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?

I personally wouldn't do it past 11 months.
That's my personal choice.
I did see a 2.5 year old being breast fed before and it looked out of place to me, again personal opinion.
Tho I don't judge anyone who does things differently.

Jeez, some of the comments here 🙄
I fed my son until around two years old and had someone insinuate that I was some sort of pervert because he's a boy. Absolutely insane, and says far more about them than it will ever about me.

It’s a fact that I don’t breastfeed my toddler to fulfil my own attachment desires or for my own benefit.
So your opinion that I do - is factually wrong. Fact.

Stop then.

I would, except that I chose to put my child’s wants and needs ahead of my own.

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.

😂😂😂. dear lord. Is that the bar? Maybe tomorrow I just won’t give her any lunch or dinner. Too much bother to cook. I mean, What if I dropped down dead? She’s have to adapt after all.

Come to think of it I quite fancy a lie in and not getting up to take my 5 yr old to school (you know, why should I? what if I dropped down dead and all..)

Wow, that’s not kind is it…. Regardless of whether your best buddies, she’s obviously just had a baby and feeling a bit vulnerable.

It’s not my business but it’s odd. I’m the same way you laughed at your SIL…

I never planned to do extended breastfeeding, but my tiny baby became a bigger baby, then a toddler and there never seemed a reason to deliberately stop - it provided nutrition, comfort and other health benefits. At 12 months my eldest was quite sick, so it didn't seem the right time to stop, then we moved interstate so again didn't seem ideal to change at that time. Most people judged quietly, so I never received overt comments, but I certainly knew most extended family didn't support it.

Each of my children breastfed for different amounts of time, we just went with what worked for us. But looking at a calendar or date to stop seems odd to me... but I wouldn't say it to anyone, just like they didn't say to me it seemed odd not to stop.

How is it "not kind" when I didn't say anything? I'm entitled to my own private feelings - no?!

I just thought it was a bit pathetic. Own your decisions!

Yeah right.

I definitely can’t be arsed to come to my eldest nativity play, or buy any gifts for Christmas. What if I dropped down dead? They’d have to adapt…

You absolutely DID!!

Not as weird as yours! You don't know what "normal standards" are!

You haven't answered my question.

Did you ever breastfeed? It not, what is your obsession with this post?

I do.

oh the irony, telling me I should read the posts and suggesting I go to
specsavers and assuming I’ve never breastfed (so I must be somehow jealous 😂) when I’ve said in several posts that breastfed until DC was 12 months! You should really take heed of your own advise! 😂

She claims to have breastfed until 1, which is also her opinion of when all women should stop and if they don’t it’s because they have attachment issues. Well she gives them a 6 month grace period, but they definitely have to be done by 18 months. ( Of course the WHO recommend feeding until at least two for health reasons but she doesn’t let science get in the way of her opinions because it’s her opinion and therefore it can’t be wrong apparently ).

Says you…

It’s primarily comfort, not nutrition for toddlers

Says you every time you post an opinion about why women breastfeed on this thread.

Don't be despondent about the ignorant @Cantsleepwithoutlisteningtoabook - you are doing your very best for your LO and don't let anyone make you feel bad for it! You are actually doing an amazing thing - congratulations! x

Yes , we’ve all been trying to tell you that for pages..

And if it is???

How old is your child/children?

Your posts were so anti-breastfeeding that I only skim read them.

Do you feel bad you didn't continue beyond a year? Because I can see no other reason why a breastfeeding mother would feel so bitter towards other breastfeeding mothers?

Yeah, sez I, based on your posts!!