To ask for your thoughts on extended breastfeeding?

[awmamma]

Catching up on Teen Mom UK and watching the bit about Charlie telling Shannon it was weird to still be breastfeeding her 2.5 year old.

Is it really that weird?

Yeah, I had someone ask what DS would do in an emergency if I couldn't be there when he needed milk. Er, probably have DH give him cow's milk like he already does when I'm at work, or have some expressed milk from the freezer. It makes me think that a big part of the issue is everyone having this mistaken belief that it's all or nothing. Once the milk supply is established you can flex as much as needed, especially past the age of 1 when they're on solids anyway.

How are your boobs today by the way, any improvement yet from the meds?

Very slight improvement - thanks for asking but no major difference yet. Hopefully it’ll only take a couple of days!

Good luck!

I think it's fine if it's what the child wants. However I know someone who breastfeeds an almost 3 year old in public and people do stare. I admit I was a bit taken aback when I first saw her do it as the child drinks from proper cups too.
What I don't agree with though is that she picks up the child and puts her on the breast while the child is playing or doing whatever, with no suggestion that she wants a feed. So I think in this case, the mum is doing it for her own benefit, not the child's.

I've joined the discussion late here but DS is 2 (and 3 months). He still feeds at nap time and bedtime. Several times during the night really. Like sleep feeds.

It's exhausting and part of me is debating stopping, especially as we're trying for no.2. I haven't had a full nights sleep for 2 & 1/2 years.

But I enjoy the connection. Theres nothing like that cute snuffle he makes when he's feeding. We get to reconnect after his tantrums of the day (terrible 2s in full swing).

I'm finding it hard to make the decision as to whether to wean him or not - it's all he's ever had for comfort. No dummy, no blanket, no teddy. Just me.

Anyone had experience of weaning or tandem feeding?

But in short, 'extended' feeding is entirely normal in my eyes. It literally feels like the most natural thing in the world to do. It's society that makes me feel awkward.

PlinkPlink this is a link to the night weaning method I used for my kids:

drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleeppattern.html

Eldest was 2+ when we did this, the next one was a bit younger. The advice assumes co-sleeping but I think it would work anyway. It wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be and within a few nights they were sleeping through and it didn't affect feeding in any other way.

Haven't watched this particular programme. As to extended breastfeeding though, it's great if that's what the mother and baby want.
Milk teeth are so-called for a reason. The WHO recommends BF for two years or longer.

@PP: fuck off with the ridiculous biscuit.

Thank you @DickKerrLadies

Interesting read. I have done something similar when I was totally exhausted and my boobs were so sore from him boob hopping. And he was annoyed but ok.

Thank you very much for that!!

I was about to suggest night weaning too
One plus point of DS’ 2 week nursing strike is that he has started sleeping through... pretty much reliably now!

@ethelfleda that sounds like bliss!!!

Not weird at all perfectly fine.

I was a bit taken aback when I first saw her do it as the child drinks from proper cups too.

That's a really bizarre thing to say.

Children drink from bottles, breasts, sippy cups, open cups, sports bottles, straws and even their hand sometimes. There isn't a heirarchy. My DD1 used to drink from an open cup as a newborn. Should I have declined to feed her from day one and given her the breastmilk of a farm animal instead, just because it was possible to feed it to her from a cup?