To think BF-ing a 2yr old is, um, weird?

[Lucy85]

Well what do you think? I know it's a very emotive subject, but I've seen it a couple of times and it makes me come over all strange.
I BFed my baby exclusively until 7 months when I went back to work, but the thought of doing it now is just plain odd, - not wrong, it's just I can't imagine doing it to someone who can walk, talk, get their own drinks, eats proper food and is too big to lie sideways on my lap.

Magalyxyz, re biscuits, yes, by the same token I don't let DS go around constantly attached to my breast. He does still nurse but he has other foods as well, you know.

You don't have to have experienced it to not find it weird. DD never got a drop from me, ever, despite my best efforts so there's no nerve touching here.

It strikes me that you're buggered whatever you do, someone is always looking down their nose at you. If you don't bf at all that's wrong. If you give up at 6 months that's too early, if you carry on past a year that's too late. Maybe the government should send out a reminder on the child's first birthday that it's the law that you stop. Or should you sign a document when Clarks take the photo of your child with their first shoes on?

Why be arsed with what other people do? As long as they're not flogging the child, leave them be.

That's really upsetting, that anyone would think you would to continue to breastfeed your toddler for your own sake. To what end?

It's tiring being an older childs pacifier and it's a pretty selfless act.

bollocks about it being momre the mother's wishes, porca.

OP, YABU. Do you find everything that other people do that you wouldn't do 'wierd'?? Are you that narrow minded and shallow?

porcamiseria, WHO advises exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and continuing to breastfeed alongside solid food for at least 2 years and then until the mother or infant wishes to stop.

I dont see the problem. I know some people think its "weird" because the difference between a 7 month old and a 2 year old is generally significant - they can go from being in a babygrow with fine fuzz on their hair to having a haircut, shoes with grip, and a Ben 10 watch.

But they are not sexually aware at 2, or 3, or 4 for that matter, they are not sexual beings, they have not yet learned that breasts may have a sexual context, they know them only as vessels for milk, and for that reason, it is, in fact, not weird.

And its not weird for the mother or father of that child either, because they have seen that child being breastfed daily from the time it was born.

YANBU to find it weird. The fact is, in this country, it is unusual, and even more unusual to see it, therefore, is it really wrong to feel its weird?

Wastingaway, I know a lot about breastfeeding actually. Quiz me if you don't believe me!!

Too busy laughing about sheep's eyes being weird.

Ladies, I think we're under a troll invasion. There is another similar thread in AIBU about early weaning.

Smile and wave boys, smile and wave.

God I wish DS2 would give up. But he won't have cows' milk and seems to need that bedtime feed.

He won't be doing it forever.

And the day after he stops I'll think it was a bit weird too. Because I did as soon as the others stopped.

But I'll be wrong. It isn't weird. It's natural.

You obviously think that squirting milk out of an animal with flies buzzing round its arse, drying it out and adding sundry chemicals is far less weird.

Each to their own me dear

Are you coming back OP?

Or is this a post and run ...

okay diamondsandtiaras I mistakenly thought you were calling me weird. Those of you who say it is weird and you are entitled to your opinion, well as soon as someone says something along the lines of ff is rat poison (not my view by the way) are very quick to scream its not quite aggressively.

"Avoiding obesity and gastroenteritis is not at all weird."

sorry how does that compute with BF a toddler???? dont get it"

Duh. Because the benefits of breastmilk go on and on and on and on. They don't stop giving the child health advantages because he/she has reached six months.

WHO says breastfeeding should be complemented by food up to two years of age and beyond.

You're really showing ignorance now. That's what pisses people off.

I have probably only seen two women breastfeeding toddlers in public..Probably because of nasty comments like they are doing it for themselves etc.

The only thing I remember really thinking though..was holy hell how are they carrying them like that my arm would fall off!

I am pregnant with my first one.. And hope to get my breast feeding brigade badge.. Unfortunatly I don't know anyone else who has fed after 6 months so won't have any support I guess

porcamiseria

Quote from WHO:

Exclusive breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. A recent review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.

this is going to kick off BIG TIME

nearly home time, expect to see this at 300 posts plus if I log in later

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT NIGHT

winky, I genuinely dont have anything against it. I can gets its frustrating to do the best by your kid and be told its "icky". But like it or not alot of people DO find it a bit discomfitiing and they are entitled to have an opinion. Their opinion should not sway you.

I am sure I do some things that would be frowned on here (MN) but if people say so I dont bite their head off and tell them to fuck off. I ignore them!

I was just wondering that 5... since the OP hasn't been back.

Still, this old debate never gets tired Don't worry, when I get bored I'll have to go out and agressively breastfeed my toddler in the park or something just to prove a point.

I wouldn't bf a DC that age or give them anything from a bottle, but there are lots of things that I wouldn't do that other people do.
Luckily everyone is free to do their own thing.

haven't read the whole thread yet, but shirleyknot just made my day. Priceless!!

How do you agressively breastfeed a toddler? Squirt them in the eye!?

These threads are so emotive

There is a great deal of judginess about feeding your baby and a lot of it is completely unecessary. You can criticise someone whatever they do - so women who formula feed from birth and equally criticised as those who bf until their child is of school age.

I wish people wouldn't get so bloody fired up and aggressive about it. To be honest in the grand scheme of life long parenthood, it doesn't really matter what you do.

How about this for an idea Lucy85, I won't criticize your parenting choices and you don't slag off me for mine?

sanielle - just hang around here for long enough, plenty of support and brilliant advice on the breast and bottle feeding board (Ignore my silly comments further up, I was taking the piss, we are normal really, and extremely unjudgemental, I promise

There is a big difference between BFing a 7 month old who needs the milk and a 2 year old who, arguably, doesn't.

For that reason, I can see why you might have the opinion that you do.

However, you would be BU if you let your opinion be known to a mother who happpened to be BFing her toddler.