Thoughts on breastfeeding a toddler?

[atait1502]

Looking for some general thoughts and opinions on extending breastfeeding. I have a nearly 2 year old, and planning to continue for now. Had a mixed bag of responses from people so just looking to see others opinions and thoughts?

I am looking to wean eventually in the near future just not sure how to just yet!

So from six months?! What a silly suggestion. 😂

What do teeth have to do with breastfeeding anyway? Do you bite the mug when you have a coffee?

As long as you're happy with it, carry on.

I would have been happy going until around 2.5, but my DD suddenly weaned on her own just before 16 months.

Carry on as long as you both want to. You’re amazing. 🎉

Was personally happier to stop earlier and not be so tied.

Where have you got that from? It’s a nonsense idea.

I find on these threads the posters who think breastfeeding is weird and unnatural are often those whose partners had an issue with it. “Those boobs are mine!” kinda thing.

Well it's not really a barrier to the workplace as most 2 year olds aren't feeding often and it's not their main source of nutrition. I fed my first until 2 and my second is still going at 21 months, and with both I've been working as normal. Read many of the replies here and you'll see a lot of toddlers only feed morning and evening and you'd never know if you met their mum in the working day that she still breastfed.

Maybe the WHO recommends it because it's safe, beneficial, and developmentally appropriate.

It’s basically no one else’s business.

end of discussion…

I fed my children until 8 years and 6 years. They both chose when to wean, and it was a really positive experience for all of us. Feeding a toddler is young to me!

I haven't read the thread and I'm unlikely to read any replies to my comment because people can be such uneducated dicks about natural term weaning, but OP feel free to DM me if you would like.

“Weird?”
“The mum wants to feel needed?”
”for the benefit of the mum?”

I’m guessing you have never breastfed a one year old. I think you also need to examine where you have got the idea that breastfeeding is a ‘weird’ thing to do. It is the most natural, instinctive thing to do - nothing is weird or wrong about it.

and planning to continue for now

So why bother asking? If you are that settled in your decision why do you care what other people think?

My only thought is that I'm jealous! I had visions of EBF and extended BF for myself and my babies, unfortunately despite wonderful support I was never able to make it work (low supply). Not weird at all, you're doing the best thing for you and your toddler!

Have you actually spoken to any breastfeeding mothers to come to that opinion though? Because otherwise it's not really a valid opinion, it's just silly nonsense.

Personally, I breastfed my children into the toddler years because 1. THEY wanted it, it soothed and comforted them and helped them sleep, and 2. For their nutrition (health visitors advise that children over 12 months should have cow's milk every day... well I didn't think it made much sense to lug litres of cow's milk home from the shop every week if I could make an even better milk that's tailored to my child from my own body for free). I also noticed that if we caught colds or tummy bugs, the breastfed child seemed to recover much quicker than the rest of the family, so that's another health reason that benefits the child.

I mean, yeah, extended breastfeeding benefitted me insofar as I want the best for my child...? But in all honesty I found it quite irritating towards the end both times. I certainly wasn't doing it for my benefit. Our ancestors breastfed their toddlers. It's biologically normal.

I breastfed until just before 5.
I'd do it again. It felt right for us.
No one else got to have input in to the decision.

I know at least four other people who breastfed until their child was older than 3. I don't think it's as uncommon as people think, it's just not often admitted to openly. At older ages it's generally only first thing in the morning and last thing at night so few people are aware of it.

Incidentally my DC never caught the nursery bugs. I have wondered if this was due to antibodies in the breast milk or just coincidence!

I’m guessing you haven’t breastfed a two year old? They don’t feed round the clock like a newborn 😁 Full time jobs are entirely possible 😉

My ex was (apparently, I wasn't there) born with teeth.

I bf my first two until 6 months. No 3 until 2.5 and no 4 until she was 4. I have no regrets with the extended bf for my younger ones.

You're the one who said it was "weird" to breastfeed a toddler.

Utterly baffled as to what teeth have to do with anything.

You know some babies are born with teeth?!

My eldest got teeth at 3m old. Two of them. My youngest was 4m when they got teeth. Would it be in their best interest to stop BF then?

Naturally the best time to stop is exactly that - when it happens naturally.

A 2 year old does not need breast milk. They should be on a full and varied diet. You are doing it for yourself.

Some babies are born with teeth though so what then?

Fortunately the WHO doesn't agree with you.

My brother was born with teeth.

I admit to gritting my teeth. It was the easier option as she's just so strong willed, it caused more issues to try and stop. As I say it was only a bedtime thing by that point, and the quickest of feeds.