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!

To people saying it's just for comfort. What's wrong with giving a toddler comfort?

I swear some people HATE toddlers in this country. All I hear is negative shit about tantrums, terrible 2s, etc. My breastfed 2 year old is lovely. Some days he's clearly having a hard time (usually teething or sick) and asks for milk when he's struggling. It soothes him instantly. It also relaxes him at bedtime after a long day. WTF is wrong with that?

If he wasn't breastfed, I'd have to find another way to soothe him so it's not like anyone would leave a 2 year old without any comfort. But because it comes from a breast, somehow it's wrong? Presumably you must be paedophiles to not be able to imagine something that is not sexual in feeding a toddler?

And also, to everyone saying they don't know anyone still breastfeeding a toddler, you wouldn't know. 2 year olds don't feed out and about, usually. No one, and I mean no one, in my friendship or work circle knows I'm BF. Everyone has assumed I have weaned. My parents and his nanny know, why would anyone else know?

Actually the mum was and is very anxious and doesn't want her daughter growing up. The breast milk was to create a dependency and this has continued in other ways. She would benefit of a support animal so she could let her daughter live her life. She's infront of the secondary school every day waiting for her to get out and go with her every morning even though it's a15 minutes walk. Her daughter is allowed to have one friend because the mother knows her mother well.

That is what the act is. Ultimately not romanticising or mother earthing it that it’s unneeded for a two year old who can walk, talk, eat full meals, to nutritionally need breast milk. It’s simply for comfort and on the mother at that point.

I think up until around one is long enough.

I went back to work at 9 months and I am still bf my 23 month old. I’d like to stop soon purely because I can’t diet whilst doing it and want my confidence back. But I’ll probably try for another soon.

It’s not weird until you make it so. Just carry on with what you want to do

You speak with such confidence despite being very wrong. The worst type of person.

Can you explain what is wrong with comfort?

I fed my dd until she was 26m, mostly just a quick morning feed then a longer feed at night. Then one day she just refused, she still wanted the same cuddles but didn’t want the breast. I did nothing to stop her, I was a bit sad but as she still wanted the cuddles I was OK.

Wrong about what? Go ahead and breastfeed your children until they are adults if you like- just know that it's for yourself and not for them.

you can't, their mouth changes shape when they lose their milk teeth and they can't do it anymore. Almost like it's natural for them to be able to bf until that point...

No thank you. My son had teeth at 3 months.

mmmhmmm
I would say there is a very high chance that you have no idea what the situation actually is (which is good, because it's none of your business).

anxious and or neurodivergent children have very different support needs to neurotypical children. Girls especially often appear to be perfectly normal due to masking, it might even appear that they have controlling parents who are always there and appear to be hovering when actually they are very aware of their child's needs and have to always be ready to help before a situation snowballs. I would say, given the behaviour you have described, the daughter needs support more than you realise and the mum is doing her best to provide it.

Children at two can be comforted in other ways for starters.

secondly, a report from Tham et al. (2015) which I’ve actually read this afternoon and is once again well supported found that

children who breastfed after eighteen months had higher dental issues, larger periods of waking in the night, a decrease in independence (again, unable to do things as independently as their peers which ultimately affects development). Children who breastfed past 2 were also likely to have issues with food choice and marital/co parenting relationships were also more likely to suffer as were health of mothers as mothers sleep was still likely to be interrupted, their periods, their mental health. So comfort, ultimately it outweighs bad.

Sorry can you link to the paper that you are talking about? I've had a look and the one that comes up isn't saying that at all?

Where does it say in Tham etc al 2015 about decreased independence, marital relationships and maternal mental health?

And yes, breastfeeding can and does interrupt menstruation in some women, but I always counted that as a really positive thing!

I literally can't take you seriously. Your quoting research whilst describing breast feeding as "sucking on a tit". The fact you don't know the mechanics of breastfeeding ie they "latch on and breastfeed by stimulating milk etc"..... and that research was over 10yrs ago and one report.

Can you disclose how many children you have and how you fed them?

If you buy the full report on PubMed, in the conclusion it goes into a full report on other factors. It’s £25

Yes of course, I breastfed one up until a year. Second I will formula feed due to medication I’m on. Is formula milk up to a year ok? Or would you like me to find a wet nurse for my child until they’re 16?

That's a parent problem not a breastfeeding problem.

I've just read it - I have access to it via my university. I can only see information on breastfeeding and caries and cariogenic food intake.

Lol. My breastfed 2 year old:

• sleeps 10.5 hours a night, uninterrupted, and 2 hours at lunch
• eats absolutely everything
• dentist said his teeth were perfect at a checkup 4 months ago
• the fact that I didn't have any periods until 20 months post partum was a huge bonus. I was devastated to get them back 🤣

But it seems you are just pregnant and haven't even had a baby yet so good luck with your judgmental attitude once you become a parent.

I’ve had one child, who sadly passed away and I’m pregnant with my second. But yes, thank you.

I literally don't care what you do to feed your child, unless you are telling other mothers what they should do. If up to a year worked for you for breastfeeding perfect, and if formula is the safest way now then great. But don't trash other mums just because they needed sleep or there baby wouldn't settle. I fed my son until he was 18mths and just really resent the "sucking on tit' comment

I’ve not trashed anyone. Mums on here will breastfeed until their children are forty regardless of my or anyone else’s opinion (and we’re all allowed an opinion) and that’s on them but I’ve not seen one decent argument on the actual nutritional benefits of breastfeeding over 2.

why do you think your opinion is ok but mine isn’t? This is a forum.

I still can't see what you have said above?

The key factors from the report were;

• Children exposed to more versus less breastfeeding up to 12 months had reduced risk of dental caries.
• Increased risk of dental caries in children breastfed >12 months, especially if frequent or nocturnal, may be due to unmeasured confounders including dietary sugars and oral hygiene practices.
• Research should simultaneously investigate breastfeeding practices including frequency and nocturnal routines, along with dietary and oral hygiene practices to more accurately determine specific risks.