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.

Because it is lazy and nonsense.

It is reasonable to write an article about a person who has such strange opinions. It is even reasonable to opine that there is a very small minority that do that.

But to write from the view that when women do X it is because of Y then you are just being a twat

most parents do whatever they do thinking of the best interests of their children, whether they ff, bf, work, sah, etc etc etc.

There are people who make make parenting choices thinking not of their children, but they are a tiny minority of ffing/bfing/working/sah parents.

most ebfers are parents doing what we feel is the best we can do for out children - so most ebfers are in the majority of parents who also do the best they can for their children.

Blimey - Seashore, I'm not sure it has improved tbh, the posts from such as curryfreak are indicative of a steep degeneration imo.

I shan't bother to respond to what is clearly a huge attention seeking effort from her/him.

What I shall respond to is this from TSC:

'in a country with no access to plentiful food and water i can see why one would bf-but kids in asia work in factories-don't see you signing your kids up to make clothes for gap because they do in the 3rd world. '

that's just taken away almost every ounce of respect I had for your opinions on this matter, TSC.

You have also TWICE accused people on this thread of seeking to start an 'internet fight' with you - groundlessly - and once of taking the piss. Can you see any sort of pattern emerging?

I hope you feel less attacked after your nap.

But you don't know every mother in the world RobynLou. Just because someone wrote an article that you don't agree with does not make it nonsense or untrue. It may not apply to you or anyone you know but it does not mean that there aren't mothers out there who it describes perfectly. The same as if Pagwatch wrote an article about mothers working because they do not like their children, resent them and would rather place them in nursery. I work full time and it would not apply to me yet I do acknowledge the fact that there are some who it does apply to.

PMSL at the idea that a baby has their first birthday and suddenly decides not to BF. mummy then forces or emotionally blackmails said baby into feeding...

Dorothy Rowe, for example, is a twat.

Mingg absolutely, but as I said they're a minority and making generalisations about everyone who ebf based on a minority is ridiculous.

No, you're right Flightattendant I thought it had changed but it hasn't really, oh well

tsc you are right, not one size fits all globally but BF a three year old in britain does not harm anyone, is beneficial to the child and mother and is really no-one's business other than the mother and child's.

it would be unneccessary for you to bfeed your 3 year old because you are not bfing a 3 year old during the day. that doesn't mean it is unneccessary for another child who wants it. are you really saying that you wouldn't give a 3 year old a cup of milk during the day if it wanted one? and yes there are plentiful sources of food and water available to us here. breastmilk being one of them. i can really see no reason for objections other than teh fact that the milk comes from a breast. please tell me if i am wrong and explain why.

I've lived in Russia -- where they do often feed until child weans themselves. My first boyfriend fed until 5. They don't really have issues with poor sanitation in cities.

I've lived in Egypt where they don't stop feeding early. Middle class people in Cairo where poor water isn't the issue quite so much.

I've lived in Singapore where actually formula is seen by some as a step up, and pretty common, but all my Malaysian friends fed for a long time and never really spoke about it in terms of 'when I've stopped'.

My husband (spent time in China) says in rural China people feed well beyond a year. Again, it's not bilharzia

From my experiences of living around the world there isn't really an idea of extended breast feeding. It's like eskimos having no word for sand.

The language ought to move on really. Shall we call the people who stop at 6 months or a year the short-term breastfeeders, or early weaners?

RobynLou - I think we agree? I didn't think the article was talking about every ebf and you think that it may accurately describe few people so even though we are approaching this differently the end result is the same?

TSC, breastmilk isn't a substitute for clean water and fresh food.
Certainly there's more incentive to keep bf where there isn't an alternative, but we don't need an alternative, as bf is a perfectly fresh, healthy and sanitary food, and better for children than cows milk.

There seems to be a rush in our society to get babies off of milk. I remember being told with pride about a little girl being down to two bottles, at 6 months, and 1 month premature at that.
It just seems that people think there's something wrong with babies drinking milk, and the sooner they get off it the better.

mingg sort of - I just feel quite strongly that people making assumptions that people "like that" must exist out there because of poorly written newspaper articles is the root of alot of prejudice, and I really didn't like the phrase "I just read the article and thought yep, I am sure there are mothers like that." because that seems to me a really uncritical and slightly lazy way of thinking about things which shouldn't be taken at face value.

it's just a pet hate of mine, sorry

Thankyou for retaining some equanimity in the face of my comments TSC.

It's not true that I have given your views no respect. I have simply asked you to explain them and it seems that you just cannot put your finger on why breastfeeding at 3 bothers you so much.

You've had loads of chances to elaborate and you've not come up with anything. Of course it isn't 'necessary' but there are families and instances where it is desirable and very, very useful. I also can't see any argument from anyone as to why it
ight be harmful - aside from the possibility of bullying, which I find tbh extremely unlikely - just because other kids are curious, it doesn't mean they are not going to accept another kid being breastfed at such an age.

Why would they not, unless their parents expressed distaste - I should imagine there isn't much teasing in places where it is culturally totally normal.

The problem in the UK is that it isn't 'normal' as such - ie it's unusual in our society.
That doesn't mean it's wrong or distasteful, just that some people recoil at it due to a prejudice. And prejudice is rarely a positive thing.

It annoys me too RobynLou

A better example perhaps would be an article saying that Mumsnetters are all vile bitches - something that regularly annoys the crap out of mumsnetters who know that the 'bitchy' articles are all written by lazy journos who know nothing about Mumsnet and too idle to actually find out.

I hope that message didn't sound aggressive or too critical - just trying to set it all out really. I have nothing against you personally, TSC, just really want to convert you to clear this all up

TSC i backed off before because I know you felt that I was singling you out, but there is something that has been bothering me and i really want to ask
i am just very surprised that you were accepted and undertook the LLL peer supporters training when you feel so clearly that extended breastfeeding is not advantageous
have i got something wrong here? i thought there were clear guidelines for being accepted on such training, one of which was, i believe, that you fully support full term breastfeeding
i am hoping i have missed something but i'm pretty sure you said you were a trained LLL supporter? sorry but the thread is so long now, i can't find the post

slushy06 i am loving your work on this thread, and wonder if we could get you a catchier name?
hope you don't take offence

Is my name not catchy, my ds used to call me slushy. He said I was all cuddly and slushy, that then became my nickname with ds .(wasn't sure at the time myself mind). I have a second name but I don't use it often. What would you suggest anyway coupleofkooks.

slushy is cute but the number is not so good
it's kind of a cliche round here that when people can't think of a name they come on with something dull like jacksmum2367
i think you need something more eyecatching anyway, you have a lot to say

Twirl da da. For now. Thanks it is getting me to shut up that is the problem . I will have a think see what I can come up with, I am worried about changing my name I don't know if people recognize me yet still relatively new but as I remember it took ages for people to start replying to my posts.

i understand, if you have made friendships under one name it might be best to keep it
but you look better without that 06 hanging round your arse

I would look better in rl without the extra stone hanging round my arse if only rl were as easy as mn. Thanks coupleofkooks.

LOL at slushy and her new name
Looks good on you!

Just caught up on the thread again and it's really make me think about my views and why I have them.
I was in my early twenties and single when I first met a good friend who was pg with DC3 and still BF her DS and DD. I was not shocked but interested as I didn't know much about BF. As a HCP, I knew about the benefits of BF but just the theory. My friend did get comments from others but I always saw the fantastic relationship she had with her DC and it really inspired me to want to be a mum. (I'm not saying she had a fantastic relationship because she BF but that was part of her parenting.)

I really don't think anyone on this thread has explained what is so unhealthy about extended BF. Breast milk is such an amazing substance and this article from April this year shows the evidence for cancer treatment. I am also amazed how it changes on a daily basis, dependant on the needs of the child. I remember last summer when DS was under 6mo and I was still expressing. I could see that my BM was more watery (and thirst-quenching I guess) on the hot days.
How wonderful