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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

what age did you stop breasfeeding?

124 replies

Flumpity · 22/12/2007 18:56

my daughter is just 7 months and i still breastfeed her in the morning and mid-afternoon with a bottle at bedtime. but i'm getting a lot of people expressing surprise that i'm still breastfeeding. I didn't think 7 months was particularly old or counted as 'extended' breastfeeding, but then, most of my mummy friends i've met since having my baby (she's my first) all stopped at 6 months so i'm feeling unusual. wondering what age anyone else stopped?

footnote - baby still loves it, but she's too distractible to feed anywhere that isn't very quiet anymore so i tend not to be able to feed her easily in a cafe etc like i could when she was tiny! also wondering if anyone else found this?

also, she's on 3 good solid meals a day with sips of water with them.

thanks.

OP posts:
NowTheHollyBearsABero · 22/12/2007 23:14

(Oh, and he does ask nicely. He says 'Can I have some mama milk, please?' And he wouldn't be fobbed off with expressed milk in a cup either. I expressed a couple of times when ds2 was 3 weeks old and ill in hospital because he was sleeping a lot and I was worried about my supply. As I didn't need to feed ds2 the ebm, I offered it to ds1 in a cup when he came to visit. He had a bit and lost interest. He wanted me.

HunkerGotLeprosyFromAFact · 22/12/2007 23:15

I haven't bfed DS2 in public for over a year, I don't think. But he very rarely asks during the day. If I lie on the sofa, he comes and asks sometimes. He did today - latched on for about five seconds, said, "Danks" patted me, then went and played. He'd asked pitifully too - "Milks, peeeeeeeeez, Mummy!" - so I was surprised he'd only done it for such a brief time. But I think it was more about knowing I'd let him than anything. And it's nice to do things our children enjoy, no?

fishie · 22/12/2007 23:16

mw i think perhaps you aren't understanding. we aren't forcing the poor children onto our breasts, stunting their emotional development for our own desires to keep them babies. THEY LIKE IT.

NowTheHollyBearsABero · 22/12/2007 23:16

IMO there is a place for bf as quiet mummy/child time and one for bf during the day, in public if it arises. Fabulous for comforting after a nasty fall in the playground, among other things.

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:16

Respect to you holly for tandem feeding

Right this will totally throw things but what age is the oldest age a mumsnetter had fed for do you know?

HunkerGotLeprosyFromAFact · 22/12/2007 23:18

MW, I don't need to breastfeed at all. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it. But I don't do it for me. Obviously I like that it has benefits for me - I don't want to send those back - but I don't think that the "need" in this instance is anything to do with me - if DS2 "needs" to bfeed in a public place, I can utterly understand that.

The world can be quite scary when you're little. If a bfed toddler needs to reconnect with his mum for a bit, what better way to do it than with a bfeed? If the child's doing the asking, why would you assume it was all about the mother's need?

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:19

just a normal mumsnetter normal mummy IYKWIM xx

I guess children all eventually self wean if left to feed?

MulledWino · 22/12/2007 23:19

Fishie he is just responded to your need to keep feeding him throughout the day. It's all he knows.

And HollyBear, unfortunately the western world DOES associate breasts with sexual connotations whether you or I do or not. I can understand you not wanted to pander to their misconceptions, but unless you want to be a pioneer, you WILL be peered curiously at for publically bf a toddler. That's just people I'm afraid.

I DID it. My DD could NOT suck from anything BUT me due to her cerebral palsy. But I got heartily sick of the glances/stares. I didn't particularly feel like being a Pioneer the World of Wester BF mothers.. I just wanted to feel my thirsty child! If she could have taken a cup, I'd have given her one. Once she could, I did.

Those who are trying to paint me as anti bf in any way shape or form are barking up the wrong tree I'm afraid.

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:20

thats a fab point hunker I think if my ds wants fed publicly rather than at home I might just be a bit braver and do it

HunkerGotLeprosyFromAFact · 22/12/2007 23:20

And the "isn't breastfeeding about quiet bonding moments with your child" line is often trotted out about all ages of baby being bfed.

I don't get it though - I could perhaps understand it if it was the case that there was only ever one breastfeed given to a child in his whole life - yes, you'd want to set that up so it was a perfect, magical, uninterrupted bonding moment, but that's not the case, so breastfeeding covers a whole range of scenarios from quiet peaceful bonding moment to quick snack in play area.

MulledWino · 22/12/2007 23:21

Of COURSE they like it Fishie! What's not to like?!

HunkerGotLeprosyFromAFact · 22/12/2007 23:21

MW, if you're not anti bf why are you using all the anti bfers most tedious best lines?

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:22

I think I can see some of what youre saying Mull

I think it may have been some of your terminology which confused abit in your original posts? x

fishie · 22/12/2007 23:23

mw you are up the wrong tree with that one yourself. i don't feel like justifying or explaining my bf relationship with my son so just take my word for it eh.

MulledWino · 22/12/2007 23:24

Hunker I don't have any knowledge of what anti BF say I'm afraid, I have never studied the subject! I am also quite passionate about the pros of bf, always have been, so this is an odd position to find myself in.

I came on the thread to state the ages I bf til, as the thread titles requestion. I got into a convo about bf toddlers almost by accident.

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:25

well this has encouraged me to feed more publically if ds needs it so good has come from this thread as I have been reminded that bf isnt all about the feeding but the comfort to so thanks ladies You have given me a wee boost

HunkerGotLeprosyFromAFact · 22/12/2007 23:27

They say "why can't you give it in a cup" and "why can't you feed privately if it's about bonding" and "it's for the mother not the child" quite often.

I realise you're not anti-bf. But your comments are lines that are trotted out by anti-bfers pretty regularly, so that's why you're getting flack for them!

MulledWino · 22/12/2007 23:29

Ok fishie. That's absolutely fine.

I was merely responding what you and others on this thread have clearly stated that you WANT to feed in public but are NOT COMFORTABLE in doing so. I was pointing out to you that there is a train of thought that suggests it is quite fine (perhaps beneficial re independence/being away from you should need arise) to have a cup in the day whilst out and continue to enjoy the mutual pleasure of extended bf at home/indoors.

You have all got rather unecessarily lary I think.. you must be very used to open disapproval. Well you won't get that from me so save your backlash for those that deserve it.

MulledWino · 22/12/2007 23:30

It's nice to see you off the For Sale section MumofDJ

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:33

what a strange last comment mulled.....

I browse and post on several bits of mumsnet

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2007 23:34

dd3 stopped breastfeeding at about 26months old.

i did feed her in public, if public means the canteen at harefield hospital at least once a week.

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2007 23:35

oh and dd3 would never take breastmilk from a cup or bottle.

she would take water in a cup though. but she wanted milk. so i gave it to her.

MulledWino · 22/12/2007 23:35

Sorry. Was not meant to be a strange comment. Was meant quite genuinely! People can't SEE you browsing can they! You can only see posts; and I usually only see yours on the For Sale section.

chocolatecoinmumofdj · 22/12/2007 23:36

But Im presuming you were intending on being welcoming rather than the off hand way I originlly took that nice to see you off for sales board comment? As perhaps you havent noticed me increasingly on other parts of mumsnet, the chat, are you being unreasonable threads etc, just thought it a bit rude to bring it up here but hey ho life is too short

NowTheHollyBearsABero · 22/12/2007 23:36

Bf is about the only area of my life wrt which I have a very thick skin. Curious glances and tut-tuts rebound off me. In fact, I bf in public - even, and especially ds1 - with pride. Because I am contributing to its normalisation.

As far as being away from me goes, once a child is not bf for nutrition as such, that is not a problem either. The child will ask for bf when the mother is around.