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.

No idea Morloth - early man had no tolerance for cows' milk and a lot of people still don't. It's not necessary for nutritional balance.

Since when is comfort and a familiar habit not a need for a toddler or young child?

I didn't realise it took balls to state that it is more about the mother than the child after a certain point. That's just obvious (to me anyway).

But each to their own. I don't really care. I bfd my kids for an average of 9 months each, I understand the benefits. Unbelievably bad 'arguments' on this thread, eg, 'you know nothing about breastfeeding because you don't agree with me.'

What mothers' needs?

I think I would be very unlikely to feed an 8 year old.

I do not think feeding a toddler is weird.

Perhaps I may have thought that years ago. But now I have 5 children ranging in age from 11 weeks to (would be) 18 I just think 2 years old is still a baby.

Why wouldnt you BF a baby?

YABU
We've got really screwed up ideas about Breast feeding in this country - as if it's something slightly embarrassing and should be hidden. I know I became a bit militant about it when my ex partner refused to sit next to me on a park bench when I was breastfeeding our daughter. He told me I should go and feed her in the pub toilet. The bit that really got me was as he stood up to leave, everyone got a great view of his builders bum.
Is there anywhere else in the world where breastfeeding a child is seen as weird or embarrassing -or is it just us?
(By the way - I breastfed both my children until they were 2 and they are both ruddy geniuses!!)

The mothers' to breastfeed children who can not only talk but negotiate.

I would be judgemental about an 8 yr old-they could cook a meal for everyone without any help!

I once asked an expert in the behaviour of chimpanzees how long the mothers breast feed for, he said 2 or 3 years.

quit being so god dammed judgy, you wouldn't like it if I told you, you make be feel "icky" when I see you formula feeding. If you can say something nice keep it zipped.

Well a Chimpanzee's life span is about 2 thirds that of a human so therefore, according to that well known lifestyle choice, 'chimpanzee law' 20 months would still be the upper end of what the chimps would consider normal. If the chimps say quit after twenty months, then I believe them.

Question - rather than using the nipple as a comforter for the night time feed, as from my experience is the common time for over 18 months to have their one breast milk drink a day, why doesn't the mother express the milk, and the child drink from a cup, as they would if it was cow's milk, water or whatever else?

Re squirting, DS has just worked out that if he squeezes my breast he can make milk squirt out, so he has been gleefully squirting HIMSELF in the face for the last few days at every opportunity.

I can assure you this is NOT for my benefit!

"I didn't realise it took balls to state that it is more about the mother than the child after a certain point. That's just obvious (to me anyway)"

the funny thing is that it is obvious to anyone who has breastfed an older child that you are completely wrong
however as you chose not to feed an older child, you will just have to trust us on this one

Magalyxyz I'm not sure who suggested you know nothing about breastfeeding - I'm sure you do, having breastfed your children for 9mths.

What I will say though, is you know nothing about extended breastfeeding. Therefore, I'm not sure how you can say it is obvious (to you anyway) that it is more about the mother than the child. Surely you would only know that if you had actual experience?

I find your argument about extended breastfeeding as 'bad' as you find others who have questioned your knowledge on breastfeeding.

(20 months being 2 thirds of 30 months. 30 months being the 'average' time a chimp BFs)

rainbow, That;s a bit odd. Why would you go to all that trouble and washing up?

Feeding would take double the time then and the logistics of always making sure there is expressed milk when the toddler wants some would be a pita. Not to mention supply and demand would go tits up.

NOthing like a bit of cold milk in the face on a hot day

starvalk thanks for that, a clear reasoning as to why you do it. and I can see why you do! not that you have to justify yourself to anyone... but that is more helpful that the barrage of miltitant "fucks offs, you are ignorant responses"

"I did BF! now am I to understand that cos I ONLY BF for 6 months I will spread cancer and cost the NHS money!!!!! this is silly"

Porcamiseria, that is your extrapolation. Not mine. A weird and silly response from you.

Who said you were going to spread cancer? I only said extended bfing is also thought to reduce the risk of cancer and therefore bfing matters.

The science out there - easily accessible if you bothered to find it.

Well carry on breasstfeeding until A levels then. Honestly, I don't care. But you get people's backs up by being so rude to people who think it's all about the mother. I think it's all about the mother and I am more convinced of it every time one of these threads plays out..

v much agree with missmodular.

op i think you are being a bit U. i think babies should be allowed to self wean if possible - surely thats the best option?

Plenty of people bottlefeed children over the age of two. Yet no one bats an eyelid.

The challenging of parenting is to work out what your children need, rather than what they want. If a two year old is like a newborn feeding 20 times a day then they are missing out on different ways of interacting with their mothers. Children need to be exploring the world. Boredom should never be a reason to breastfeed.

However it is biologically normal for breastfeed a child a couple of times a day. This is done in many countries.

I fed my son until two and half years old and I plan to do the same for my daughter.

Magalyxyz you have your maths the wrong way round! The answer would actually be 45mth as a chimpanzees lifespan is 2/3 of a human lifespan, therefore they would bf their young for 2/3 of the time a human would!

porc, the thing is, that whilst it is damned convenient for ME atm, there is no way on earth I could get dd to do it without her consent.

I was just thinking that if the benefits of the breast milk are the driving force, and due to the nature of this country most people not doing it during the day.

If I felt passionately about it, I would express breast milk and take it out with me in a drinks bottle, and give it as a drink to my child when they were thirsty. Rather than the bottles of regular milk I take with me.