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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To find breastfeeding a 2 yr and 3 month old unsettling and slightly repulsive?

326 replies

Thinkingpositively · 31/05/2013 23:23

I am guessing this thread might upset some people but really...? DH and i were shocked to learn someone we know is breastfeeding a child who can walk and speak and self determine...dh wouldn't discuss it over lunch...

OP posts:
Bobyan · 01/06/2013 00:45

You're still not getting it are you OP?

I struggle to imagine continuing to breast feed an older child and I have no intention of feeding formula unless i really need to.

You haven't even had a baby yet, you have no experience and yet you are judging.

You may not be able to breastfeed. You may have a child who won't take a bottle. You may have a child who has allergies to cows milk and breast milk is the easiest, healthiest option.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BREAST FEEDING FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH FORMULA FEEDING. But judging other women who don't subscribe to your inexperienced views is unsettling and slightly revolting.

You simply don't know.

alotofthetimes · 01/06/2013 00:47

I also don't understand the thinking that overnight a baby becomes an independent person who doesn't need breastmilk anymore!

Toddlers are still very dependent on their parents and caregivers and bf is a very good way to provide them with comfort and security as well as nourishment while they are growing at such a fast rate. Not to mention that I like to know he gets good nutrition from bm when he is being a fussy eater. I also like the immunity benefits.

Izzybuzzybuzzybees · 01/06/2013 00:49

I can't see why human milk designed for human babies is disgusting. I feed my seven month old DS and don't know when we will stop. I'm due in hospital when he will be almost one and may have to stop then buts as has been said before Who guidance is until two years old so I'd rather keep going.

mrssprout · 01/06/2013 00:51

Good grief, I haven't been here very long but even I knew as soon as I read the title how this thread would go. Surely if the op has been here a while they would know that the majority of people on here are very much in favour of extended
Bf & the tone of her opening would get peoples backs up !

Ponyo73 · 01/06/2013 00:51

Where's myleene class, classe? she'll give owt a squirt of her boob, cheeky mareGrin.

lollydollydrop · 01/06/2013 00:54

I breastfeed my cat. Is that weird?

WouldBeHarrietVane · 01/06/2013 00:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OxfordBags · 01/06/2013 00:58

Lolly, only if the cat is under 2. I think you need to contact the La Leche League to confirm if that's 2 in cat years or human years.

Now I really AM off to bed!

Bobyan · 01/06/2013 00:58

lolly it depends on how old the cat is really doesn't it?

OxfordBags · 01/06/2013 00:58
usualsuspect · 01/06/2013 01:00

My cat drinks cows milk. Wink

lollydollydrop · 01/06/2013 01:02

She's 13 months old. I think I'm ok. Phew!! Wink

lollydollydrop · 01/06/2013 01:03

Cats are lactose intolerant suspect

Breast is best Wink It's going to be difficult weaning her off by age 2 though, she seems to enjoy it so much

Bobyan · 01/06/2013 01:05

Well as long as she only walks and doesn't talk.

usualsuspect · 01/06/2013 01:09

My cat doesn't talk though.

chillinwithmyyonis · 01/06/2013 01:10

As a mother, you just do what you have to do. For me, my first dd was premature and breastfeeding didn't work out for many different reasons, lack of trying not being one of them. Hence she had bottles of formula then cows milk til 2yrs.

My ds was born on time, I wanted to bf, after having a tongue tie snipped he took right to it. When we was weaning him onto food, tried the usual yoghurts, cows milk products and discovered he was intolerant, gave him breathing difficulties resulting in visits to A+E and overnight hospital stays. For that reason, I carried on so that he still has a form of milk in his diet.

ravenAK · 01/06/2013 01:28

The thing is, mine were all off the bm by 9 mo - I was back at work once they were 6 mo, & couldn't be arsed expressing, although I carried on with evening feeds for a bit, more for comfort than anything else.

In ds's case, that came to a natural end the first time I had a boozy night out - for dd1 & dd2, I was just busy charging around with older one(s) in the evening, so it simply ceased to be a regular part of the evening routine.

With hindsight, I wish I'd bf for longer, & made a bit more of an effort to keep it going.

Probably not beyond two, personally, for entirely selfish reasons ie. I don't enjoy it much & I wanted my body back - but that's not the point.

The point is that it's a very healthy thing to do - something that is good for your child - well into toddlerdom. We can't all manage it, we don't all much fancy it, but the least we can bloody do is not to be 'shocked' at it.

If your immediate response is that you find it 'repulsive' then you can't probably help that - it's a result of society's conditioning - but you can decide that in future, & now you're a bit better informed, you'll be supportive of other women's extended bf'ing, so as to mitigate against the next ignorant bugger who's also repelled by it & might otherwise say or do something to put them off doing it.

SgtTJCalhoun · 01/06/2013 01:38

Answering the OP only.

Shut up.

Oh and I have read the thread and that's still all I want to say to you.

PariahHairy · 01/06/2013 02:01

This reply has been deleted

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onelittlepiglet · 01/06/2013 02:02

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Sparklyboots · 01/06/2013 02:33

Oh, is the problem the talking, usual? Cos I usually find my toddler uncharacteristically reticent with a boob in his mouth. In fact, he has asked me not to ask him questions that require more than a 'mmm' or 'nnnnnn' answer when he is so occupied. I've been storing that up for a 'How do I stop my child asking, "Why is the sky?" and other Zen koans?' thread, but here it is, just for you.

raisah · 01/06/2013 04:29

I still am breastfeeding my dd & she is 2.5 years old. It suits us both as she refuses cows milk & formula made her ill. I am planning to stop by the end of the year. It does not harm you both in anyway so whats it got to do with you? It's an individual lifestyle choice, I'd respect someones right to feed their child however they see fit whether I agree with it or not.

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 01/06/2013 07:01

I guess you can't imagine it until you are there can you? It's not like you just start off breastfeeding a two year old, they start off as a newborn and continue being your baby as they grow. So breastfeeding continues to feel normal and natural even though your baby is now bigger and more 'separate'.
I can't imagine feeding a bigger baby because I never did it. I suppose, being honest, the idea of feeding a toddler doesn't feel like something I would want to do, but I have no doubt I would feel differently if I had a child who wanted to continue feeding and I was able to feed him. I think people should give OP a break for her ignorance (though not for the language she used, that was awful).

MummaBubba123 · 01/06/2013 07:50

Are you questioning your gut feeling/ response - or your being judgemental. Social conditioning has probably engendered the former. You need to sort yourselves (incl. DH) out re. your judgemental attitudes if this is the case.

kaylasmum · 01/06/2013 07:54

I bf my ds until he was 5. Wish people would keep their opinions to themselves.

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