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?

Yes I have a personal opinion. Would I say anything or make someone feel judged? No of course not. If mum and child are happy, that's all the matters.

A couple of friends who I told (one my son asked for boob in front of her and he was only 2.5 at the time) and my two aunts and one of their husbands.

How did you find out they were all highly judging you?

Sure, and I get how important all those things are, but breastfeeding your child for a few minutes every 1-3 days isn't going to prevent them from developing all of those skills and characteristics.

Well cows don't have breasts but I agree. It's madness. Too old for the milk of their own species but it's fine for cow's milk to replace it?

You always ALWAYS get the eternally dim who come out with the bitty crap. Always. Will never stop making me cringe on their behalf.

My friend told me 'well you need to stop that then don't you what must everyone think?!', another told me 'well I won't tell you my opinion on that' which essentially was her giving me her opinion, and my aunts when they came over a few months ago (DS was three) were laughing about it and one asked if she could have some. Was all very belittling.

For me 2 would be highest age I could breastfeed. For other people I think feeding up to age 3 is ok. I agree with others that feeding a 4 year babies them.

I fed my eldest daughter till she was 3. My milk naturally dried up. I was waiting for her to wean herself off! My youngest is two years old and I have stopped day feeds six months ago and will continue with night feeds until I want to stop or she does. I too feel like it's a dirty secret around other mums when we talk about how long we breastfed for. I always whisper it!

I think each to their own, but @pompei8309 is amazing. Please do give us the peer reviewed research here on the nutritional value of breast milk, sorry water. I. LOVE. IT!
I had literally no idea and am feeling a little depressed about the wasted time and energy that goes into making this stuff.
TIA.

I spent over a year trying to get my 4 year old to stop. Her brother stopped happily at 3 and I was so over it by the time she got to 4. However she had massive amounts of change - new house, new area, new school her dad had a breakdown, then an affair, then our marriage broke down, then I was struggling. There was no way she could express her feelings about any of that, so she clung determinedly to pretty much the only thing that made her feel safe.

She was 5 and a half before I managed to fully wean her. Trust me, it was not me forcing her.

Why does it "baby",them? Don't you still read them stories, play with them, carry their things around just like when they were babies?

Just searched the username and all I could find was 'this message has been deleted by mnhq' so take that as you will.

In my opinion If they’re old enough that they will remember it when they grow up then they are too old to breastfeed

They've got a whole childhood to develop those skills. OP's child is 4. Moreover, the things are not mutually exclusive. The OP is the only person child has a breastfeeding relationship with. All the other people in his life he is learning relational skills; all the places he goes without OP, situations he encounters, he is learning and using coping skills. Breastfeeding doesn't inhibit any of that. It's a special relationship he has with one person. It doesn't frame his entire relationship with the world.

To be fair, I'm not sure it's the milk itself that people have such an issue with, but the sucking it directly from the breasts.

Why?

A couple of friends who I told (one my son asked for boob in front of her and he was only 2.5 at the time) and my two aunts and one of their husbands.

So you got less than a handful of comments and are so outraged by them 1.5years later that you started this post?

I just don’t see what you’re hoping to get onto of this. Most children are not breastfed until 4 or later so there are probably going to be more people who find it ‘weird’ than not weird because it’s actually just very uncommon. It doesn’t mean anyone is demanding you to justify your decision.

the toys have changed, the stories changed, they will be teaching them to read, they will carry things that are too heavy for the child but others the child will carry themselves. So no, unless disabilities or additional needs a 4 year old will not be read to , played with etc “just like” when they were babies, because that too would be infantalising. Feeding a child, comforting a child, playing with a child, evolved as they grow. We should not treat four year olds the same as we treat babies.

Cup of cow milk from cow breasts, fine

Human milk from human breasts, not fine

Not really a fair comparison, unless you mean feeding directing from the cows nipples? 🤣

This is the problem. People feel they have a right to judge, when it’s got FUCK ALL to do with them. Unless it’s your child, or your boob, its nothing to do with you.

Why does OP need to justify herself to you, about coping mechanisms and how often she feeds etc? Bizarre

To be fair, I'm not sure it's the milk itself that people have such an issue with, but the sucking it directly from the breasts.

Yes, because breasts are for other’s sexual gratification, not for feeding young. Silly me

I feel as though you have to do what’s best for you and the child/ baby.
I breastfed my first until he was one and still feeding my 18 month old but would really like to stop for my sanity, I just don’t know how to! But I wouldn’t judge anyone who decided to feed for longer, it’s definitely personal choice

Why do you think they're called nanny goats? They used to get kids to feed directly from them. Safer than a filthy bottle.

In my opinion they shouldn’t remember it!!!
But from 1, babies are too easily distracted! A bottle is just easier.

Extended bf is your business. I don't need to know about it - doesn't matter how I feel about it.