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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

SIL tells me to stop BF 11mo DD as there are no benefits after 6mths

44 replies

arabellaandbaby · 11/02/2011 22:25

I have always heard that it's good to BF up to 2yo if possible. So why has my SIL said I should have stopped BFing my 11mo DD months ago? She says there is absolutely no benefit in continuing to give breastmilk when you can give iron-enriched formula once the baby reaches 6mo or cow's milk when 12mo. I returned to work full time in November when DD was 8/9mo, and, despite time contraints, I have been making a real conscious effort to deliberately hand express during the working day (9am - 5pm) in order to maintain my milk supply. Has this been completely pointless then?

OP posts:

MoonUnitAlpha · 11/02/2011 22:27

Ask her if she really believes cow milk is better for human babies than human milk!

japhrimel · 11/02/2011 22:28

WHO advice is certainly up to 2 years.

Deflatedballoonbelly · 11/02/2011 22:30

Tell her to do one. Tit. Her, not you.

Tinkerisdead · 11/02/2011 22:30

Err surely breastmilk isn't just about iron stores and supply but the level of antibodies etc and perfect balance of vitamins, minerals and essential fats it also provides.

She's right that a baby's iron stores deplete after 6 months etc but that's not the crux of breastfeeding. Ignore her if you want to keep feeding.

FreudianSlippery · 11/02/2011 22:30

She's wrong, simples :)

theboobmeister · 11/02/2011 22:31

You are right and your SIL is wrong.

Here is a page of evidence and links which you can show her

Some good quotes, including "The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness (AAFP 2001)."

TimeWasting · 11/02/2011 22:31

She's wrong basically.
As to why she says it? A very successful marketing campaign by the formula industry.

MoonUnitAlpha · 11/02/2011 22:32

WHO advice is 2 years and beyond.

Really though, if you accept that an 11 month old needs milk (and I think most people would accept that!) then why on earth would processed, modified cow's milk be more beneficial than human milk nutritionally tailored to that child?

RubyBuckleberry · 11/02/2011 22:34

good grief, not remotely pointless

tell her that pathogenic bacteria thrive on iron and infant formula is loaded with it. breastmilk, on the other hand has lactoferrin in it, which binds to the iron, makes it much harder for the bacteria to get hold of it, halting their progress. and the vitamin c and lactose content of human milk aids the absorption of iron that is needed by the baby.

more details - great website

RubyBuckleberry · 11/02/2011 22:35

and she can get lots of iron from different foods too

smk84 · 11/02/2011 22:37

What a load of rubbish. Breast milk is SOOO much better, for as long as you/your baby like ! Well done to you !!

PlasticLentilWeaver · 11/02/2011 22:37

Apart from you wanting to keep going, it being significantly cheaper than formula, it being both governmental and WHO advice, it being more natural than formula, it being simpler than faffing with bottles, nah, no benefit at all!

Have a look at the NCT website, there's a page of benefits of continuing beyond 6 months. I'd link but I'm using my phone.

There's no 'should' about it. You BF for as long or as short as you want.

PS my DS is 9.5 months, I'm working 3, increasing to 5 days, still BF and expressing. It's hard work but worth it.

chipmonkey · 11/02/2011 23:28

What business is it of hers, anyway?

Breastmilk does not turn to water at six months. Of course it benefits the baby to continue.

FWIW, ds1 and ds2 were bf for one year.
Ds3 and ds4 were bf for 2 years.

They all went to nursery but ds1 and ds2 picked up every bug going between 1 and 2.
Ds3 and ds4 were never sick.

Small sample but I am convinced it was the breastmilk!

Katey1010 · 12/02/2011 02:13

Isn't breast milk free? Mine is free. Unless she is going to buy you the formula tell her to naff off.

chipmonkey · 12/02/2011 11:50

Yes, it is free. No-one ever offered me money for mine!

chipmonkey · 12/02/2011 11:51

AND you get to eat more cake!

LessNarkyPuffin · 12/02/2011 11:54

There are lots of benefits to continuing feeding. You could sit down with her and explain them. Or you could just smile and ignore her

mj1moreornotthatisthequestion · 12/02/2011 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

EdgarAleNPie · 12/02/2011 11:58

.. or say sth like 'Oh you really believe that marketing, don't you? Oh you're so sweet' in your best most incredulous tone, making it clear you think she is a misguided but lovable fool.

LibraPoppyGirl · 12/02/2011 12:02

I agree with the other posters. It's none of her business and how can cows milk or formula even come close to breast milk?

Cows milk is for calves; formula is artificial; your breast milk is for your babbie. Simples!

I never had the chance to BF my first child and I was really upset about it for a long time. I'm now 23 weeks pregnant with my second and I'm really excited at the thought of being able to BF for as long as I can. My midwife is really supportive and knows the problems I had first time around so we're really working together.

RubyBuckleberry thank you for posting the link, I've had a quick look myself and saved it to my favourites to read through in more detail. It really is helpful when other Mums post links to good information and I know I'm not the only one who is grateful

Good luck OP and stick to your guns girly

Original poster

arabellaandbaby · 12/02/2011 22:45

Thank you to all you sweet darlings for giving me the support and encouragement to continue BF! It is with this that I know I can and should continue.

I think I will 'accidentally' on purpose(!) show SIL these posts... in fact, perhaps I'll simply leave this page open next time I know she'll be around. Hmmmm...

OP posts:

getoffme · 12/02/2011 22:55

find a good breastfeeding support group in your area, mine is great, whenever you feel pressure to stop is always good to hear a mum of twins still breastfeeding at 15 months, take dsis along...

well done, you!

RubyBuckleberry · 13/02/2011 00:33

no problem LibraPoppyGirl Kellymom generally fabulous website

good idea arabellaandbaby to accidentally on purpose show SIL these posts or whichever way you can get the message through. so difficult when close family have totally different brain/knowledge to you - very strong influence. you are totally doing right thing 4 u and your baby and have rights to do whatever is right for both or you. well done.

i agree a good breastfeeding support group is worth weight in gold...

Morloth · 13/02/2011 02:24

Quite apart from it being obvious that human milk is better than cow's milk for a human baby.

There is the way my DS2 (10.5mths) just loves his feeds. He snuggles in and strokes my face and rolls his eyes cause it is just soooooo good.

cinnamongreyhound · 13/02/2011 07:46

Why does no one ever ask why you want to stop bf rather than hy you want to continue? I never understood why at 6 months you'd stop giving your baby bm and change to formula. Apart from the hassle of making up bottles why would you want to introduce bottles, stop giving your baby free milk that is perfect for them. My ds2 is bf and I am continually told he won't sleep through until I stop bf him but ds1 did at 14 weeks so I don't believe that is a reason either!! As others have said it's really none of your sil's business how you feed your baby and at 10 months there are plenty of other sources of iron. Fwiw I didn't express at work once ds1 stopped having feeds between 8am and 5pm and I still had plenty of milk for him I was home.

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