has anyone on here breastfed their 4 oyr 5 year old??

[nappyaddict]

just curious really ... know lots that have done it with 3 year olds but not anyone who has done it older than this.

my dd self-weaned at three and bit, but my friend is still feeding her ds (five in April).
I know two people on here who fed till four.

does your friend's ds feed in public or just at home?

she feeds morning and bedtime, so no not in public.
it is a pretty token effort now tbh

I weaned my son at 33 months, however I know two RL people who bf five year olds. Both little girls weaned round their 6th birthdays.

Both girls were well balanced and lovely children. I don't think they fed in public once they were over the age of three or four.

I suggest that you go to La Leche League if you are interested in extended breastfeeding or breastfeeding a pre schooler. I loved La Leche League meetings.

Hmm, my DS1 is just 3 now, and still BF (morning and night, and only if I'm around). He loves it so much, I can't imagine he'll stop any time soon!

My DD stopped feeding around the time of her fourth birthday.

Ask me in a year or so .

IRL I know of 2 people that have done this, usually just at home in the evening. Both very proud of it

My Mum fed my little bro until he was 5, just first thing in the morning or if he had a nightmare etc/ last thing at night I think - she never regretted it and they had the most fantastic bond for the rest of her life.

I haven't fed or 5 yr old but my mates 7 yr old has asked to try my milk

obviously I meant fed a 5 yr old.....

did you let him?

lol I would let her try it from a cup or even a bottle but not from my breast

once she asked me she got embarressed and then didn't actually do it

bless her.... I let my friends dc do it (with her permission obviously) - always wondered how it would be viewed..

from your breast?? and how old was the child

(not judging genuinely interested)

2 or 3 I think - am I going to feel the wrath of other MNetters now??

no wrath from me (just ignore everyone else lol)

so you did feed him/her from your breast
did he/she like it??

I did let her - don't think she was terribly keen, no - she only had a tiny bit though!

Couldn't give a toss what anyone else thinks anyway

My second son fed til he was 4.5. It probably was night and morning, plus after an upset of some sort.

Can they actually latch properly at that age if they haven'y bf since they were babies? Is it an instinctive thing that they never forget?

I'm just curious as ds1 and dd didn't bf beyond a month but watch me bfing ds2 and I often wonder if they'd still be able to, if they wanted some.

I think she'd stopped a few weeks/ months beforehand (was years ago and my memory is awful), she definitely knew what to do but it felt awkward to me and probably her as well - it would be like a new bottle/ teat wouldn't it? different nipples etc.

My son seemed to lose the ability to suck properly even though he had been breastfed since birth

I think they possibly do lose the skill when it is no longer needed?

My DS1 bf to 18 months. When DS2 was born, he was 3 years, and wanted to bf again, some. I let him, but he would pull off when the milk came. I just think he wanted to know he could.

I suppose so, I was just thinking about the tongue down, bottom lip positioning and whether that newborn relex stayed with them if they hadn't bf for a while. Don't children lose it at about 7 or 8 yo anyway? I have a vague recollection of it being talked about on the Channel 4 extended bf programme last year.