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?

I bf my eldest till I was 2 months pregnant with number 2. I love and hate bf. love the milky drunk smiles. Hate, the cluster feeding. But I'm so proud to do it with both of them. Oldest was 3yrs, and now wants more now his sister is here lol. I prefer the don't ask don't refuse metgidmethodmetgidmethmetgidmethodmetgidmet

Very true!

Personally I find it weird but that’s not to say it’s wrong. I couldn’t give a shit what others do to be honest as it has zero impact on my family and me.

@ChocChocButtons lol I can just imagine the picture... It isn't a problem I have as if feeding isn't convenient when mine wants it I just say no not till we get to xyz or no until after we have done abc... And he will happily accept that as an answer..

I definitely don't agree that it takes anything away from my relationship with OH or ds's relationship with him.. He will go to either of us for comfort if he's hurt or upset.
It's also def led by him still and not for any weird pervy need of mine I wouldn't be upset if he stopped asking but I also don't see who it harms that he still chooses to.

Sorry the second half of that is just generalised at other posts not aimed at not agreeing with what you said @ChocChocButtons

@TooManyPups haha I for that thanks :)

I find it a bit weird personally but to each her own.I don't know anyone who breastfed beyond about a year so maybe that's why I find it a bit odd. I did watch that extended breastfeeding show a few years back about a woman feeding her 7 year old which did disturb me a bit.

It's biologically normal
It's a lovely comforting/bonding thing to do
It's good for them - antibody wise and nutrition wise
It's a useful parenting tool honestly

It's not about "showing off", or sex, or keeping the child a baby.
Children stop when they are ready. Usually when they begin to lose their milk teeth, if not before. The only cases I've heard of older children than this breastfeeding have been children with special needs conditions.

It's also a personal choice, I'll respect anyone's decision not to do it, as long as they respect mine (and others') decision to keep going.

Do most teenagers really think breastfeeding is something weird and disgusting? How very sad.

@53rdWay Thanks a bunch, sitting in the dark trying to get DD to sleep and pissing myself laughing. This is not helping. 🤣🤣🤣

ive never done it my self as i couldnt but would have(severe PCOS so didnt produce any milk)but in my circles its normal

99% of my friends or the people we mix with are home educators(we attend 3 groups a week) and majority follow the attachment parenting then gentle parenting approach and are classed as the hippie types

there is a fair few that are still breast feeding primary school kids,the oldest i know of is 7

there is 1 woman in her late 40s breastfeeding 5 kids between a few months old and 6

I was looking to bf to 6 months but it was then easier to keep going than stop. So I fed my children to approaching 2 years at which point I had had enough each time. So yeah no issues with 2.5year but I suspect pre babies me would have said (internally) eww.

The world average for weening off the breast is apparently 4. The world health organisation recommend to 2 years and beyond.

It's not weird to me. Full-term breastfeeding is perfectly acceptable. Although, for me, the cut-off is 4 y/o as it's good to transition from a toddler into "big kid" ready for school study.

My almost 3 year old doesn’t think it’s weird! We love it x

I don’t understand why a baby would want to give up breastfeeding- I know some self wean but imagine losing your nice warm nipple attached to squishy warm breasts attached to your mummy who is the best person in the world, compared to a cold rubber teat with formula pouring out all Over your face

I’m surprised there aren’t more extended BF’ers!

I doubt I will extended breastfed. I weaned my first off at 7 months so I could go back to work and I think it will be the same with this one, although we do give her a bottle of formula a day so maybe she’d be ok with mix feeding.

Haha - I think some babies prefer formula as it's faster though!

@alittleprivacy...I read your post with great interest as i could have written it! It's exactly what i did and am doing now. DS is 5.5 and is only just losing interest in b/f.
I always practiced attachment parenting and omg, the venom i got from certain family members really upset me. But my local breastfeeding support group supported my decision and helped me more than family ever would.

Do you remember that brave mum who appeared on breakfast tv about b/f her older children? I think they were 6 and 7. She received some very nasty comments but fair play, she coped well and stuck by her opinions and beliefs that it's only weird because the breasts are too sexualised.

I also wanted to say i too get why people in our culture think it's weird but i would say you are NOT wrong.

You must do what you feel is right for you and your family and not listen to criticism. All the best people will tell you this.

there is 1 woman in her late 40s breastfeeding 5 kids between a few months old and 6
5 kids at once!!! Bloody hell that woman needs a medal, and probably some rest.

I think it's unnecessary and has more to do with the mother's need than the child's tbh.

Many feel differently, but I find the vision of a toddler breastfeeding irritating.

It just seems like the child is still in a babylike state to me .. but if the mother chooses to continue...then so be it. Thankfully non of my sisters or close friends did this. I would have said something if my sisters did it though.

A walking and talking child breastfeeding, is an odd combination IMO.

OK ... bring on the WHO recommendations. . I've heard it all before.

Even worse is a child in reception or year 1 EBF. Totally bizarre and a lot more I won't vocalise on here.

there is 1 woman in her late 40s breastfeeding 5 kids between a few months old and 6

Madness!

She clearly has a desire to be needed and wants to feel indispensable...

I'm sure a therapist would uncover an awful lot about her own childhood, upbringing and subsequent relationships.

Before I breastfed I found it weird seeing a toddler breastfeed, but my little one is 20 months old and he is still feeding (like a newborn some days )
I aimed for 6 months, then 12 months, then 10 months and now I’m aiming for 2 and hopefully start weaning him (after many failed attempts )
I do love how it’s an instant calming method, don’t know what I would do without now I would have no idea how to comfort him

My nearly three year old is weaning herself at the moment. I’d have carried on as long as she wanted to but happy she’s stopping now. Nothing weird about it at all. Weird to find it weird, I think. But then I remember thinking it was weird before I did it... I think that’s because of those awful programmes and articles where they find very ‘unusual’ characters who make good stories who are feeding 7 year olds etc.

there is 1 woman in her late 40s breastfeeding 5 kids between a few months old and 6

Good for her! I had two babies in my 40s and that was tiring enough. I’m well impressed at five.

My son weaned himself at about 10 months. He was happily eating solids and drinking from a cup and just started refusing the breast at that age. My daughter is 14 months now and she still breastfeed 3 times a day despite also happily eating solids and drinking water and cows milk from a cup... she just still loves the boob! I dont know when I'll wean... I thought I'd just feed until shes not interested any more... but to be honest I think I'd personally find it difficult to feed past 2yo... it does seem strange to me. I'm not bothered what other people do at all though... one of my close friends is still breastfeeding her daughter twice a day and her daughter is over 4 now... I dont find that weird but I'm not sure I could do it myself.. I think I'll really have had enough of it by 4!!!

SandyY2K - you are an absolute dick aren’t you, go and educate yourself on the benefits of breastfeeding, including extended breastfeeding for both child and mother.
I’m sure a lot of people are thankful not to have you as a friend or sister, because you would get a big fuck you and to stick your opinion up your arse.
But I’m sure you think drinking milk that’s come from a cow is perfectly normal?
But a child having human milk is so disgusting