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!

She's a literal baby, calm down. I also don't put up with it, I am teaching her not to do this.

Your response was to a poster talking about a 4 year old. I don’t know how old your child is. I’ve never seen a baby “attacking and screaming” for breastmilk so I’m assumed your child was also 4.

Breastfed my daughter until she had just turned 4. She naturally weaned. For her it was the right thing to do it this way.

Because it’s biologically normal for children to breastfeed into toddlerhood, we evolved to do so, our ancestors did so, and breastmilk still provides an enormous amount of nutrition and immune benefits to young children. In the mid 20th century, formula producers pushed fake science to convince mothers their product was better than natural breastmilk, which led to 2 or 3 whole generations being woefully ignorant about breastfeeding. That’s when doctor’s started recommending toddlers and young children consume vast amounts of cow’s milk after weaning from baby formula - to make up for all the nutrition they would have previously got from breastmilk. Now, why do you think it makes more sense for a child to drink milk from another species rather than the milk the child’s own mother makes naturally, that’s specifically tailored to that child?

The poster said she stopped feeding her first when they were 18 months old. My baby gets upset if she can't breastfeed, I don't see how that's unusual.

mine was 5 when they chose to stop, it was just at bedtime I think by the end. I wasn't ever bitten and I didn't discuss it with other people, it's none of their business.

People say it's "weird", but to me basing what is natural and comfortable for you and your child on a number is more weird. I wouldn't abruptly decide they weren't allowed a toy or game they liked anymore because they'd tipped over a made up age limit either, as with bf, they generally decide they don't want things anymore for themselves after a while.

But this goes against science and expert advice? You're obviously going to get kick back, its like being anti vax.

All scientific advice? You mean including this study which was backed by the world health organisation?

Nutritional Stance: Dr. Max Davie of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health stated, "By the age of two, a child should get all the nutrients required through their diet so there is no additional benefit to breastfeeding over this age".

The Autonomy Argument: In discussions on Today's Parent, writer and commentator Danielle Perrault argues: "Parenting is about moving our children from dependence to autonomy... Delaying that progression is not beneficial; it stunts their development".

I wouldn't take any notice of what the WHO say about breastfeeding. When Roger Daltrey has birthed an eight pound baby all by himself, maybe then he can tell women how to feed their children!

@PoppingRobin I mean you're right in a way, providing comfort and security to my child is absolutely in my interests. Abruptly stopping something that provided my child with those things based on the number of days they'd been alive seems... weird?

I've not read that study but from my research the majority of the papers written acknowledge the benefits after 2.

But that still doesn't line up with what you have previously said, does it?

PoppingRobin · Today 04:56
Gross when they have teeth and can eat food. No need, saw a toddler the other day eating chicken nuggets and chips at a pub then pull its mums top down for dessert. Grim.

My child had teeth from 4 months and started solids at 6 months. I would say this is pretty average.

@PoppingRobin another thing you're not wrong on:
saw a toddler the other day eating chicken nuggets and chips at a pub
I hate seeing toddlers eating chicken nuggets and chips at the pub too, they should be having hand knitted hummus and organic veg sticks.

For me personally, when they are talking and you are having whole conversations about it in words, that's too old for me to want to be BF. But I don't judge others who choose differently.

Totally agree. There is absolutely no need for the insults. It’s a discussion forum, the whole point being that differing opinions are invited.

There’s difference in a weaning baby and a child eating a full meal, running around etc. doubt your six month old has a full set of teeth either.

“WHO recommends you keep breastfeeding your child up to two years and beyond and for as long as you both want to continue. Breastfeeding never stops protecting children from infectious disease.”

Copied from:
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/breastfeeding

i would add that even one single breastfeed on day 1 is highly valuable and something to be proud of.

I breastfed my youngest until the night before her 6th birthday. She only fed for a couple of minutes before bed or if she was poorly from about 3.5

My daughter is 2 in a couple of weeks still breastfeeds when she wants and I don't really care what people think of it

I fed DS until he was 3.5 years and he never bit me!

The WHO recommends breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond.

OP it's tricky to wean once they get to being 2. They know what they want! That said, bf an older one is much less onerous and drops to first and last thing and when they are poorly. By the time DS weaned, he did it naturally but I was only feeding him at bedtime by then an my milk supply had dwindled. A few nights of saying there was none left and leaving DS to settle him some nights did the trick.

Don't let what other people say influence your decision. When to stop is completely up to you (and your little one).

What do YOU want to do?

Forget everyone else's opinions. Yours is the ONLY one that matters. NO ONE else's.

This for me as well.

Both of mine self weaned at some point between 2 and 3.

Do what is right for your child, not what people on the internet said.

I stopped at 3 and a half years. Only did it a night time by them though. No regrets. I didn’t tell many people I fed that long because I didn’t want their opinions on it.

Never in a million years did I think I would be the sort of person to feed that long. Before I had children I was non-plussed about breastfeeding versus formula but when I got the hang of it I could see the benefits for both the children and me.

It'd be a personal opinion if it was about your own actions. But you it stops being personal when you ascribe motives to others.