She's still feeding Alot at 2, do I need to be worried?

[Adorabelle]

Happy to still be be Bf her but alot of friends &
family have been commenting on how much she still
feeds.

She's 2 on June 16th & still feeds on demand throught the day. Sometimes twice a day, sometimes 10 times a day. I like the fact that
we are still bfeeding but have been getting a few
odd looks that shes now "big" & still feeding.

Anyone got a 2 or over bfeeder? whatcome backs
should I give to a disaproving aunt/mate. Don't feel I should have to justify myself but I do

Just wanted to say well done for still feeding. I have just given up after a year, didn't want to but really want to start ttc #2 and it looked as though the two weren't compatible for me.
I did have one family friend who would ask everytime we met "are you still feeding her?" with an accusatory tone from about 5 months onwards! (This replaced the question "are you giving her boiled cooled water?" I got asked everytime from birth, despite numerous explanations!) so I know where you are coming from.

Sorry you are getting these stupid comments. The great thing about breastfeeding is that the child will always take as much as she needs, so however many times a day she wants it is fine, as long as you are happy. When ds was 2 he was also wanting to feed a lot and I felt it was getting a bit of a struggle for me, so I stopped feeding on demand and started to distract him or say "hang on a bit" instead. Now at 3 we are mostly just on morning, naptime and bedtime feeds, although he will occsionally ask at other times as well.

I would try to act relaxed and confident even if you are not feeling it. These people will probably have never seen anyone older than a baby being breastfed and just don't 'get' it - you can educate them and provide a positive example. If they say something like "Is she still breastfeeding?" you could say something like "Yes, isn't it great? It's so convenient and I know she gets such a lot from it." If they comment about the frequency you could just laugh and say "I know, she can't get enough of it. I'm happy because I know how good it is for her."

Kellymom is a brilliant site for information and encouragement. \link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html\This} is a particularly helpful page - I printed this one out for a few friends who were getting a lot of flak from various relatives, and I also used to look at it myself if I felt a bit discouraged :)

Hi Adorabelle, just wanted to congratulate you for carrying on as long as you have with dd. I stoppedwhen dd was 17 months (due to frequent night feeds and biting) but would have been happy to continue past 2 otherwise. I don't think 10x a day is too much, esp if you happen to be at home with dd, near her fave feedings areas.

I was certainly sad to stop because it was so great for soothing toddler tantrums. I imagine your dd feeds not just fo nutrition but for comfort and if bored. If you are happy with it, do carry on!

I also found \link{http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug99p116.html\this link} on handling criticism for you, which might be useful.

ignore them
If you are happy and she is happy then that's great.
Well done for sticking with it for so long

when I'm at work dd gets no feeds at all during the day. When I'm at home and we're out, she gets none. When I'm at home with her, she feeds loads.

Just a quickie message as I should be doing the garden . I am feeding my DS (he will be 2 in July) & like you he sometimes feeds only 2 or 3 times a day & others it seems like he feeds like a newborn. I am very happy to be doing so & the only vaguely negative comment I get is from my mum. She asks occasionally if Ds is still bf'ing, with a little bit of a tone iykwim, & asks when I will be stopping. I just say when we both want to & change the subject. We learnt long ago that we dont always see eye to eye .

This \link{http://www.rosenbaumcreative.com/responses.html\page} has some more handling criticism suggestions.

Thank you all for your supportive messages. Sazhig, Loved your link some of the comebacks
had me in hysterics! Will definately be using them. Franny your links were great too, thank
you.
Pleased to know that there are others still bf
an older child. We both love the fact that shes
still feeding & I know that we'll carry on till she wants to stop, not when other people think
the time is right. Thanks Again to all who replied

ds2 bf until he was 3 and a bit. I got looks but just had to harden myself to them. Unfortunately, a lot of people think it's odd. But then, there are some people who think it's odd to bf at all. As long as you and your child are happy, that's all that matters. Sod the rest of them

Adorabelle, my ds2 is 23 months and still feeds loads and loads. I've just been on the internet myself looking for 'virtual' support - I have one friend who is still bf her child of the same age, but she (the mum) is now starting to think about weaning. I've had a very rocky time with both boys and I'm determined to carry on for as long as ds2 wants, despite weak hints from dp from time to time. (I don't think anyone else feels they have the right to suggest we stop.)

Here are my favourite links on this topic:
\link{http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html'A natural age of weaning'} by Katherine Dettwyler.
\link{http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJanFeb04p4.html\Letting go}
and \link{http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/velcrochild.html\this page from kellymom.com} I especially like the 'breastfeeding a toddler barracuda' comments

ds is 21 months old and some days does want to feed lots, but never feeds now more than twice a day, [maybe a little two minute feed now and then if we are at home] Mostly feeds once, at night once in morning and once before afternoon nap. I do feed on demand at home but not if we are out, I just tell him 'Later, my love' and he seems to get it, or be distracted enough not to worry. He did go through a phase of wanting it all the time, and i am wondering if he will go through that phase again. I intend to breast feed till two [lots of raises eyebrows from everyone in family and friends, except my dad, bless him] but we may go beyond that if he doesn't want to wean - God knows how that is going to go down with everyone.

Well done for carrying on Adorabelle. Never ceases to amaze me why people think it is any of their business to comment on the fact you are 'still' bf. From reading some of your other posts I think you have a lovely attitude towards parenting. You are meeting your daughters needs, simple as that

This is a great thread! I'm already getting the 'are you still bfing?' comments and ds is only 8.5 months!
I'm planning on feeding him for as long as possible but it seems like in my area even 6 months is extended feeding. Central Scotland notoriously bad for BF.

I am in scotland as well purple monkey. At least in scotland we are protected by law while breatfeeding in public.
My little one is 14 months and showing no sign of stopping, he loves the boob.

Lou

Hey, stick to your guns! You're the mother and you do know best!

What about explaining to other mothers who might be surprized at you 'still' bfeeding that not all children are the same and that perhaps they themselves didn't have children who are like yours.

In my own case I b-fed until 12 months with dd1 and, to my surprize and a little sadness only kept it up for 6 or 7 months with dd2. I wanted to go on as long as each of the babies needed me to, and am totally 'breast is best' in outlook, but dd2 was too wriggly and distracted after about 6 months, despite my best efforts, and despite being healthily b-fed until her first solids at about 5 months. (I resisted giving her solid food as long as I could too and was aiming at the governmental 6months - but she was grabbing our food and sticking it in her mouth from v early so I gave in at 5 months) She is still a v physical child and simply wouldn't concentrate on feeding from me after 6 months. I had no idea baby no 2 would be any different from baby no 1, but there it is.

Well done you for still feeding.
I stopped last month, DD was 25months old and i was just exhausted and we kept passing thrush to one another.

I felt really sad though and still do, yesterday she was admitted to hospital and she was hysterical so much when they took blood from her that i actually offered her a feed.

But she shook her head and said "no geegies"
"geegies all gone", (thats her word for it!)

I got really tearful when she said that, i really miss the closeness of it and would have carried on till whenever.

WELL DONE EVERYONE.

I wish i'd fed ds for longer. (only did 9mths) maybe this time i'll make it to a year or two or three. I got the "are you STILL feeding?" comments from friends who given up a few weeks earlier!

I still breastfeeding my dd,2 in april just gone,she demand feeds as much as she did at 6m.ive worked out that combined,i have breastfed my four kids for 7 yearsthe W H O reccomends 2 and a quarter!noone else business,theyre just jealous

Just wanted to say how I admire and respect you all for breastfeeding your little ones for so much longer than the average.

I really wanted to breastfeed ds (two on Wednesday) until at least a year; beyond that would have been a wonderful bonus. I never expected, at nine months, for him to lose interest. He was into everything but breastfeeding, and I tried to keep going - waving boob at him for 5, 10, 15 minutes before he'd twig and latch on. And then one day, he just didn't. I was really upset. I found out later that nine months is a classic age for little ones to be distracted, and there is help out there to continue breastfeeding through this. Only wish I knew at the time.

Anyway, this is no help to your post! Just wanted to say well done, really. I suppose I'm a bit jealous! I think extended breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. Happy feeding

Well doneA adorabelle!
You go girl!
If it suits you and your family,it's great.

Lots of very helpful posts here. I'm still bfdng my ds who is 16 months. Still do it in public, and get lots of stares as he likes to stand on the floor and feed while I'm sitting!! When I notice someone looking, I just look away and block it out and enjoy the fact he's enjoying his feed enough to be distracted from everything around him.

Would like to feed him until whenever, but want to try for baby no. 2 in a few months. Has anyone ever fed a new born as well as a toddler? I'm afraid that I won't have enough milk for the newborn if I let my toddler carry on fdng and wonder if I should wean him when I get pregnant to ensure I don't compromise the newborn's milk supply. Any advice?

They call it tandem feeding,and it works fine if you prepare yourself,try the LaLeche league or the NCT?

hi there, I am tandem feeding a 7 month old and a three year old. no problems at all, and I didn't prepare myself. Just carried on through pregnancy. DD1 showing no signs of wanting to give up. dd2 is a very bonny and healthy seven month old only just now starting to eat a little solid food. I relaly believe that the tandem feeding has helped to smooth over any potential sibling rivalry/jealousy problems. The only thing I would say is to feed the newborn first before the older child.
best of luck HC xx

I've done this with my babies and I find it really helps the toddler bond with the baby and cuts right down on the sibling jealousy. As long as you're happy and she's happy just keep right on and enjoy it.

Thanks for these tips. Very encouraging. Perhaps I'll try for baby no. 2 that bit sooner now, knowing that I don't need to get my ds to a good weaning age

What is a good weaning age? The way my ds loves it, I can't imagine him ever wanting to stop (terrifying Little Brittain image with myself and grown-up ds floated through my mind)??