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?

I'm not ignorant about the benefits. I did my own research when I was happily bf'ing, and made the decision that I would stop at 6months once she was weaning. Unfortunately, I had to stop sooner.

She hasn't been on formula since she was 12months old. She has cow's milk. As advised.

I would find it just as to see a two year old (for eg) wandering around with a bottle of milk, or still having formula in a bottle!

I'm just making the point that it's probably why people are a bit about seeing toddlers being breastfed! (even if they wouldn't be, looking at a newborn)

purplebaubles

1. It's the best comforter, ever, for the child. Toddler breastfeeding is seldom comforting for the mother. Unless the child is ill, in which case the mother may well be comforted by the fact that she is providing the exact antibodies to that exact infection right back into the child whose immune system isn't fully functional until around 6 years old.
2. It has nutritional value, immune support and a form of DHA for brain growth that is impossible to get elsewhere. We may survive just fine without that, but our bodies are designed to get it.
3. The human is designed to be breastfed for between 3 and 7 years. While billboards proclaim the health benefits of milk, we forget that that is milk from another species. Those of us old enough to remember were up in arms when the government dropped free milk for school children. If milk is so good, why on earth not the milk of our own species?
4. It gets kids to sleep
5. It gets kids to sleep
6. It gets kids to sleep
7. It fixes hurty stuff in an instant.
8. It's the single most important tool in my arsenal and I am unbelievably grateful to the people who helped me through the hard times at the start, so that I can continue to provide my two younger children, nearly 4 years (BFing to sleep as I type) and nearly 2 years (breastfed to sleep while I was reading the thread) with their favourite thing.

Other people may find it odd, but to me and my kids it's normal.

www.whale.to/a/dettwyler.html

Very interesting research into the natural age of weaning in the human.

I do find it funny that people think it's wrong to bfeed an older baby or a toddler but yet it's ok to give them cows milk.. breastmilk from a cow fine.,. Breastmilk from a human... Seen as not ok! The irony.

OP, I've not had any comments or looks, or anything, at least that I've noticed ;) about feeding my two toddlers in public. It's probably not easy to spot, although a term feeder would know instantly as you just spot the angle of the child on the lap. My two younger children are fed in public if they really want it (I tend to encourage them to wait if it's not convenient for me), or if I need them to be in one spot, say waiting for a meal at a restaurant, or if they're hurt, say at a playground. They're much older than yours, and I do think you've been unlucky.

I did have a waiter in Lanzarote spot me feeding the 3 year old while taking our order, and he was a bit taken aback. He took the whole order then had to come back because he'd forgotten it all. He was super friendly though, and just got on with it once he'd recovered and it was just funny!

Purplebaubles
Thanks for that ! I had no time to write a list , and couldn't have said it as well anyway .
Bfding my 2 year old now and hoping she never wants to stop - I love the quiet times when its just us feeding and the world stops for a little while .

A 32lb nine month old? How long is he? My two year old weighs that and she's in the 99 percentile for height, I can't imagine how a nine month old looks at that weight! If he's lying down and is bizarrely tall they'll only see his body so perhaps he looks school aged sized in that position?

There is a certain point where people do judge public breastfeeding. Most people understand that babies need to be fed but toddlers and young children eat normal food and can drink from cups so there's no reason for breastfeeding in public at that stage. Or at all really, breast milk can be expressed into a cup.

Older looking children and their parents are often judged because people expect them to behave according to the age they look, not realising how young they are.

Why the hell should my child use a beaker in public for breast milk?

beagles to you and the woman who told me her husband was upset by my BF
Stop fucking looking at me then

I do find it funny that people think it's wrong to bfeed an older baby or a toddler but yet it's ok to give them cows milk.. breastmilk from a cow fine.,. Breastmilk from a human... Seen as not ok! The irony.

I don't think you often see many children suckling on a cows teat though!

beagles Sorry have only just come back to this. My point was really, life is too short to get offended by extensive breastfeeding, so if someone doesn't like it they should just look away. I agree with you that it is rude to make comments whatever one's private opinion is.

purple The NHS says babies need breastmilk or formula up to the age of one so I can't see why you'd say there is no benefit in breastfeeding past 6 months...

"can drink from cups so there's no reason for breastfeeding in public at that stage"
OlympiaFox Again, I'd cordially invite you to explain to my DS why his mother is Not Supposed to comfort him when he falls off the slide. Assuming that's actually your own opinion - i.e. you're not just trying to explain why you reckon people react like that? Not sure from your post.

No but they often drink it from a bottle or a cup with a sippy spout etc.

It's just people saying they don't need bmilk, they are too big etc and then go on to say give cows milk... They really don't need cows milk! But why are people so horrified by a human child having species specific milk?

Actually I know why,culture and society condition us.

Argh
I got muddled
No purples I think you are wrong
Yes carrotcake well said.

In response to the beaker comment-
Total nonsense , my breasts are under cover during the feed and most people would assume my toddler was cuddling . But that's beside the point! I don't care who sees my boob or my suckling toddler .
It's natural , it's a hell of a lot more beneficial to the environment dairy production, its cheap , it's hugely beneficial health wise , its just the nicest feeling to snuggle and offer comfort and security in a very Intimate and personal way .
It's also no one else's business .
So shove your beaker back in your bag my love ( in the nicest possible way!)

Actually - does anyone want a pint of organic ,fair trade ,Eco friendly packaged boob milk ? The most ethical drink there is .

slightlyglitterstained; I was trying to explain the opinions of people who make negative judgements and worded my post very badly!

I have to admit before my second I saw a program about the older child being BF. I did cringe.

But now I suspect I may be one of those mothers.

Mine is 16 months and we are still going strong. Its just easier all round, touch wood this baby has been far far less sick, easier to comfort, I am sure her own personality and stuff come into it, but the BF seems to be working and I am happy to continue.

I also agree that no one bats an eye at children drinking the milk from a cow!

Whilst we are on the subject girls , has anyone ever feed another child ? As in not their own .
Not wanting to stray off post , just wondered .
I looked after a good friends son and she said it'd be ok if he wanted to . I didn't try it as he didn't need it , I don't the babes would easily latch into someone else ?

(Ok , now that's labelled me a freak , should name change really )

OlympiaFox - Ah okay I get you now. I actually typed out a very huffy reply then deleted it so glad I asked!

Actually I know why,culture and society condition us

As usual you are always right on these matters 5mad, and we in the UK are a specifically up tight society anyway.

purple I think you need to find more reliable sources, as you have been misinformed.

No, the benefit to DCs of BFing does not stop at 6 months. On the contrary, breast milk continues to be beneficial to children, in many ways, as long as they have it. In fact the consistency of the milk adapts to suit the child's age. The world health organisation advises all mothers the world over to breast feed until at least two years old, in the interests of the child.

You say you think it's creepy for a child to be able to ask for the bread in words.Why do you find it creepy, do you think? What's wrong with a 2 year old asking for "mama" (what my son called breast milk)? They've been asking for milk without words since the moment they were born anyway, what difference do actual words make? I'm genuinely interested.

Bread?! Where did that come from?! Should be breast!

OlympiaFox you, like many others, are making the mistake of seeing breastmilk as purely about the milk. But the feeding is an intrinsic part of it, drinking from the beaker is not the same.

The DC gets comfort from being at the breast (important if you are feeding them to comfort them or when they are unwell)

The act of feeding sends many babies to sleep
(drinking from a beaker simply doesn't!)

Breast feeding supports the immune system. IIRC, the mother and baby need contact through feeding so the mothers body can be exposed tonthe baby's germs, them make antibodies which are returned through the milk. Contact is an essential part of this process.