Breastfeesing older baby in public

[gluttom]

Dd is 5 months and quite a large baby (75th centile) but she is not weaned yet so still feeding every 2hrs. I'm starting to feel a little odd feeding her in public mainly as she is so fidgety but I have to get out as I have a 4 and 2 year old. They were on formula by 5 mths but wanting to feed dd as long as possible but I need to stop this uncomfortable feeling creeping up. I think it is because I haven't given her food yet and am getting grief from dm and mil and maybe when I feed her AGAIN they think if only she would give her some food!!!

It is sad to see so few people breastfeeding, lots of bottles though. It may be inspiring for more mums to stick with it. I Bf mine to 14/15 months - anywhere.

If i come across a BF mum and baby i well up , my DD gave it up when she was 9 months and i wanted to carry on...am still coming to terms with it 3 months on!!! Good for you,keep going

It is hard when people around you don't understand it. Arm yourself with all the reasons why you are bf and why you are waiting to wean, then just get on with it. My parents are very pro-bf but by 5 months they were making comments about how often dd2 fed and shouldn't she be on solids, so I understand where you are coming from. I gave them very reasoned arguments about why we were waiting to wean then very politely ignored any future comments. Nobody else batted an eyelid, I don't think they could really tell. I also chose to believe they couldn't see what I was doing unless I wanted them to :) I stopped bf dd2 in public around 19 months, and that was a pretty mutual decision as she's far too nosy to be interested in bf when there are other people to watch and follow around.

5 months is little! I still feed my 10mo DD in public, though not so much now she's on proper meals now. Never ONCE had a bad look or shitty comment from any member of the public.

My family however have been undermining little sods since DD turned 3 months. My DSis has a DS 4 months older than my DD and she switched to formula at 4 months. My DM (back story - woman who banged on constantly about how she BF all her kids til they were one) was right behind DSis and told her to start weaning the little boy too. DSis started pushing bananas into him. Little boy now 14 months and refusing all food except yoghurt. Still drinks formula from a bottle. Has had a cold nonstop for 4 months.

When DD hit 4 months, both DM and DSis jumped up and told me to start weaning, that BM wasn't enough goodness now. I ignored them and waited til DD was ready, which was at 5.5 months. She's a fab eater and loves all kinds of textures and flavours. But I still BF because it's good for her and she likes it.

My DM told me a few weeks ago that I had to stop BF because it was becoming a bad habit for DD. My two sisters think I'm wrong too. But I look at a little girl who eats well and has only ever had one cold (which she caught from DSis's DS). So I ignore them.

You should be proud that you've done so well and enjoy it for as long as it suits you both. You and your LO's health are the important things, not what a stranger thinks. If you were veggie, would you order a steak just because someone sneers at your salad?

Sorry, that was mainly a rant at my family! Guess loads of you have similar!

But 5 months. Carry on, you're doing fab!

Yes, keep going

I hope you will soon find that some strangers are very impressed and complimentary about seeing women brestfeed. I've had some lovely comments, mainly from tourists and foreign students asking me why so few women in the UK appear to breastfeed...

My son is still being breastfed and he is 19 months old today. I would love to give it up, but he still loves it.
I think if people stare..let them, you are doing a great job and you should'nt let it bother you.
My son fidgits alot when feeding, can be a nighmare, but thankfully he only feeds 2 or 3 times a day now for about 5 mins on both sides.
I am trying to ween him off, but am finding it hard. He doesn't drink any other milk so relies on me for that, and for getting to sleep during the day and bedtime.
Anyway, well done on Breastfeeding,it's the best thing for your child/children.

Lord, I thought you were going to say your child was 3 years old, not 5 months!!! DS has always been 75th percentile too, and I fed him in public until he had cut right down to just the early morning feed, round about 13 months I guess.

Don't worry about it.

Another one who thought from your title that you were going to be talking about an 18 month old! I fed both DDs at that age in public without thinking, and never got any funny looks or comments at all. Still feeding DD2, who is almost 10 months, in public.

Even when you start weaning, your DD will still need lots of milk.

Good luck - I'm sure 99.9% of people don't bat an eyelid if they even notice you are feeding (I think people are remarkably unobservant even if your DD is wriggly).

gluttom. Enjoy this time with your child. Don't let anyone take it away from you, don't give them the power to feel uncomfy!

My DD6 nursed until she turned 4. Then I started to feel a bit uncomfy! She was very tall child, and even as a baby she was long and lanky. When she was 2 she looked like she was 4. Now, she is the tallest in her class. SSOOO, needless to say, she looked pretty darn funny laying across my legs!

It's rare for anyone to nurse as long as I did.

I nursed everywhere...I have small breasts so, I didn't need alot of coverup, as it just looked like she was snuggling me.....

Do what makes your feel comfy. Enjoy it!!! It won't last forever!