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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Extended breastfeeding - over two year old. Anyone?

83 replies

wangle99 · 24/02/2006 21:44

Feeling really alone at the mo, anyone else feeding an over two-year old? DS is 28 months and still boob-obsessed which is fine in my opinion (for us).

Went to an 'extended breastfeeders' group today and it was for babies over 6 months! Not my idea of extended lol

And if there is anyone out there does your LO do anything erm bizarre with your boobs whilst feeding? DS has taken to feeding off one and sticking the other in his ear oh god I can't believe I admitted that!

OP posts:

Hattie05 · 24/02/2006 21:50

LOL at sticking in ear .

I weaned dd off the boob at two years old. Partly because nights were getting hard and i wanted to help her sleep through longer (she slept in our bed and fed constantly). And partly because i felt slightly pressured into it, comments from people shocked that i was still breastfeeding and society in general.

A year on i can tell you that next time round, i would not let myself feel like that at all, and would stick two fingers up at anyone that dared comment .

DD still loves my boobs and will at any chance touch them and has been known to try and feed from them. (normally when i'm half asleep and she has climbed into our bed). I kinda feel embarrassed about that, but again i think that is society pressure. Surely its only natural that the things that fed my dd for two years are still going to be her favourite things? Just as much as another child loves their dummy.
I am sure my dd will not go to school still fondling her mummy's breasts at the gates so i've decided to chill a bit about it.

So you are not alone! i know there are other extended feeders here on mnet you can chat to.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 24/02/2006 21:52

Harpsichordcarrier is one - i am bfeeding my 10 month old still - not quite as extended as you yet.

Although my DD - who is nearly three asked me today if she could have some "booby". She hasnt had any since she was 7 months!

Original poster

wangle99 · 24/02/2006 21:53

Thanks Hattie, nice to know I'm now alone in the way I'm feeling anyway! Very lucky that DS sleeps through so night bf not an issue it's during the day he's obsessed, he lurves looking at pictures of scantily dressed women so he can see 'BOOBIES' as he regularly shouts.

Society is driving me nuts with the socially unacceptableness (is that a word?) of bf an older toddler.

OP posts:

Racers · 24/02/2006 21:55

Also LOL at one boob in mouth, the other in ear!

DD is only 8m and I don't know how long we'll be bf so I don't wish to butt in to your extended bf convos but I can imagine why Hattie's DD still loves her boobs and I think it's perfectly normal and understandable! I was not bf myself but I know how lovely it was as a child to snuggle up to my mum's various bits of soft furnishings! When my DD feeds she really snuzzles down and gets comfy. It's lovely

popsycalindisguise · 24/02/2006 22:00

DS2 will be one in 10 days time - so no where near as 'extended' as you and your little one but I suppose it is fairly extended in terms of what 'people' think.

He feeds throug the night 0 though I am soon about to have another go at stopping that. When I am at home, he has more smaller feeds compared to when I work (I leave to bottles of EBM for him)

He shows no signs of stopping at all

Hattie05 · 24/02/2006 22:00

There is something very lovely about it isn't there Racers. Its a shame that i'm too embarrassed to admit that to most people in rl in case they think i'm odd! But thats what i think when dd hugs with head on my chest, how lovely and comforting it must feel to her. If she's ever upset and having a cuddle her hand goes straight down my top.

Wangle - my dd has a lot of convo about boobies . The most embarrassing times were when she was about 18mths and we were having our new home completely renovated, so zillions of builders in and out all day. Frequently i'd be stood there with dd on hip talking to one of the workmen dd's hand would slide down my top ( or worse try and lift it up) and she'd be whining 'mummy i want boobies' and wouldn't stop until she got them.

Many a went on during that time!

Hattie05 · 24/02/2006 22:02

popsycal, i went back to work when dd was 3mths, and found exactly the same - that she would be happy to feed from me the whole time i was with her, but not require anything other than a cup of milk when i was at work! It really is about the comfort for them isn't it.

popsycalindisguise · 24/02/2006 22:03

certainly is!
Which if I am honest, I don;t mind at all

spidermama · 24/02/2006 22:06

Ahhh! Sticking in his ear.
I'm feeding a 13 month old atm but have fed my three other children 'til they were two and even three. They all weaned off smoothly, seamlessly with no stress or conflict and I loved it.
Good for you wangle and fwiw we're unusual in the west for our practise of curtailed breastfeeding, as I like to call it.

FrannyandZooey · 24/02/2006 22:09

Hi Wangle, my ds is 3 in April and still passionate about breastfeeding. When he was about aged 1 and a half to 2 and a half I felt very self-conscious about the whole thing but now I feel I have come through that and out the other side. Breastfeeding in public is not my favourite activity but I feel it is often more socially acceptable to a major public tantrum, and easier and nicer to cope with for me and ds too. I fed him in the Albert Hall a few months ago

I love the ear thing - ds' latest trick is to try to feed on all fours when I am lying on the bed, saying "Mummy, I am a young piglet." We are not visiting the ruddy farm again this year, I can tell you.

Original poster

wangle99 · 24/02/2006 22:24

Thank you all SO much I feel so much better now.

I know I am doing the right thing but not knowing anyone else feeding a child as old as DS makes me feel quite isolated sometimes and just a few comments can make me feel so more encouraged to carry on (not that DS would let me stop lol!).

Franny - Love the piglet thing that is so cute!

Luckily DH is very supportive and stands by me but I find the comments from other people very wearing at times and the shock on some people's faces 'you're STILL feeding him then' lol erm YES!!!!!!

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 24/02/2006 22:26

Have you got a La Leche League group near you wangle? I go occasionally and have met a few lovely women there. As a whole I find the group a bit lentil-weavery, but just being in a room where it is natural to be feeding an older child is very refreshing I find.

Tatties · 24/02/2006 22:33

Good for you Wangle99, your ds is a lucky boy. These posts just prove how lovely bf is, why on earth should it be curtailed? My ds is coming up to 1yr... I can't wait for all the "still breastfeeding?" comments...

MummyPig · 24/02/2006 22:37

Echo the LLL comment. Ds2 is 19 months and still bf, showing no sign of stopping at all. LLL have been very helpful throughout, especially with his reflux, and have supported me through many healthcare professionals suggesting (gently or otherwise) that we ought to give up. I only go to meetings occasionally, as it's a bit of a trek on the bus with two boys and I have to dash back to get ds1 to nursery school. But it's worth going once in a while to see a roomful of women feeding kids of varying ages - newborn up to 3 yrs approx, in my local group.

ds2 is very acrobatic with his feeding, climbs all over me, also has taken to saying 'one two' when he wants breastmilk, possibly because of me saying 'do you want this one, too?' as he switches between breasts quite a lot.

I'm also a member of a 'nursing mums' web discussion group, can give you the details if you're interested. The moderators are great and have put loads of info and links on the site, including stuff about extended breastfeeding, tandem feeding etc.

Hattie05 · 24/02/2006 22:41

Would just like to add the helpful advice i got from my male health visitor when i took dd for her 8mth check.

HV - "how is the weaning going?"
ME - "fine she's really enjoying her solids and still breastfeeding lots"
HV - little chuckle "oh well you want to put a stop to that quickly, you don't want to have a five year old still feeding from you."

I thanked him very much for his help and left never to return to any hv ever ever again.

Tatties · 24/02/2006 22:50

Mummypig I would be interested in getting details of the nursing group!

harpsichordcarrier · 25/02/2006 00:13

hey wangle99
I am bf my dd1, who will be three in May. btw my friend also still feeds her ds, who will be three six weeks earlier.
I am also feeding my 3 month old. you are not alone - far from it.
lol at the piglet thing, and sticking it in his ear....
a little while ago, my friend asked dd1 if she had medicine if she was ill - dd1 said no, mummy gives me "more" (her word for bf) and that makes me feel better.
it's lovely and we shall carry on for a long as we darm well want to

Original poster

wangle99 · 25/02/2006 08:43

Wow am sitting here feeling a warm glow to know that there are other women out there still feeding older children

Unfortnately no LLL down here (I'm in Cornwall). Nearest one I believe is Bristol

DS also does the 'one two' thing! I also had problems with my HV over weaning so don't bother going, also had issues over DS weight gain when he was tiny but that's another story.

Mummypig - would love to have details of your nursing mums group

My sister is coming over again later sigh no doubt she'll start again on the comments (mind you I just retaliate with my thoughts on early weaning to food )

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 25/02/2006 09:07

Wangle, if your sister makes comments I personally would say "Please don't say things like that, as it upsets me and I don't want dd to hear it and feel uncomfortable about enjoying her milk."

I have found there is no point discussing it with people who are 'anti' - once you have explained why you are doing it, if they are not prepared to understand, and just want to make snidey remarks, I close the subject down. It undermines you and it is not healthy for your child to listen to it. The only thing you could hope, is that over time she will see how happy you and your daughter are, and that will be more persuasive than any discussion.

agalch · 25/02/2006 09:12

I bottle fed my ds1 and bf my ds2 till he was 2.5 or thereabouts.Loved feeding him and feel it really bonded us. Am currently bf dd aged 19 months and i'm due no4 in July. Other peoples attitudes really annoy me tho,especially hv's. Keeps saying to me about how tired i'll be if i have to feed both of them. I have been knackered since i had my eldest 14 years ago so no difference there lol.Not sure about the practacalities of tandem feeding,who goes first etc and my dd does get up still in the night for a feed so maybe i will be a zombie but i'm sure it'll be fine.

nothercules · 25/02/2006 09:47

DD still feeding at 2 and a half

Twiglett · 25/02/2006 09:52

there's people on here who breastfeed their 4 year olds

I don't think you can call yourself extended in their terms .. well not yet anyway

Papillon · 25/02/2006 09:59

dd is 2.4 years and breastfeed as is ds who is 3 months.

dd has a 4.5 year old friend who has often asked for a try!! My midwife bf both her babes till they were 5.

dd likes to wear my bras and dh dressed the other morning and as I got her ready for bed that night there it was my bra.. she had been wearing it all day!

nothercules · 25/02/2006 11:34

Yes, I fed ds until he was 4.

drosophila · 25/02/2006 11:39

Still feeding at 13mths but want to stop now. It still hurts would you believe ut not nearly as much. I am going back to work after Easter.

I intend to continue night feeds untill I give her neasles vac at abou 18mths but she is not really interested in milk.

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