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.

'in fact his beautiful little face, combined with DDs beautiful baby face on the other breast, fills me with sheer joy.'
I personally would look and think this sight was beautiful in the same way I do when I see a lamb nursing in a field .

FA for me it definitely was a time thing. i can honestly say in the last month i have felt so much better and more positive about everything. it was as if a switch was flipped when ds turned one and it definitely isn't connected to BFing as i clearly haven't stopped or tried to reduce that in any way.

I thought about this thread when we arrived at nursery early this morning, and my 3 yo asked hopefully if she could have num nums.

Perhaps a different thread but I was quite the other evening when we were watching a new baby on TV (could have been EE) and DD said "he's crying for his bottle". This is a child who is ebf and has never had a bottle, yet already she has picked up the idea that babies feed from bottles. She started this nursery in the Toddler room so I'm sure she hasn't had much contact with babies.

Re: libido when bfeeding (gosh, the twists and turns this thread has taken!) I didn't notice any negative effect at all on mine. In fact, I felt quite bountiful and womanly so if anything I probably felt more up for it than usual!

But secondcoming you were a much more logical debater than most who came on and said we were weird with no explanation and then went. So from me it wasn't directed at you. I can understand a different of opinion just not being called weird or disgusting .

elvislives, I guess outside the house the bottle feeding culture is so much stronger influence than their own personal feeding experiences...which is shame isn't it.

My DD keeps asking when we are going to buy 'new baby' (i.e. bump) bottles and dummies. Even through her younger brother have never used these things and she only ever had bottles of expressed breastmilk when I was separated from her in hospital and she was less than 4 months old and I know she does not remember this. But she still insists our new baby needs them as nearly every other youngest has these things.

elvislives babieseverwhere ds keeps saying about dd 10months to anyone and me 'our baby doesn't need a bottle she has mummy milk' then walks off looking chuft.

I can't believe how inhibited so many people are, all these hang ups about breastfeeding seem to be connected to sex, such a simple act, just because it's the same hormone - oxytocin, that drives either act (and birth) but when it comes to feeding it is considered the love hormone, so that mother and baby/child feel secure and bonded.

To begrudge something so positive is unfathomable to me.

slushy06, Aww, very sweet.

Thanks .

'if someone is bf a toddler 10 times a day shock then first of all 'ouch' and secondly,maybe you need to try something else to get the kid to settle or to give them something more filling to eat'

This was someone getting confused I bf dd 10months 10 times a day and believe me she is loads better after introducing solids ds didn't feed nearly as much from birth sigh. I am pretty sure no one else has said that. we are going to introduce a fourth meal.

Wow! I go to work for the day and come back to find the thread almost double in size

I particularly wanted to say to flightattendant that I completely understand about not wanting to leave DC to cry. I really struggle to understand why it is considered wrong by some people to soothe DC to sleep! If DS is upset, I will do whatever I can to help soothe him and if he wants BF then so be it - that's a healthy way of soothing him!

DS has started self settling occassionally at 13mo, but I won't force him to feed and I won't refuse to feed him if he wants to.

Everyone decides where the limit is. For me, I don't see that much of a difference between the 3 or 4 year old wailing for breastmilk, or an ice cream, or to watch a DVD. It can be just another tool in a battle of wills.

'his beautiful little face, combined with DDs beautiful baby face on the other breast, fills me with sheer joy'

What a lovely comment. That has actually made me feel more confident and determined to continue feeding DD as long as she wants, so thanks Mjinhiding . It is so sad that some of us feel the need to hide it (me being one, before reading this thread).

I had no idea there were so many EBF's, where the hell in the country are you??!! I thought I was on my own but clearly I am not.

So OP, whilst YABVU, thank you for opening my eyes and making me feel not in the slightest bit weird

Yes Lenin, I have learnt a lot from MN, including the word 'fanjo' and the concept of a lentil weaver . In all seriousness though, at the start of this thread I was beginning to regret joining MN, but now I am rather glad I did.

OP I think you should mind your own business, if mums decide to BF longer, that's their business and not yours, it's not weird, it's not odd.

Lucy I am unclear why you started this thread, other than to wind ppl up? If you feel wierd about a mother feeding her baby/toddler naturally, then perhaps you have some issues yourself IMO. Its really none of your business anyway