To think we should have a separate section for breastfeeding ?

[moonmaker]

As I can understand we used to have one , but formula feeding and breastfeeding have been merged into infant feeding . I understand that lots of people do combination feeding so there should be some fluidity but surely this excludes women who are breastfeeding non infants ? Breastfeeding past infancy is part of parenting for lots of mums so why is this not being considered? Breastfeeding toddlers has lots of unique issues and problems , yet there is nowhere to discuss this here . I’ve had plenty of issues that I would have loved to get support with but it felt odd posting on infant feeding where it is mainly new mums , when I have had an issue with my 18 month old . Am I missing something ? We have forums for niche topics like swine flu and Facebook but nothing for breastfeeding on a parenting site

I agree. YANBU.

I don't feel there is anywhere for me to discuss matters such as breastfeeding during pregnancy, tandem feeding, breastfeeding preschoolers or school age children. Some of my loneliest moments where I have needed the most support, when breastfeeding, came when my first well past her first year. I wouldn't have posted in a forum entitled infant feeding back then. I didn't. I sought out safer spaces.

The fact people here are questioning weaning an eight year old or assuming that the OP is talking about toddlers, shows EXACTLY why a safe breastfeeding space is necessary. Just because it might be a relatively quiet place, in comparison to places like Chat, doesn't mean it shouldn't exist.

Mums shouldn't have to skulk off to secret, hidden groups on social media forums that they wouldn't usually use, just because they are nursing a child, not a baby. A forum such as mumsnet should be one of the first places a mum breastfeeding a child, not an infant, can come to get or to offer support.

Is it a safe space though with the DM lurking? Tbh I'm not sure I'd post about BFing my school-age child here as the DM love a "look at the extended BFing freak" story don't they?

DM = the Daily Fail in case that wasn't clear.

eanne thanks!

Can't you just set up some specific threads in the feeding section?

Ok I have set up a section in the infant feeding thread, if we actually use it and chat, they might make it sticky for us in the infant feeding section?

It might be lack of issues. I breastfed to three, but I don't remember posing questions to on MN/kellymom/whatever beyond six months. I wasn't driven out of the infant feeding topic, I just didn't need any help.

Agreed. Bar nipple cracking at 10 months with #2 after thrush I've breastfed for 18 months, 3 years and watch this space for #3 with no issues. And with those issues I looked at Kellymom or Google and pursued my local BF group leader until she helped.

Thanks for the thread, plucked.
I'll be checking in !
Lucky those who have had no issues !
I've had multiple thrush ( which I still have because my gp doesn't take me seriously , gives me the eye roll that I'm still bf and said the answer is to wean, mastitis , night weaning issues , bad feeding etiquette , biting , the works!) no problems with my last Nursling though . Also , would love to offer to support to anyone who needs it as have been through the works myself .

I would assume there isn't one firstly because there maybe aren't as many mums feeding older infants and 2 because of the (clearly incorrect) assumption that if your still feeding by age 2+ then you kind of got it covered and are experienced.

I really don't think it's necessary.

And I say this as my 2yo has a tit in his mouth.

Thread for those BFing DC 1 or over here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/a3096980-breastfeeding-toddlers-and-beyond

I agree with you OP and some of the comments on here prove your point!

The Facebook groups are great just to look through at all the pictures and see how normal it is. I set up a f/b account just for the breastfeeding groups (tandem feeding and older babies) but like you, don’t like to post.

I’m feeding a 4 year old and a 1 year old and recently had problems with 4 year old. I would have liked to get advice but thought I would have got loads of posts saying a 4 year old doesn’t need breastmilk, it’s ok to stop, etc.

I would assume there isn't one firstly because there maybe aren't as many mums feeding older infants and 2 because of the (clearly incorrect) assumption that if your still feeding by age 2+ then you kind of got it covered and are experienced.

^^ agree. But maybe MN would rethink that if mum’s breastfeeding toddlers were posting more in the infant feeding topic? Bit of a chicken and egg situation maybe...

Also, speaking personally, even if there was a MN topic, I’d still be using FB first for any real problems.
The breastfeeding toddlers group on FB that I mostly use is a local La Leche League group, with admins who are trained La Leche League breastfeeding supporters, so in addition to the online advice, they offer ways to access local real life support, and they run local breastfeeding groups which are advertised on the group page.

Plus FB by its nature demands that users sign up with their actual names, so even though people outside the private breastfeeding groups can’t see in, the people in the group still know who’s posting and what issues they’re posting about.
So my experience of using FB for breastfeeding support, for both tiny babies and for toddlers, is very far from anonymous or secret. Posting on MN for breastfeeding support would feel far more anonymous and secret, despite the posts being more visible to the general public on MN.

An infant can sometimes mean up to school age.

At school it means 4 -7 yos so I guess you are fine with that!