To not want to stop BF 17 month old

[Sunny123Skies67]

I'm starting to get a lot of pressure to wean DS. From my own parents, my partner, and now even friends who I have confided to. Everyone thinks it's weird and bad for me, although I have not complained. Everyone now makes jokes about me BF him on his first day of school 😥

I only BF morning and evening and for naps, when I'm not at work. Never out and about. He eats a lot of food and has a great diet.

But it's so fucking useful. It puts him to sleep INSTANTLY. "Bedtime" takes 5 minutes. I don't have to rock and sing or whatever. It helps with teething. He sleeps 10.5 hours straight usually, but when he does ocasionally wake (around 4/5am), a quick boob puts him back to sleep.

He was a terrible sleeper 6-13 months (he took teething very badly) so I'm afraid to change something that works so well.

He loves nursing late afternoon or if he's overstimulated, it's like a little zen moment for him.

His nanny or his dad do ocasionally put him to bed at night, it's not a problem. I don't feel tied down. But his dad is now using this as an argument to stop BF.

Honestly I'd tell them to fuck off. 17 months is still just a baby. He's your baby and you two are supposed to be very attached to each other - it would be a huge concern if you weren't.

It's a sad reflection on our culture that anyone thinks it's weird to breastfeed a bloody 1 year old.

They are all ill informed op and that's not necessarily their fault but it's not fair for them to make that your problem.

Refer them to the world health organisation who recommend breast feeding until AT LEAST the age of 2.

There are many reports linking extended breastfeeding to health benefits for mother and child and the health benefits for the mother directly correlate to the longer she nurses for.

I also faced a lot of pressure to wean when ds turned 1. (I bf until he was 2 and then weaned over the course of about 2 months gradually with no issues) and I would recommend la leche league or other breastfeeding support group for more informed information, and peer support. The UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding globally so in that respect you are going against the trend, but op that's a good thing. What matters is that it's working for you and working for baby. Other people's opinion on that is something they need to learn to keep to themselves.

Does anyone wonder wether their child will be completely mortified when a teenager to learn that they were breast fed at age 3+

Seems really cringey to me

I don't think so... because its not creepy, weird, sexual or in any way inappropriate.

So why would they be? In fact do most kids even know what age they were weaned at? Lots of kids take a bottle much older than they should - should they feel completely mortified about that?

Or is your issue with it really when we boil it right down, the over sexualising of a female body part that is specifically designed to feed children?

Too attached! The cheek! You and your child share a bond and that closeness is a lot more to do with him growing inside you and listening to you for all those months before he was born. Mine fed til 2, I got all that from everyone, just like yours he weaned himself down to just bedtime. Then he stopped which may come soon if your little one is already learning to sleep without it. I honestly think it was a comfort, he always wanted more when ill and why should we reject our child seeking comfort to please other people?

Carry on if you both want to. I breast fed youngest till 3 and only stopped because I had to due to medication. She is now 6 and so happy and confident and healthy! Breast feeding must have contributed to this!
I also had pressure from partner and family to stop. Only people who matter are you and your child. Well done you are amazing!!!

What's actually cringey is sexualizing a mother breast feeding a child.
Patriarchy is extremely difficult to fight.

I was breastfed until I was 3 and couldn’t care less. My mum has a personality disorder and used to try to embarrass me with it as well, I wasn’t bothered. It was the least of my concerns

It was unusual then but most of the children I know now have been breastfed until at least 2-3. It’s the new (and old) normal because it is biologically normal and the actual recommendation

There’s isn’t embarrassment. Is your teen embarrassed when they find out they came out head first of your vagina? Or that you had sex with their dad? Ewww

Come on stop being childish.

The child that I breastfed the longest actually is the most independent and on point. They are the one that I would trust the most to follow through with something. They are also the most social able and independent.

The generation before mine, that didn’t even breastfeed, seem to have a complex about women who do.

I carried on with both of mine until they were about 2. My daughter never wanted to stop but I was pregnant with ds. He lost interest when he had a cold when he was 2.

My 18 year old has zero embarrassment that they were bf until they were 4.

@Kittyfur what an absolutely bizarre comment. As if teens even talk about that kind of thing with each other 😂

@Kittyfuri breastfed my daughter until she was 3 and she’s now 5 and doesn’t even remember it. I don’t think the would be embarrassed because it’s completely normal, she has a baby sister who she’s going to see be breastfed for a while as well. So hopefully if she ever chooses to have kids she won’t be living under the mad misconception that breastfeeding beyond (sorry what age do people like you think is acceptable? I was going to say 12 months but maybe it’s 6? Or only a few weeks? Or is any breastfeeding just cringey to you people?) well beyond any age that the mother and child WANT to, is “cringy” or in some other way wrong or weird