to breastfeed 15mo in public?

[Schwanengesang]

In the past week, I've been on holiday with DS at an overcrowded, too-popular tourist holiday destination, and in my own town (University oritentation week, full of students).

In that time while feeding DS out and about (nothing on display, any exposed boob completely covered by DS' head, but also not wearing a breastfeeding shawl) I have had:

(1) a grandfather tell me I should cover up when breastfeeding in front of his grandkids

(2) a grandmother say I shouldn't be breastfeeding when they can walk and talk

(3) a woman of grandmotherly age tell me I'll rot DS' teeth and he should be drinking real milk out of a bottle (I presume "real milk" comes from cows...)

(4) a child laugh and point, then try to push our pram into the lake, while adoring parents looked on and laughed as the child tipped the pram over down the bank

(5) another child decide to come up and try to push DS out of the way, as in batting at his head and climbing on my lap, in order to feed, while parents laughed and took photos and then told me their child had more right to be breastfeeding than mine because mine was too old

(6) a man come up and film me while his wife stood there giggling with her hand over her mouth

(7) a pair of young women walk by saying "OMG that's disgusting. It's like 5 years old" "God, why would anyone do that?" ("It" being DS)

(8) a group of young men say "oh shit that's so gross" "OMG she's going to have the saggiest tits ever" and pretend to vomit, while their friend made melon-holding hand gestures emphasizing the apparently saggy tits

Until the past week I'd been fairly good at ignoring any unwanted attention, giving a baleful eye to anyone who dared look affronted. But I didn't reckon with tourist season/ uni students and DS being a pretty big 15 months.

Is breastfeeding a toddler in public really that unusual?

Davidbowies it's not just about the taste of the milk for toddlers, it's the comfort of being at the breast that they want. Expressed milk in a cup/bottle won't cut it for most. There's no way I would go to the time and effort or expressing milk before going out 'just in case' my toddler ended up wanting some. Many people struggle to express anyway. And most importantly as pp said, why should we!

I've never had a single comment or look from anyone. I've breastfeed all 3 children as toddlers.

I imagine that some might consider this question goady, but Yellow's comment got me thinking.

'BF I can understand in the early months but after they turn one and start toddling it does seem more about mum and less about the child'

Yello, would say the same for a bottle fed child? That it's more about the Mother and less about the child? Because the child (in your view) may no longer need milk?

I just find it hard to believe that all these incidents happened but if they did, and the OP was upset then a bottle may/would not create such reactions in total strangers, the OP would have found it easier to stop the child pushing the pram over and the random baby that wanted her breast wouldn't have seen it. If it happened.

Radio good question. Also is a dummy more for the mum than the child at that age too? Dummies mimic breastfeeding.

Who says that she had expressed milk and bottles though? People that have these kind of reactions, its their problem and hang up.

Can anyone really believe that many people would have those views, let alone the gall to express it right to your face?

I feel you may have a flare for the dramatic OP.

It's just a boob. It's just a child having some milk. SOME people may not like it, but I simply cannot believe the sheer volume of horrified people all in the space of one feed.

Do you know, it's really interesting how about most things, mums on here are prepared to admit they don't know everything but when it comes to breastfeeding, everyone knows better. When my first was 15 months, he was still feeding LOADS during the day, he was eating solids but still not very well, so it was nutrition as well as comfort, and no way in hell would be have entertained the suggestion of a bottle. Not a chance. So should I have stayed at home all day? When I could so easily and quickly feed him a food that's perfectly designed to nourish and hydrate him? I was lucky, I never got any comments and I can't understand why anyone would comment. Anyone who does is an ignorant arse, and best ignored. Sorry these happened to you. How horrible.

😂

I have been bf my little boy for 2 years now and never noticed odd comments or looks ever. The comments tend to come from friends and family but no one has ever been rude.

You must have been spending a lot of time feeding to accumulate such a number and range if comments.
I breast fed my 2 children until they were bith age 2 and only ever had about 2 -3 comments (all positive and supportive) ever in all that time.
I didn't breast feed in public after about age 1 as a 1 year old doesn't really need milk during the day. A snack and drink does just fine at that age.

I breastfed DS til he was 15 months, when he self-weaned (I think because I was pregnant again which possibly changed the taste of my milk). I fed in public all the time, with my resting bitch face firmly in place no-one ever said a thing, which I was kind of disappointed about, because I had all the laws and legislation stored on my phone, ready to quote at them! Never got to do it!
I’m breastfeeding DD now and will continue to do so in public - there is nothing anyone could say to me to stop me.

@Lindy2
I didn't breast feed in public after about age 1 as a 1 year old doesn't really need milk during the day. A snack and drink does just fine at that age.

For your child perhaps. You do realise your experience isn't everyone else's don't you? 🙄

Ugh I am so sorry you are feeling like this OP. People are awful sometimes. Why is it any of their business?! I'm still feeding my nearly 18 mo although he only wants it at night so he no need to feed in public for quite some time but I would be nervous about it so think you are brilliant! Also have had comments from my nearest and dearest about still feeding him. The funny thing is you can bet most of the people with something to say have never tried weaning a child off bf in their lives!
You're doing such good for your baby. The WHO recommends feeding until two so just keep telling yourself that!

Okay.....

I find it incredibly difficult to believe that all of this happened in a week, especially when feeding a 15 month old who shouldn’t be breastfeeding that often during the day as they need solids.

I feel you may have a flare for the dramatic OP

Number 5 is where it jumped the 🦈 for me.

Dorsal fin visible and heading for shore.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me, despite breastfeeding two one year-olds in several countries. I find it quite incredible that all that happened to you in one week.

coffee that's fucking bullshit.
some 15 month olds have a lot of milk still.

I bf until Ds was 3.5.

At 15 months he was def still feeding multiple times a day, so yeah I would have fed in public enough to get as many responses as op.

I know my child, I am making a judgement call.

It was all "ah well done you" until he was about a year and then the "should he still be feeding" crap started.

BFing isn't just nutrition, it's comfort.

If you'd give a 15 month old a dummy, then why can't I use my natural dummy in the same way.

Kids are all different, and wean/eat at different rates.

The ignorance around bf still is astounding.

I breastfeed my 18 month old in public a lot (she eats loads, but LOVES breastfeeding), usually after she’s been shouting “booby.” We’ve never had a negative comment, and I wouldn’t care if I did because it’s nothing to do with anyone else.

I hope this didn’t happen, but don’t let it put you off.

And @MNHQ.... a lot of self satisfied troll hunting on this thread.

Fuck sake......sometimes it's like being back in the playground with the mean girls round here.

If you think troll, report, don't comment.

Try getting a bottle of formula out in leafy south London if you want to talk about judgement. People are always going to judge women whatever they do. Enlightened women should be moving away from this and getting angry about other things.