so this extended breastfeeding thing...when do you actually give up?

[ruty]

Ds is two and a half. Devoted to the 'boob'. I mean he only breastfeeds once in morning and once at night [and maybe a five minute one before an afternoon nap] but any attempts to wean him off it have been met with absolute horror on his part, anger and sobs. So I'm carrying on. Left breast very sore at mo, so have an ultrasound next week. But i am happy [sort of] to continue, but do they actually give up on their own at some point? I don't know how i feel about carrying on past 3, if only because i am on a gluten free dairy free diet because he is gluten free dairy free, and when friends ask why i am on it too, i sometimes tell them i am still breastfeeding, which gets met with shock, or silence, or horror. it really is awkward with my friends, which is ridiculous, but unfortunately true. If anyone can share their stories of when their toddlers gave up and how i would be grateful.

Ruty - I go to LLL meetings & they are great. Its a bit of a travel for me every month, but definately worth it. Theres a core of mums who have been going since they had their babies, some older, some younger than DS & its soooo nice to relax, just be myself & talk about stuff I (& they) find important. I think having that retreat has helped an awful lot with my confidence in bfing & feeling able to do it out & about even now with DS being 2.5. I remember going to my first meeting when I was pg & seeing toddlers being fed....I thought it was very odd at first (& do remember going home & saying to DH that it was a bit wierd )....but Ive kept going to meetings most months ever since & so seeing it & talking about it regularly gradually made me realise just how normal it is....so Im on a bit of a one-woman mission to normalise bfing an older child - I know that not all women feel comfortable feeding in public...but it doesnt bother me at all so if DS wants a feed & theres a chair available then Im happy to do it

i'd agree when i started going to bf group i found people feeding toddlers really off putting but as your children get older it just feels natural and normal to carry on. . having said that dd stopped at 15months my decision and ds at 2years also my decision BUT two friends fed intill their lo's self weaned at around three years both mums felt a bit sad it was over but also happy it was lo's idea.

i must try LLL terramum. I get a bit nervous about meetings like that but it might really help.

Definately worth it if you have one near enough...if only so you can read those books - most groups have a library you can borrow from

They not as nerve wracking as you might think....every group works slightly differently,...but in ours one of the leaders says a few words then everyone introduces themselves in turn - just their name & the names & ages of the children & answers a quick question (usually each meeting has a theme so the question relates to that) & then the discussion builds on from that, with a little guidence from the leaders. You can say as much or as little as you like after the introductions....

i guess you don't take your children with you? would be nice to see other mums feeding toddlers too but then it would be a bit disruptive when they are all tearing around....

It depends on the group really so its best to check...but children are welcome at ours. LLL is very much about the family coming first (even for their leaders) so if you need to go to one side & tend to your child, make them a drink, change their nappy then thats fine. There are a few 3& 4 year olds who dont go to nursery and there is a home educating Mum who come occasionally with her 5 & 7ish year olds. If we meet at someones house then we know to take a few toys (non noisy ones!) to keep the happy, but our current meeting place has a few boxes of toys as its used by other group. We sit in a sort of circle with the toys in the middle & the children just play in the middle and around us. Ill freely admit its got a little more stressful as DS as got older , taller & stronger & can reach more things, open more doors etc....so I do tend to miss the odd bit of conversation as I am dealing with him ...but it just seems to work...if a baby cries then it really doesn affect the meeting - we maybe talk a bit louder to be heard over it

thanks terramum. I will have a go.