Do you have any opinions on how long is 'too long' to breastfeed your child?

[elephantonacid]

Feeling awfully judged and wondering if anyone has an opinion on this?

No. There was zero forcing, zero insisting or routine from me. They wanted it, they got it.
Quite ridiculous to suggest that it’s forced.

My warrior bitch came when challenged or questioned or it was suggested as “weird “ by people.

My child continued to seek out bf.

Yes. But I don't inflict it on others. Their choice.

I don’t hunk it’s anyone else’s business and would not even bring it up personally.

Are you asking as "do you have your personal opinion and don't give a toss what others do"? If yes, then for me personally it's up to 1 year, but I CBA how long other mothers do it.

Sorry I wasn't trying to be mean. 'Older toddlers' is a bit of a flex term in the context of a debate where lots of people think bf is a bit 'weird' after 6 months! But I'll be honest I don't know that anyone just bfs pat 2/3/4 mindlessly out of 'habit', not least because of all the opprobrium that will inevitably come their way from all directions. Almost everyone I know who has breastfed has gone by 'don't offer, don't refuse' after about 12 months, just feed as and when baby wants to/it's convenient to do so, and it just tapers off or the mum eventually decides she's had enough and weans. But I should to be fair have acknowledged everyone's experience is different and I shouldn't have 'made fun' - which I see it really does look like I was doing so apols!

Ds was three when he started to wean himself. Ignore any idiots judging you.

I bf all of mine till 2ish which felt about right for me. Though I did stop bf out and about at 1 though. It was bedtime or feeling ill really. It is very personal though.I wouldn’t judge older dc bf.

Probably not?

Pretty good-natured thread full of broad agreement.

I feel breastfeeding is for babies.

There's your answer!

When I see toddlers/children being breastfed it makes me feel very uneasy - clearly for the adults benefit not the child.

😂toddler feeders can be so, er, resourceful, can't they? so many pictures of me with my eldest's bum in my face hanging over the back of the sofa to feed 😆trying to enforce a bit more decorum with baby 2!

I’m still breastfeeding my almost 3 yo. So in my case I’ll stop when DS is ready. Having said that I was incredibly lucky to get a lot of support during the early weeks when his tongue tie affected his latch. My nipples were torn to shreds and had it not been for the support of family and peer supporters I might have given up after a week.

People are weird about it because they are sexualising breasts, when their primary function is to feed children.

Their own sexualisations and perversions are their own problems, not yours OP. Ignore and carry on.

It seems unlikely.
Everyone is being pretty respectful and there is a fair amount of agreement.
Not a great deal to see here.

Totally disagree. There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking people who have a different opinion to me 'why?'. I'm not being angry or abusive. I'm debating with people, which I think is quite normal, no? I don't believe I have offended anyone.

OP it's fine as long as it's fine with you and kid. I stopped at 3 1/2 because I was sick of it and used a holiday away for a week to my advantage. It's nobody else's business.

The 'biological norm' as far as can be determined from tribal societies seems to be around 5-7 years old (as the milk teeth go).

The studies that "show" this are quite flawed. I've read them. They are by no means universal agreed with.

It’s hugely discomfiting you even think that, it’s nothing to do with sexualisation and everything to do with infantilisation. I’d really have a deep think on why you even think any one, particular other mothers, would think this about a mother and a child.

Also true if he wants to have long hair, play with dolls, isn't interested in football, isn't white, has a lisp, or any number of things kids might choose to pick on him for. At what point do we curate our lives to appease bullies vs try and equip a child with the confidence to be themselves in spite of them?

Also tbh my friend who has fed her son until after school age (I don't know if she's still feeding him now actually, because, oddly, it doesn't come up in conversation all the time :P) has THE most confident, socially able, articulate, popular child I've ever seen. Any time he crosses the playground kids from every class and spanning several year groups are shouting after him and trying to play with him. So it doesn't necessarily follow.

The right age is whatever age you and your child both still feel comfortable. Tits are not sexual anymore than legs are. They are literally made for feeding your offspring. There are some people, who are totally fucked in the head from either misogyny and or porn or internalised misogyny. They get very upset when they see breasts being used for their intended purpose instead of serving as a sex object for the male gaze. They who will try to convince you otherwise. Don't listen to them.

As someone who's milk dried up at 6 months both times in just impressed yours is still going with such infrequent feeds. Do you have to express if he doesn't take any for a few days?

I'm just paranoid after one of my comments was directly quoted once 😅 it was a perfectly kind and supportive comment though and thankfully not outing! And yes thanks everyone for being so kind and respectful in your answers it is very refreshing!

Agree

But you’ve just said ‘why’ over and over. No one is questioning you or saying your opinion isn’t valid for your life.
The reality is most children are not breastfed at the age of 4 or older, surely you can imagine some of the reasons people have for this?
You just seem intent on creating a drama where there is none.

As long as you and your child want. They usually reach a point where they choose not to have it any more, when left to their own devices, although they may be school-age when that happens.

I stopped when my daughter was exactly two because I was pregnant again and found it really nauseating to be touched - but she was also ready to stop and to be honest I think it was mostly me pushing it by the end. She was having tiny feeds, only last thing at night, and was really not that fussed.

For me it felt wrong right from day one and I chose not to. For other people it feels right for years. There's no right or wrong answer, you do what's right for you and your baby/child, and as long as your not whopping your tits out in maccies for your 8 year old fuck what anyone else thinks.