Breastfeeding protocol in the UK

[mamama]

I had my baby abroad and was wondering what the general public opinion is on extended breast-feeding (beyond 12 months) & breastfeeding in public. Is it the done thing? Where do you go to breastfeed if you're out somewhere? DO people tend to think it's wierd to breastfeed a toddler? I get the impression that my parents think so, although they'd never say and my in-laws are quite amazed that I breast-fed at all. They're very much of the opinion that bottle is best. Is it just them or is that what others think too?

A very hot topic,the archives will give you masses of info!!!!!!!!!!
I just fed where i wanted,when i wanted but in the UK its not encouraged in places.
Whether its the done thing or not..... well its your choice.
you dont say where you are

in scotland law is on our side. legally no-one can ask you to stop bf. i personally have never had a problem bf anywhere. i hate the bf rooms provided in most supermarkets as they tend to be filthy. Mothercare, M&S, and big department stores tend to have good feeding rooms(well, up here they do)
you doing great to still be breastfeeding at all!

Thanks you two - I'm in the States at the moment and, although legally you can breastfeed and infant wherever you like, some people make it quite clear they disapprove. I got shouted/ sworn at my a security guard who wanted me to sit in the loo and feed my son . I visited the UK a while ago and thought Mothercare facilities were good but there don't seem to be as many mothercare stores around as there used to be. And, I agree - the supermarket feeding/ changing facilities were on the whole, quite disgusting!

My son is 18mths and I have always fed in public. As he gets older I am starting to wonder what people think if they notice (not that I would stop if they didn't like it) but no-one has ever said anything to me about it. Interestingly I have felt more comfortable feeding out during my few recent trips to Scotland. Definitely good to have the law on your side, makes you feel 'accepted'.

Breastfeeding is on the rise again after a lot of FF in our parents' generation, but rates are not as high as in the US and do drop off very quickly. Extended bf tends to be seen as a bit odd I'm bf 20 month old DS morning and night (and sometimes more often at weekends) and don't know anyone else in real life who's breastfed for this long. Or maybe I do and they don't make a song and dance about it I'd guess that very few people know I'm still breastfeeding.

Legally there's no specific right to breastfeed anywhere unless you are in Scotland; different people have very different experiences of how it works out in practice. I never had any problems or comments anywhere when breastfeeding DS in public, but then I haven't done it since he was about 7 months old and got very distractible and wouldn't nurse properly if we were out and about. I tended to just go to a cafe and find a table in the corner somewhere.

You know lemonaid I think maybe a lot more women than we realise breastfeed for quite a long time. I too stopped feeding ds in public after he was 7/8 months for the same reasons, yet I still breastfeed him twice a day at 21 months old. I don't tell anyone if they don't ask so probably a lot of my friends just assume I stopped at a year old or sooner as they did.

I think you're right Lazycow. I only ever see tiny babies being bf in public. Although in theory I have no problem bf in public, in practice I actually prefer a bit of peace and quiet. Ds is very distractible if we bf in a cafe or something, and ends up unlatching and grinning at old ladies sat behind us