I don't think I built up any expectations about it. I was pleased to make it past 6 weeks which was the point at which my DM had to give up as her supply wasn't enough for me. I was especially pleased as DD spent her first week in SCBU and I had to express daily until she was discharged.

How long DO I expect to BF for? Again, I have no idea - DD currently co-sleeps and I imagine it will tail off once she goes into her own bed/room. When will that happen? When she seems ready for it is the best answer I can give - DP accepted and now supports the co-sleeping after initially being reluctant to the idea, so it's working for us as DD still seems to prefer the comfort of me or her DF when she's with us (although she's apparently napping well for the CM - might ask them for tips soon...).

[ChestyNut]

Thankyou eau