to wonder why it seems people get increasingly negative about breastfeeding the older baby gets....

[DiplodocusDinosaur]

My ds2 is 9 mths, admittedly he is a very big baby and often mistaken for 1yr to 18mths. I bf on demand and have always happily, discreetly fed in public. Whereas when he was little I.e. under 6 mths I only ever got really positive comments and vibes for bf in public, now he is getting older I'm increasingly noticing negative looks and had the odd comment more than once. Today I took my ds1 and ds2 to a childrens farm, ds2 wanted a feed so I went to feed him and heard two mothers giggling and saying 'bitty, bitty'. And a week or so back another lady stopped in the country park I was in and told me ds2 was far to old for breast milk and it was fine for little babies to be bf in public but my baby was old enough to learn to wait.
Have i just had a couple of bad run ins or have others noticed bf reactions change as babies get older?

Oh I can't believe I'm joining in on one of these bunfights....

People who say things like "but breastfeeding really turns my stomach" and "it puts me off my food" and "I don't like to see babies older than a few months etc" are irrational and unreasonable. Why on earth should a mother stop "mothering" in a healthy normal way, because someone else has "issues" about it. The people who liken it to urinating or deficating are super stupid, it's just milk, and it's actually quite nice! As are the people who talk about it as if it's something sexual, which is a sad reflection of the way our society has forgotten what boobs are really for.

Those people who object need to accept it is THEIR issue. It is sad they hang-ups about something so normal and natural and sweet.

It really shocks me when I hear of mums being told to breastfeed in a toilet. How awful, especially to new mums of who may be feeling quite vulnerable or be struggling. And people are ignorant of the fact that small babies need to feed regularly, it's cruel to expect them to wait if they're hungry, and some feed more often than others they're not all the same.

I still BF my 18 month old but only really at night, so hardly ever in public. I would if he wanted to, but I admit I wouldn't feel as comfortable as when he was smaller, having heard all the negative attitudes. Last time I breastfed him in public was a month ago in a children's A&E dept at 1am, when he was poorly and scared and tired with a temp of 40c.

I have quite a few friends whose toddlers still breastfeed and they have no qualms about feeding them in cafes, parks etc, and nor should they. It's lovely to see toddlers with such a close bond with their mum.

If you don't like seeing it either look away, or deal with your hang-ups.

HopAlongOn yes exactly!

Firstly, yes it is linked with increased risk of tooth decay

www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/14/us-breastfeeding-past-two-years-idUSBREA2D1Q820140314

I am ill educated because i don't think older children should be BF? It's of little to no benefit and is certainly not suitable for a 7 year old IMO and many other peoples opinions

Do you make sure you are covered up or do you allow passers by to see any of your boobs when you are BF in the local store/cafe/restaurant/bus stop - Because i have no desire to catch a glimpse of anyones boob, BFeeding or not.

Blah then you better close your eyes. Boobs are everywhere. I assume you walk down the street with a bag over your head to avoid catching sight of anyone's cleavage, or a breastfeeding woman, or posters of a model wearing clothes or underwear?

Shall we all go back to dressing like the Dowager Countess?

And, no, breastfeeding itself does not cause tooth decay:

^"Our study does not suggest that breastfeeding causes caries," Chaffee said.

It is possible that breast milk in conjunction with excess refined sugar in modern foods may be contributing to the greater tooth decay seen in babies breastfed the longest and most often, the authors speculate in their report^

From your link.

I don't see boobs when i walk down the street? Dunno where you live but not around here! Cleavage is not the same as nipple exposure now is it!

the comments say it all, it's not normal

I didn't generally (save for when DS popped on and off, as babies do) expose my nipples when I Was breastfeeding. Why are nipple s(in the context of just about to go in a baby's mouth, or being put away after being in a bay's mouth) so offensive?

Youtube comments? We're basing a debate around what youtube trolls say?

Because noone wants to see anyone elses nipples! Saying that men might though? Because they ARE sexualized and should be kept private.

I don't want to see your nipples, I don't want my DH or DS to see them, in the same way i don't want to and shouldn't expect to see anyones privates when i'm out and about. Easy enough to be discreet.

I believe the word 'troll' says it all....

I've breastfed in loads of places and I don't think anyone has ever seen a nipple, even during that stage where they suddenly unlatch without warning and want to look around. It's quite easy to be very discreet. If you don't like it, look away. It really is that simple.

If you're worried that you might see a nipple, then as soon as you clock that a mother is breastfeeding, stop staring at her. Duh!

Then don't fucking look. It is really that simple. Don't want to see it? Look away. Tell your husband and son to avert their eyes. God knows, the flash of a nipple for a second might make the poor men folk melt.

Can you honestly say you see nothing wrong with 7yo bf? Seriously? I'm a troll because i think it should be done discreetly and dont agree with older kids BF? My opinion is actually mass practiced and i dont know anyone IRL that would say BF a 7yo is ok!

I think a 7yo breastfeeding is on the extreme end of a breastfeeding spectrum, but it's not wrong. It's certainly not the norm, but if a child can still suckle, and both parent and child are happy to continue the breastfeeding relationship then I don't think it's wrong, no.

I think it would be emotionally scarring and borders on abuse

blah but lets not forget your views regarding 5 month old babies " I was also not the only person to agree that BF post 5/6 months is non-beneficial the the child..."

Dragging up youtube clips of 12 year olds bfeeding (which has no relevance to the OPs posting) and going on about 7 year olds is basically covering up your own views that in your mind bfeeding anything other than an infant is 'wrong'.

I think you're being deliberately provocative (probably to cover up for the fact that your own views regarding 5 month old babies are unpalatable to the masses) and yes I consider that to be trollish behaviour.

Fluffy I love your post:)

Blahblah... How clever to choose a username that synchronises so perfectly with your readers' experience as they peruse your posts.

Well you would be wrong then. There are plenty if societies where children bfeed to age 7 and they are not scarred, nor abused and to liken it to abuse is grim and offensive to people that have been abused.

Why are you so bothered by nipples, why would your dh and son be bothered? They do have nipples themselves. Do you never go to a beach in the summer or even a park where plenty of young boys and men are often topless... If you don't like seeing nipples you must find summer quite hard, and swimming... All those men in trunks, nipples everywhere.

Anyone else think blahblah has body image issues?
Plus you said after 5/6 months is weird, not 7 years

The child in the video is in fact 8 yrs old and weaned shortly after, it's that extreme bfeeding show that was on channel 4.

And yes bfeeding an older child is more unusual but many do it but just don't talk about it and you can see why.

And yes blahs name is rather apt.