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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

What do you think is the UPPER age to be still breastfeeding or bottlefeeding?

102 replies

RTKangaMummy · 10/05/2005 10:59

.

What do you think is the UPPER age to be still breastfeeding or bottlefeeding?

I asked it on the other thread but no one is answering me so thought would ask again on another thread

They are going to be discussing it on THIS MORNING at 12 noon today.

I am surprized if children are still being fed with bottles and breast

AFTER 4 or 5 years

I believe in breast is best but why do they still need it when they are at school?

.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 11/05/2005 18:24

Only if you go and stand waaaaay over there, Mud!

Mud · 11/05/2005 18:27

....

was that far enough away?

Caligula · 12/05/2005 14:31

Sorry, can't leave it, I'm like a dog with a bone, but the time and the place is wherever the mother and child happen to be whenever they happen to be there. That's the whole point of breasts - they're portable! And they don't stop being portable just because the child is older. Why deny the child something s/he wants, which is good for him/ her, and is there readily available? I'm just very puzzled why that should be considered a sensible idea. Really I am. [puzzled emotion here!]

Chandra · 12/05/2005 14:42

If we were living in a very primitive society lost in the middle of the Amazon, how long would we breastfeed? I think that is only natural to breastfeed as required, but even nature has its upper age limits, hasn't it? I wonder if we were not under the effects of "civilisation" how longer our insticts would allow us to breastfeed?.

I'm going do a googleto see if I find something about that..

Caligula · 12/05/2005 14:45

I expect the older one would get thrown off the breast to make room for the younger one whose come along. (Is it possible to bf an older and younger child at the same time? Wouldn't the breast get confused about what sort of milk it should be producing?)

Fio2 · 12/05/2005 14:47

maybe not the best time to add that my 5 yr old still has a bottle

Caligula · 12/05/2005 14:48

Ooh Fio, you're determined to make trouble, aren't you?

Newbarnsleygirl · 12/05/2005 14:48

After reading that article in the Guardian the other day about mums who breastfeed their children till 3/4, I felt quite sad that they stopped doing it whilst being out because of looks and people staring.

I honestly think that the only reason people think it's strange is because not everyone does it.
You don't see many mums breastfeeding in public with babies let alone a mum with a 3 or 4 year old child.

If a mum wants to breast feed till later on, why not?

Chandra · 12/05/2005 15:13

Have found a very interesting article from La Leche league. About how nature defines when is the best time to stop. It may be based in the weight of the child with respect to the expected adult weight or the weight at birth, but also mentions about the aparition of permanent molars. Very interesting IMO.

beansprout · 12/05/2005 15:16

It's odd that children continue to have cows milk for years, but god forbid they should have human milk? What's that about?

flum · 12/05/2005 15:17

whatever. depends on society. kids above 2 don't really need it in our culture as we have a very good and varied diet. in a culture with a more limited diet then longer probably better for the children

kama · 12/05/2005 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

beansprout · 12/05/2005 15:19

I wonder what the stats are for 2 year olds that are still b/feeding and those eating Happy Meals?

flum · 12/05/2005 15:26

mmm, yes, point taken Beansprout - we have available to us a very varied diet.

Chandra · 12/05/2005 15:28

Don't quite get what McDonalds has to do with it...

BTW< yesterday I was reading about human milk banks. Mums who wnat to donate milk go to this places and the milk is then pasterised and in somen cases, like in Brazil, even made into powder.

beatie · 12/05/2005 15:33

I sometimes wonder what some of these other cultures would think if we sat down and milked a cow and then offered this milk to their two-year old in a bottle. They'd think we were barmy - surely!

flum · 12/05/2005 15:33

Really Chandra, I suggested that on here about a year ago and everyone thought it a most yukky idea!! I thought it might make a good charity/business/SAHM job

flum · 12/05/2005 15:34

We are the only mammal that drinks the milk of another!

Chandra · 12/05/2005 15:56

There are a lot of milk banks in my country, curiously, there's also more freedom to choose between bottle and breast. When I tell my friends back home how strongly mums feel about breastfeeding here, they are always shocked, they think it's only a mother's choice. They are equally acceptant of mums donating milk at one of these banks as of the women who decides not to breastfeed at all.

bobbybob · 13/05/2005 00:26

Thanks for that article Chandra, I will show it to my mum.

ghosty · 13/05/2005 02:22

Re. breastfeeding longterm ... I am a firm believer in 'whatever is right for the mother and child' ... breastfeeding past 1 year is not for me but I never have a problem when I see older children being breastfed (in publich or in their own homes) ... each to their own.
Same goes with bottlefeeding. I do have a problem with seeing children drink juice and cordial out of bottles but only because I think "What is that doing to their teeth?" ... I know the same could be said about milk but surely milk is less sugary than juice or cordial?
I am interested in why somebody said that it is ok to breastfeed till the age of 2 but think that bottles should be given up when the child can 'self feed' ... what's the difference?
My DS had a bottle at bedtime until he was just over 3 ... he then asked for a cup.
DD can 'self feed' but her bedtime bottle is given in my arms after her bath and is a nice cuddly time for us both ... just because she is not longer breastfed it doesn't mean I can't cuddle her does it?????
She is 15 months and she will probably have a bottle until she wants to go to a cup.

bobbybob · 13/05/2005 04:43

I have revised my feelings about bottle feeding because I have breastfed ds for so long. It would be wrong of me to think it was okay to breastfeed, but think it was not okay for another mother to give a toddler a bottle long after they can use a cup.

I also think - hey whatever makes everyone's life easier.

And I have to say that my friends who still give their 2 year olds bottles are more understanding of me still breastfeeding - so the reverse must be true too.

hunkermunker · 13/05/2005 19:31

I truly don't care what age other babies have bottles to. I too would prefer they only had milk or water from them, but I don't give DS juice at all (he loves milk and water, so no need I don't think).

I would like it if more babies were breastfed longer, but as long as nobody expects me to stop feeding DS before he's ready, or expects me to feed their toddler (), why should I care?

Far too much judgement going on with parenting decisions IMO

hercules · 13/05/2005 22:30

One thing that has struck me after seeing the thread title about omega 3 fish oils is that bm has these too naturally. Surely this adds to the debate about bm being important still and I'd rather give it this way than from a fish oyswim.

hunkermunker · 13/05/2005 22:31

Don't let Cod hear you say that, Hercules.

But yes, definitely would rather give the human version!

And aren't prebiotics (probiotics - I know there's a diff, but can't remember what!) in formula from fish sources too? Or did I get that very wrong?