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 have a 5 year old who self weaned when she was just over 2. A just turned 3 year old who I have been desperately trying to wean for a long while but will not give it up, and a 9 month old who I am happy to keep feeding.

To be fair, some mothers obviously will be doing it because they don’t want to let go of that phase of their child’s life. Sometimes it’s best to accept they are growing up and don’t need it anymore. And if they are doing it for comfort then a reassuring hug or cuddle should suffice. You can’t breastfeed them forever.

You can’t say it’s not your choice when you’re actively encouraging it. Most babies and toddlers would prefer the breast or bottle but it’s up the mother when to say enough it’s enough.

If you’re happy the crack on
and so it as long as you want

You seem smug that you breastfed and she didn’t

A few mothers perhaps, but the vast majority don’t prolong feeding for themselves- It’s the babies who often find it difficult to give up long after the mothers are ready. And no a “reassuring hug” really doesn’t cut it for a child who isn’t ready to quit. How utterly patronising .

And you don't have to breastfeed them forever either. I just wish I had left it to my elder two's discretion when they wanted to stop as I did with my third! I had good reasons both times but in hindsight I would have done it differently.

WTH?
I am not encouraging it at all. am actively doing everything I can to very much discourage it.

Why do you think you can tell me about myself on the basis of no evidence or knowledge whatsoever. It’s so bizarre and insulting.

If you’re dead there is no choice.

I answered - go read the post instead of trying to get one up without reading everything first and getting your facts together

Of course they do! Why the hell wouldn’t they?

Why do you think that? How bizarre! Why are you so intent on trying to make me look bad? What is it to you?

I've said repeatedly I didn't give a fuck. 20 odd years later I still don't give a fuck!!!

We never ever had a single conversation about feeding babies or rearing children. I just found it funny that she felt the need to pretend that she was breastfeeding when she wasn't! It had damn all to do with me!!

Erm...

Is your reading comprehension OK ?

God you're argumentative!

I've only skimmed your many posts and if you really did bf for a year I don't get why you are so lacking in understanding?

I don't think so.

But not strange to drink cows milk?

I would say most people would find 2 year olds breast feeding in public odd.

So why not find another source of comfort? You’ve just said it’s not for nutritional purposes….

because my child won’t accept another source of comfort, and she cries and cries for milk, and I don’t want to take that source of comfort away from her as it causes her such distress . It has nothing whatsoever to do with nutrition.

Are you always this obtuse or only on the subject of breastfeeding ?

Tell your GP just before they write out that prescription for medication for you.

Tell the pharmacist just before you buy something off the shelf.

Other than that, it’s no one’s business.

I’m surprised at some of the comments here to be honest, like ‘couldn’t bring myself to’, that sort of thing. I couldn’t bring myself to go scuba diving or eat mustard or go to a rap gig or queue up in the cold for the Boxing Day sales, but I don’t have a problem with people who do those things. It’s none of my business!

All the breast feeding women - carry on, when those days are over you will have such lovely memories of that time.

Think of all those things you do for comfort. Open a bottle of wine on a Friday night. Hot chocolate. Hug your dad. Hold hands with a loved one. Watch a comforting tv programme. Listen to soothing music. Listen to pounding music on the treadmill. Whatever your version of comfort is, you can’t do it. Just stop. Find something else. Don’t care what it is, but you can’t do those things any more.

Does that make any sense at all? No? Thought not!

I’m not bitter 😂 I advocate breastfeeding and done it for a year. Most people I know didn’t do it for that long! I was happy to breastfeed in public and didn’t given a shit what anyone thought when my was baby was feeding.

Once they started walking and could eat solids there was no need for me to continue nutritionally as it was more for comfort than anything else. I didn’t feel as comfortable doing it in public.

I don’t care whether someone breastfeeds their child until they’re 4/5 whatever but yes I find it strange.

If you’re confident doing it and don’t care about people judging and you think their ‘opinions’ are ‘wrong’, why are you so bothered about what randoms on the Internet think? You do you if you’re happy. If your cut off 5 then why do you care if most people would think that’s too old….

What was your question? trolling this site? Good one lol

Then I would say most people would be wrong!

Why would a 4 year old NEED to breastfeed?

Enlighten me?