To feed my 1 year old outside

[Dandylioness1]

My son is 13 months old.

I met my friend for a walk in the park this morning.

Her daughter is 2 years old.

We’d been walking a while and my son started to become unsettled and was asking for “boob boob”

I told my friend I’d stop at the next bench and let him have some milk.

She seemed mortified by this idea. She asked me if I could give him some water instead and that he was too old for me to be feeding him in public.

I told her I would be discreet about it but she said it was just about being discreet and that it’s also an issue that he’s 13 months and doesn’t need breastmilk, she said I should offer him water or a snack instead.

I ignored what she said I found a place to sit and let my son have some milk.

It’s made me feel pretty bad now and as a first time mum (who’s spent my sons first year in a global pandemic and lockdowns) i feel like I’m doing it all wrong. 🙁

AIBU to feed him on demand at this age?

I don't think you are in the wrong. But personally I would prob be the same as your friend and not feel comfortable for a 18 month year old or older being breastfed in front of me.
That is a personal opinion and in no way is it wrong to breast feed a child that age... I get that.
I wouldn't have said anything though if I was your friend I would have just felt quietly awkward lol.

How did this end up a BF vs FF thread? Seriously
Because some people can't get their head around the fact that a woman breastfeeding their child is entirely reasonable so have to make a point about:
Why a 1 year old doesn't need breastmilk
Why it's for the Op's benefit
Why the baby should have a banana or rice cakes or other approved snacks
Why the baby should have a drink from a bottle or cup
Why women shouldn't breastfeed in public
Why all the above applies because there's no reason to breastfeed when formula is as good

No, successful breastfeeding can be protective against PND, whereas unsuccessful/difficult breastfeeding increases PND.

If anyone’s pulling stuff out of their arse, it’s this poster. Get back to your crystal healing love.

which are still being researched.

Is the key qualifier here and applies to much of the available body of data concerning breastfeeding.

But personally I would prob be the same as your friend and not feel comfortable for a 18 month year old or older being breastfed in front of me.

Why not? Have you thought about that?

Gin! Gin! Anybody?

I’m up for it although feeling slightly guilty on a Monday evening at 17:28! 😁

@breadbinbaby

All Wondermule and I have tried to promote here is a more balanced view of the available facts and research.

That’s demonstrably untrue. You, for example, characterised a poster factually citing that the WHO states a reduced risk of certain cancers to mothers who breastfeed as ‘ner ner ner you’re more likely to die of cancer than me cos you didn’t breastfeed and I did’. In what universe is that a balanced view of the facts and research available?

That’s not a denial of facts though is it? Just a criticism of their application. Basically: Flocon and I like facts, real facts, laid out in a way where you can see the difference they make to their own life.

Everyone else is clinging on to the benefits as an abstract idea, and getting angry when people then apply the numbers which make them look significantly less impressive.

And given that it’s 17:30 now here in Switzerland (where I am a pharmaceutical scientist 😜😜 )
I had better start preparing dinner.

Interesting debate; play nicely now everyone 👋

Basically: Flocon and I like facts, real facts, laid out in a way where you can see the difference they make to their own life.

She literally made one up then had to go back on it stomping her feet

A French martini?

Significantly less impressive. Go and sit in the naughty corner. Women who breastfeed aren't doing so for significantly impressive benefits but because they WANT to. Because their baby's face staring up as they nuzzle in close is wonderful, because it releases oxytocin and calms both mother and child, because it is comforting. It is so much MORE than "just milk."

@Notanotherhun

Significantly less impressive. Go and sit in the naughty corner. Women who breastfeed aren't doing so for significantly impressive benefits but because they WANT to. Because their baby's face staring up as they nuzzle in close is wonderful, because it releases oxytocin and calms both mother and child, because it is comforting. It is so much MORE than "just milk."

Not to mention not having to take all the feeding equipment with you when you go out, and the speedy post-birth weight loss, and the fact you can do it lying down 80% still asleep

I don't see a problem with this. My 15 month old mainly nurses when she wakes up and at bedtime but when her teeth are coming in she signs for it in the day too sometimes so I oblige.

This is an interesting read on how breastfeeding is viewed in Mongolia.

mumanu.co.uk/breastfeeding-in-the-land-of-genghis-khan/

Gin! Gin! Anybody?
I’m 476 months old, I don’t need gin, it’s just for comfort and I could have a wine instead.

Not all science is equal.

Indeed. It’s one of the reasons I consider the NHS and the WHO to be more authoritative sources than a random mumsnetter 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Wondermule You denied earlier in the thread that the UK had low breastfeeding rates, you certainly do not love facts.

You and the apparent scientist love to twist facts to suit your own agenda, whilst calling other women bitches, and passive aggressively putting women down when breastfeeding is actually a great thing to do for your child and should be promoted from the hill tops.

Get off your bloody high horse.

That poster is probably not a scientist and you certainly don't have an ounce of credibility, that poster has only named you because you're the only other person on here to have spouted as much bullshit as them, now that is FACTS.

@burritofan

Gin! Gin! Anybody? I’m 476 months old, I don’t need gin, it’s just for comfort and I could have a wine instead.

❤️

@burritofan

Gin! Gin! Anybody? I’m 476 months old, I don’t need gin, it’s just for comfort and I could have a wine instead.

Spot on. Both are fine.

@burritofan

Gin! Gin! Anybody? I’m 476 months old, I don’t need gin, it’s just for comfort and I could have a wine instead.

I hated breastfeeding, certainly wasn’t a positive oxytocin inducing experience for me. DMER and nursing aversion had a massive detrimental impact on my health. Switching to FF was the best thing I did and it got even easier when they turned 1 and I got rid of bottles. But if you and baby are happy breastfeeding at 13 months, which it sounds like you are, then go for it, it doesn’t matter what your friend thinks.

[quote Goldengladrags]@Wondermule You denied earlier in the thread that the UK had low breastfeeding rates, you certainly do not love facts.

You and the apparent scientist love to twist facts to suit your own agenda, whilst calling other women bitches, and passive aggressively putting women down when breastfeeding is actually a great thing to do for your child and should be promoted from the hill tops.

Get off your bloody high horse.

That poster is probably not a scientist and you certainly don't have an ounce of credibility, that poster has only named you because you're the only other person on here to have spouted as much bullshit as them, now that is FACTS.[/quote]

1. I said I think the rates are high in the circumstances of women in modern life, not as a majority. If 25% of people smoked we would consider that high wouldn’t we? You know this but you’re wilfully misinterpreting it because you know what I’m saying is the truth.

1. I didn’t call anyone a bitch, so why have you?

1. Please do point out anything I said that is factually incorrect. I have asked several times and for some reason, nobody obliges.

It’s because the true facts ultimately mean your child is only negligible healthier than a bottle fed child. And you want to feel like you’ve done a superior job. Deal with it 💁🏼‍♀️

Can’t speak for that poster but I’ve definitely done a superior parenting job to you. Nothing to do with breastfeeding though.

@breadbinbaby

Can’t speak for that poster but I’ve definitely done a superior parenting job to you. Nothing to do with breastfeeding though.

😂 well, glory and and lifelong praise awaits!

Given you don’t know my child this is the level of critical thinking I have come to expect

@Wondermule everything that has come from you on this post has been bullshit, with some added bullshit for good measure. you've completely out bullshited yourself with that paragraph of waffle though, so on that note I will leave you to it. cant argue with stoooopid

[quote Sugarbelle]@Wondermule everything that has come from you on this post has been bullshit, with some added bullshit for good measure. you've completely out bullshited yourself with that paragraph of waffle though, so on that note I will leave you to it. cant argue with stoooopid[/quote]
Bet you can’t say specifically what was BS though can you 🤷🏼‍♀️