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.

I read threads like this and wish my babies were little again so I could do everything the way I felt I wanted to, rather than just following my mother's instructions because I didn't KNOW any other women and hadn't found MN

If I could go back I would have slowed the fuck down on everything. Breastfeeding would have gone on as long as my children wanted it to. Ditto co-sleeping. And I wouldn't have all the guilt over toilet-training late and cuddling to sleep etc because I would know that actually, there was nothing wrong with following my instincts and giving my sons what they needed.

Would also like to compliment the bfing mothers on this thread who have responded to some really insulting posts with calm good humour and plenty of information.

If u don't feel your son would discuss it with his friends maybe he feels its not right? Which is an issue.

Greensleeves Don't beat yourself up. Sounds like you were a great mum lacking the support you needed.

Yes, you might be right there zcos, and I'm getting flippant 'cos it's late and I'm tired . Regarding the bullying, DS developed a unique name for it based on his earliest baby speech and if he did mention it I can't imagine anyone would have the faintest idea what he's on about, adult or child. You have a valid point with the boy/girl thing though, I really don't think him and his friends talk about much beyond superheroes etc

No-one knows outside of our immediate family, as far as I'm aware. As he got older it became more private naturally, iyswim. Just a cuddle at bedtime and sometimes in the morning, and he never talks about it to me or anyone else. I don't think he thinks twice about it, just takes it utterly for granted.

DH is supportive, yes. Anything for a quiet life! We also both believe, like Startail, that there is a lot of pressure to grow up too quickly in all kinds of ways.

oh fgs little boys ALL have elements of their life they don't discuss with their friends, or at least some of their friends. My 10y still has a ritual for cuddles and kisses - exact number and location of kisses - without which he cannot bear to go to bed! He calls me mummy and mama which he would probably NOT do at football practice. It's called a loving intimate relationship. Don't you have a private life? Why shouldn't a child?

If u don't feel your son would discuss it with his friends maybe he feels its not right? Which is an issue.

There are plenty of aspects of a child's life he might not want to discuss with his friends at this age. He might have a comfort object for sleeping or still want to twiddle his mum's hair when he's having a cuddle. That doesn't make them wrong.

thanks zappo x

"If u don't feel your son would discuss it with his friends maybe he feels its not right? Which is an issue"

Not everything we do in private should be up for discussing in public surely.

Maybe, a bottle and a dummy are not natural. No wonder you took them away, they arent supposed to be. In theory.

Breastfeeding, and thumb sucking are natural. My 6 year old still sucks his thumb, I genuinely see that as no different from Fred feeding her 6yo.

I've never met a man who's not repulsed by the thought of having a memory of sucking mommys boobs. Can't say it's a memory I'd want either. If people truly believed there were health benefits with breastmilk for four/five/six year olds, they could stick it in a cup and give it to them like anything else. They want them sucking on the boob though, that's creepy.

That was suppposed to say arent supposed to 'be'.

However that is absolutely not a dig at ff. rather just a response to those saying its not natural.

Thats still making me chuckle. Not natural. Yet we blink none at powdered cows milk.

Absolutely Greensleeves. He's also pretty discreet about his penchant for all things Thomas (the train) because apparently amongst his peers that's "babyish".

and my 8yo very tuff "I am a dude" ds2 still likes to clmber on my lap and ask me to do "this is the way the ladies ride"! He would die of embarrassment if I grabbed him and started doing it during his judo grading or something

that doesn't mean he thinks it's wrong - it clearly isn't. It's just private, to our family.

hey want them sucking on the boob though, that's creepy.

But boobs aren't actually designed to be sex toys. They are designed to dispense milk! Why is using them for their intended function creepy?

"Creepy"

If he has weaned I wonder whether he'd be prepared to resume, just for Halloween?

I think finding bfing creepy is.... creepy. Are you the same people who think a man shouldn't change a toddler's wet pants at nursery?

Ad it has been explained over and over again - not that it should need explaining - that you cannot force a child to breastfeed. So even if you wanted a child "sucking on the boob" against his/her will, you wouldn't get far.

People get so hysterical about ebf .

I fed my first son until he was only 3 months (bad advice from midwife led to milk drying up)
Second son fed until he was 9 months (stopped because of pressure from others....all people wanted to know was 'when are you going to stop doing that', like it was something dirty if you weren't trying to get your baby off the breast by 6 months!)
Now, my DD, who is 2.1 is still feeding, and I am thrilled about it! She usually only feeds about twice a day now, but she gets so much comfort from it. I always say it on these threads, but IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD!! There is so much more to breastfeeding than that. It gives her comfort, reassurance, security, and an instant feeling of 'I am safe and loved'....it's wonderful, and so special. Why do people feel the need to belittle bfing, it's just ignorant imo.

I think alot of people look on it like one day you're suddenly feeding an older child, but when you've fed that child every day since they were born, there is nothing weird about it, It's so natural, for mother and child. I don't get why people are so odd about it.

I can't see me feeding my DD until she is over 3yrs, but that will be my choice, and I don't judge people who continue for longer.

actually sweeping ds2 up for a round of "this is the way the ladies ride" during his judo grading would make a fabulous threat when I lecture him about bringing his bloody coat home from school tomorrow

I've never met a man who's not repulsed by the thought of having a memory of sucking mommys boobs. D'you ask this question of lots of men then?

Now that is a bit creepy.

There's nothing wrong with it, i couldn't give two hoots if you want to breastfeed half the towns teenagers TBH.

Anyone who has a problem, or feels 'disgusted' by a woman breastfeeding her child needs to grow up. Or preferably just fuck off to a dark cave and stay there so those of us with a functioning brain can get on with our lives without listening to the shit.

Greensleeves...funny

Well said zebra . Agree

fluffy

I experiences the 'it's dirty' facial expressions before DD2's first birthday. It beggars belief!

Being able to BF to comfort her while her broken arm was examined and plastered aged 14 months was wonderful but when we saw a paediatrician a few weeks later he tried to tell me that I should stop (!) as it was of no benefit to her. Again it beggars belief.

I know people don't see mothers BFing everyday in our society as they should but I still find it amazing that so many see it as shocking, dirty, wrong and even abuse. I hope things change for the next generation.

I don't feel all that strongly about it, tbh.

It's just something we've ended up doing, and it's fine, and neither of us think about it much. I really don't believe I've talked about it at all until this thread.