PILs/Breastfeeding

[YokoUhOh]

I'm still BFing almost-2yo DS, mainly at night, but always BF to sleep, even for naps.

PILs are here this weekend and DS keeps asking for 'booby, mummy!'. MIL says things like, 'no, it's water or nothing!' and I've had to sneak off to give him a quick boob. She's always disapproved of my BF DS, even from quite early on, despite having BF her own DS for a couple of months.

How do I handle this? DS is going through a toddler-y phase (tantrums, growth spurt) and the boob is a great comfort to him. DH won't say anything as he doesn't see the point, plus he secretly dislikes the fact that DS is still BF :(

Just ignore her and don't sneak off in your own house. If you and DS are happy it's none of her business.

Smile sweetly and remind her you are the parent. I had to do this with both sets of parents.

Oh yoko, how lovely that you and your son know what suits you both:)

hmmm if you don't want the hassel could you not just keep knipping off and offering before he asks. If the pils were more fun they should be so entertaining he isn't so bothered, but they aren't are they?!
I have them same with my inlaws, it's tedious. I sometimes feed upstairs or whilst doing a nappy change and sometimes somewhere very obvious - I do correct MIL if she speaks for me but how far I go depends on my mood.

I just can't. She used to try to cover me up when I was feeding DS at 3 months, so fuck knows how she'd react now. My parents also think it's weird. In fact, I think most people think it's weird. Apart from whoever writes the WHO guidelines.

Yellow, I think we're in a similar position :)

You have it harder than me as my dh thinks it is great.

The il thing is hard though isn't it- I have fought the battles in the past and fed in front of them and at family events but they are no more comfortable with it. I just want to be ignored really, I get increasingly aware that ds will pick up on the unfriendly vibe and that we might have the mother of all fall outs! Mil told me recently she thought women should only feed until one! I fed the last until 4 so just laughed and sai how great we could all do things differently whilst thinking fuck off you cowbag.... Why would you be so rude. Now there are loads of little babies in the family As we sit in a room there is my ds having a bf at 2 and the much smaller babies all having bottles- it just feels like I am a weird anomaly and they certainly think so:)

My favourite anecdote about longer term bf is the little boy who was still feeding as nursery or school approached. His mum asked him how many other children he thought were having Bm. He answered, "only the happy ones:)"

And whilst he wasn't the only happy one he is right that it brings them so much comfort:)

Sympathies - I'm in a very similar situation with my 14mo. I have been trying to teach him 'milk' instead of 'booby' though, so hopefully people won't pick up on it so much once he starts to ask verbally! You're doing a great job, don't let them put you off.

He just loves the boob! He's under the weather at the moment and it really helps with sore throat/grizzlyness. MIL is just that brilliant combination of old fashioned and controlling, I try to let DH handle her but he's a bit under the influence :/

Love 'only the happy ones' :)

I breast fed DD to 3yo but I have a thick skin so I just ignored the, many, negative comments mainly from my DM (it didn't hurt that we live a couple of countries away). I think you should bf as and when you want and if she makes any comments just say 'This works for us" and ignore her.

There is an FB group on bfing older babies and children if you fancy chatting with like minded people.

Thanks Boo :)

I'd say "that rule only applies to guests" (ie water or nothing)

So rude. How annoying.

She is a bit of a piece of work, ithought (see other thread)