Attitudes towards breastfeeding a toddler

[Jaffaroo]

My baby is 6 months old and is exclusively breastfed. She was premature and it was quite a struggle to establish feeding but we got there in the end. I’ve had so many positive comments regarding breastfeeding my baby and my husbands family especially have been very supportive of this.

Yesterday, we were at a family party with my husbands family and I had a few people ask when I was planning on stopping, which surprised me. They said that my baby is too grown up now to be breastfeeding. Later on, an aunt asked me how long I planned on breastfeeding for. I said that I have no plans and will take it as it comes and said that the world health organisation recommend breastfeeding for up to 2 years and beyond.

This was met with gasps of horror, laughs and shocked comments from some family members. Even my husband chimed in ‘you can’t breastfeed a 2 year old, that’s just weird’ which really surprised me! His aunts all joined in, echoing how ridiculous it would be to breastfeed a 2 year old.

I find it interesting that breastfeeding is celebrated until they deem the baby is getting too big or too old for it.

AIBU to be quite shocked at the change in attitude towards breastfeeding all of a sudden now that my baby is a bit older?

Not at 4 they don’t!

I think the complicating factor is that sexual abuse and abuse of children can and does happen regardless of whether the child understands the concept of sex.

Personally i do believe that breastfeeding a child over around 10/11/12 is abuse. Over 7/8/9 I'm unsure, but I don't believe (and it's just my opinion) that it's healthy from a bodily boundaries perspective.

I think it's very complicated but it's clear that breastfeeding isn't just about what the child wants. It is also about what the parent wants - clearly some parents don't want to breastfeed at all. Some draw the line at 6 months, some 2 years old, some 5, some 8, some older.

And that's your business, how??

I probably wouldn't have kept going until 4, but I have no problem is another mother does.

There are other ways to settle toddlers though

I think for me personally, I would draw the line at when they start school. I think it would be pretty embarrassing and awkward all round if a schoolgoing child mentioned to anyone that they were still being breastfed. I stopped cosleeping with my youngest for that very reason.

Weird is what it is…

And use them if you want! Don't condemn a breastfeeding mother for using it to settle a child. None of your beeswax. Nobody is asking you to do it.

Only in your mind.

So you’d breastfeed a child of 10? But not 11?

I can't really see the point in stopping breastfeeding when you would have the expense and hassle of buying formula, making and sterilising bottles. I would keep the ease and convenience of bf until your baby is old enough for cups and cow's milk. Ultimately, do what is best for your family.

There is no nutritional need so it’s strange to chose to continue it

Did you even read my post that you responded to??

For the record, if you read it again, I said I probably wouldn't feed a schoolgoing child??

Perhaps you need to go to Specsavers?

I think you are just so blinded by trying to argue your point that you aren't even reading the posts.

Did you breastfeed or are you posting here out of some sort of misguided sense of anger or jealousy?

You have zero understanding.

100%

There's no nutritional need for chocolate. Or alcohol.

Do we just remove everything with no nutritional need, or just ones that babies and young children enjoy for comfort?

No, I was saying beyond 1 year I find it odd, as they should be able to get all the nutrients from solids and cows milk. I also said I breastfed until 1 and up until 18months fair enough to wean them off, but some people are doing it at 3/4.

One poster said 11 was the cut off for her! No way is that best for her kid (other than in her mind)

The teeth that are called “milk teeth,” you mean?

Again. I will gladly invite you to come explain that to my toddler . 😆 Maybe you can get through to her. I suspect she will start screaming like a banshee as that’s what she does to me.

You really don’t have a blessed clue .

How can someone be anti breastfeeding when she breastfed until 1? Odd statement…

If you say so 😂

They may be there for breastfeeding infants, but they are not there to breastfeed teenagers or adults. So at some point between infant and teenager a line is drawn. A teenager sucking his/her mother's breasts is abuse. An infant sucking his/her mother's breasts is normal. The point at which normal crosses over into inappropriate and then into abuse is debatable. However, it's clear that the mother's own desires and attitudes will influence the age at which their child continues to breastfeed.

What a sad, sad thread.

I still feed by 21 month old wherever I am, whenever he asks because he has quite severe issues with food and weight. I am exhausted and touched out. However, without BF, he would be tube fed which the paediatrician says is not the preferred option. This way he gets his nutritional requirements and maintains his weight while we sort the food issues. (And no, it’s not BF that has caused that. My 3 year old is a very competent eater with a varied diet who was also EBF, as are many of the world’s children).

If am to be judged for this, I would like it to be based on scientific evidence and facts, relating to the benefits to both mother and baby. As opposed to “as far as I know” (unresearched) and “I just think it’s…”.

Feels really disheartening to know I’m being judged based on no actual information.

But, judge away.

But the analogy you used is an objective fact so makes no sense in supporting your argument.

Stop then. What if you dropped down dead or had to go in to hospital and you couldn’t? She would have to adapt and she would. Different a baby under 1 year but kids adopt. End of.

There are objective facts based on scientific evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child.

Tell me you’ve never read the full threat without telling me you’ve never read the full thread…. 😂