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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Can't seem to change the way I think about BF

319 replies

twiglett · 12/07/2004 15:38

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Eulalia · 12/07/2004 22:12

Here's an old thread which covers this precise topic extended breastfeeding

Original poster
twiglett · 12/07/2004 22:15

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zebra · 12/07/2004 22:27

Eulalia -- think there was a lady on telly in the USA defending bf of an 8yo...was she accused of child abuse? American slaves used 2 regularly feed 2 6-7 yo.

emkana · 12/07/2004 22:54

Breastfeeding is about so much more than just food intake!That's why it's totally beside the point when people say "Oh, they can drink cow's milk." And, as people have said - cow's milk is meant for baby cows, not humans! So why should I give it to my child, when my own milk has sooooooooooooo much more to offer, and NOT just until six months, but on every single day you breastfeed until the day you stop.
And it really winds me up when people hint that I might be feeding because I need it more than my baby/child ... that is just complete rubbish.
My dd1 weaned herself at 2 years 3 months, and it felt wonderful that she stopped because SHE was ready to stop, not because I made her! She was ready to make that next step away from me, and I was very happy about it - whereas now, with dd2 who's 11 months, I would feel sad to break that bond - the time just isn't right yet.
If you really keep going until 12 months, twiglett, then you might find that you can grow into longterm breastfeeding. I never expected to be doing this either!

hercules · 12/07/2004 23:14

Personally I'm uncomfortable with how it's considered okay to give milk from a cow meant for a calf to a human rather then human milk meant for a human from a human but each to their own.

hercules · 12/07/2004 23:19

It makes me lol wen people say you extend bf for !yourself rather than the child! I do hundreds of things for my kids that some would deem unnecessary and they are for their benefit not mine. Noone ever questioned my reading every night to my ds but did when I bf him to 4. Personally I found the reading a bore but did it as I knew he would benefit from it.
It is very easy to get trapped into only doing what is accepted as "normal" and acceptable in this country but I'd rather bring my kids up the way I think acceptable rather than what "society" deems appropriate. Although thankfully not all societies / cultures are as backward thinking as ours.

emkana · 12/07/2004 23:33

So many MNers buy organic, think about how they can feed their children as healthily as possible...
yet there is no better, more nutritious food you can give your baby AND toddler than breastmilk. There just isn't ANYTHING that will even come close, and certainly not cow's milk.

suedonim · 12/07/2004 23:38

I fed two of mine for about 14mths and one for about 2yrs. I think when you're actually in the bfing situation the baby's age doesn't really come into it. There was no single morning when I woke up and said 'Right, that's it, you're too big to bf.' They all weaned because they wanted/were ready to, though I admit that dd1 stopped because I was so excited at going out two nights in a row that I completely forgot to feed her! It made no difference to her so it seemed that we'd reached a natural break. I suspect people's feelings about extended bf are similar to those about older babies with dummies/bottles!

Eulalia · 13/07/2004 01:39

Twiglett - When your dd is 2 years old I am sure you'll see that she really is still a baby in many ways... will be interesting to see what you think when she is 12 months (when is that BTW)

I don't accept the alternatives to calcium and not taking cows milk. It is actually quite hard to find an alternative to cow's milk. Goats milk perhaps or soya - yes, but expensive and why bother when I can make my own for FREE, PLUS it has antibodies perfectly tailored for my child. I mean if you found a perfect cold remedy for example you'd not go and change it for something less effective would you?
You didn't answer my question about what you felt was wrong with b/feeding an older baby ... sorry to dig but genuinely interested. For me and my son it feels that he is too big physically in the sense that he just seems huge lying on my lap but he's actually quite gentle, much more so than dd in the actual 'feeding' sense. As for my body being private and separate from his... well I don't know about this. Seems to me that mothers and small children are supposed to share a certain amount of intimacy - thinking of shared changing rooms till around age 8 for example. Kids under this age seem to need lots of physical contact in the form of hugs/kisses anyway. and I feel that many people who b/feed for longer just see this as another form of giving love and attention to your child and just something you naturally move away from, but do it a good bit later than the average person in this society.

Anyway I went on about this on the other thread so read that if you are interested!

pupuce · 13/07/2004 01:46

Well I knew I would BF for 6 months and as time went on it just continued to 19 months old (DD weaned herself).... I read more into it (mainly because I was being criticised for not weaning).... and now I am completely in agreement with the long term breastfeeders and I feel like it's those and their babies who stop "early" that miss out... but to each his mown !

pupuce · 13/07/2004 01:46

to each his OWN....

babysteffee · 13/07/2004 01:54

6 months / weaning is the cut-off for me which I feel guilty about as I know in some people's eyes it's too early, but don't mind other people extending bfing for as long as they wish! (well not upto 8...!)

FairyMum · 13/07/2004 01:58

I think it's impressive. I can't see anything wrong with bf an toddler at all if both mum and child enjoys it. An 8 year-old? Really? Are you sure? Well, I can't think why it would harm the child unless you insisted on ding it in public, but it does sound slightly strange....Are we talking Americans?

Original poster
twiglett · 13/07/2004 02:11

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Spod · 13/07/2004 02:12

i intend to feed my 8.5mth dd until she is at least a year, i hope for a considerable time longer. i no longer feed in public, havent for months, because peoples reactions to feeding an older baby pee'd me right off. dd is large for her age so people assumed i was feeding a 9 month old when she was only 6 mths for example. like feeding 9mth old is gross anyway? i cant see why i should stop at 1 year just because she can drink cows milk, how ridiculous... why would i wean her off before she is ready, cause upset etc when it really is no big deal to continue providing my milk, which is far, far better for her. it is horrible to hear that some people are bothered by others feeding older babies and toddlers.... it makes it harder for us to do, even if it is something we want to do. i wouldnt dream of coming on here and saying that it sickens me that people dont breast feed past one year because it grosses them out a bit.... its all very well saying its up to each individual but having people express this particular opinion makes it difficult for people to continue breastfeeding until they choose to stop. its bad enough that we encounter this opinion out there in the real world. i'm sure you meant no offence btw, twiglett... but when i hear this, it makes me want to hide away to feed my dd....

fairyprincess · 13/07/2004 02:14

I find it gross to see the rubbish food parents give their children - fizzy drinks & crisps to babies in pushchairs, all the sweets, fast food, processed junk. Now lets compare that to breastfeeding - no comparison. Feeling sick that a child can pull up its mothers top for breastmilk?!! - better this than it shouting in the supermarket for all the advertised fat/sugar childrens foods!!!

emkana · 13/07/2004 02:15

"Think this whole cow's milk is meant for calves argument complete pants"

Why????

Original poster
twiglett · 13/07/2004 02:18

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Original poster
twiglett · 13/07/2004 02:19

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Spod · 13/07/2004 02:20

but what is 'a late stage'? 13 months?

emkana · 13/07/2004 02:20

The point is though that cow's milk is put together to specifically help a baby cow to grow into a lovely big strong cow
whereas human milk has exactly the nutrients and antibodies in it that make lovely big strong healthy intelligent humans! So cow's milk is simply lacking...

Spod · 13/07/2004 02:22

agree with emkana, cows milk is a good substitute, but isnt as good as breastmilk

Original poster
twiglett · 13/07/2004 02:22

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emkana · 13/07/2004 02:23

Why would I want to stop the very best food there is just because of some notion that it might be inappropriate (which is only a specific cultural belief anyway)?

Spod · 13/07/2004 02:24

my 8.5mth old very large baby can pull on my tops, has 3 teeth and a decent baby-vocab but i aint gonna stop feeding on those criteria. going to bed too.... feeling like i wish i hadnt read this thread....

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