Breastfeeding till the age of 4 - what do you think?

[lisalisa]

Message withdrawn

Not here she didn't, Josie:

By NurseyJo on Friday, 22 July, 2005 11:40:55 PM

You can think what you like, but i am a professional and do know what I am talking about.

The antibodies in breastmilk reduce over time and are not as beneficial beyond 12 months. THAt is fact.

Formula is not as effective for babies over 12 months of age, the same is true of breastmilk and has been proven as much. They then need cowsmilk and a balanced solid diet.

Ok, fair point, I was remembering the over two are clingy thing.

She doesn't advocate stopping though does she? And doesn't refute that it is of some benefit.

I just think she's been given a hard time. Sorry.

I don't. She's posted total fallacies and been vehement in what she's stating.

Should we agree with her to make her feel better when she's totally wrong?!

The problem with facts is that there are always two camps, and plenty of research to support both.

That's all, just not sure we should be getting personal.

If NurseyJo had posted research to support what she said, fine. She didn't. Because there isn't any.

I did, because I could, because there is loads.

Why so defensive? Is this a nanny thing?

No, I'm a S/W with special needs children.

There has been quite a bit of confrontation over this subject, but this is the first time I've had a chance to post.

This is nothing personal, defending or explaining my views. I've read a few of your posts, and respect the things you say - you're a fab resource!!

Fair enough - thank you.

Or if NurseyJo had said "I've heard that ..." or "I've always believed ..." rather than putting on her big old stompy "I am a professional and I know what I am talking about" boots, she would have had a much gentler reception.

I don't buy the "mothers always know best" line, but I also don't buy the "profesionals always know best" one, either.

I'm curious about the "kids over one need cow's milk" line from an evolutionary point of view. How did humans manage before we domesticated cows? Did children starve? And what about all those clingy hunter-gatherer children, breastfed to seven? How did they get any hunting and gathering done, while they were busy clinging to their mums?

NQC, they strapped children to cows once they got to one and told them to get on with it

Wild cows?

I guess that exerted some evolutionary pressure on us, didn't it. Particularly as only humans living in the right bit of the Middle East (I think?) would have found any cows to be tied to.

Well, the cows were quite cross, I think. Oh, I see what you mean

There is the guideline that says that "milk is the most important part of your babies diet up until age 1." Taken to an illogical conclusion that could mean that it becomes an unimportant part afterwards.

A dietician told me that if you breastfeed up until 2, then after that supplements can be given and so it is quite possible to live without cows milk forever under these conditions. However she said that just because something could be done, didn't mean it should be done.

The best reaction I have had came from a Family Planning doctor, explaining that I couldn't take the combined pill because I was breastfeeding she suggested other alternatives. When she had to complete my notes she asked the age of my child and didn't bat an eyelid when I said he was 2.5. And that's the way it should be.

Jo - Oh and as for saying that it makes kids clingy - how do you explain clingy bottle fed babies? Maybe the the ones you have seen are bfed because they are clingy rather than clingy because they are bfed.

this thread seems to be going qround in circles!! Alot of it is self oppinionated rubbish and of no real help to anyone!!! The thread was about bf a 4 year old..look where we have gone with that!!!
think we should say if you can breastfeed go for it.
If you cant then thats ok too. Feed for aslong as you feel happy with and your baby/child wants it! And stick two fingers up to anyone who has a problem with it...its their problem!

Its abnormal in western societies because few people do it. so consequently people are repulsed. Personally I donßt give a shite, like you say Mandy 2 fingers!!

My midwife breastfeed both her kids past 4.

I bf my 22 month old and unless she decides to stop (highly unlikely as she adores bf) will tandem feed when the new baby comes in December.

It is not just for my emotional needs, as my child seems to wnat it more than I do.

But I do enjoy seeing the joy, relaxation and closeness it brings my child and I feel that bond is a beautiful emotion we share.

signed, paps the earth mama

Didn'r I say someone would bring up that chestnut about bf being clingy!! What a load of balls and shame on you for being a professional and believing such crap.
REminds me of the head hv at my surgery who had never heard of babies waiting till 6 monts to have solids. She told me that the doh said 4 months and certainly not 6 months. Even showed me an out of date leaflet! and she was giving this out to all mums!
She was in charge of telling all the mws, hvs and gps about weaning advice

I complained to my nhs trust and was told that sadly the health professionals were supposed to attend voluntary lectures about such things but if they didnt and didnt keep themselves up to date they wouldnt know.

I'm a teacher and imagine if I didnt keep myslef upto date. I'd be caning the kids and telling everyone it was my right!!

Please see this as an opportunity for professional development and research up to date informatin. You could then pass this on to your equally illinformed colleagues and, hey, maybe to the parents who seek this correct advice.

Sorry, I care not how people chose to feed their kids and how long for. I do care though when people who trust their health professionals are given incorrect information which so many believe!That is appalling.
I am also concerned that you feel as you are a professional you are infallible!!!! That is also frightening. Sorry but noone is infallible.

The research I have heard on this by my laleche leader (who also has years of experience btw of long term bf) is that children who are bf are generally more confident as they have a secure base to begin with.
If a child is insecure than they are far more likely to be clingy. That goes for any child and is an accepted idea I believe. A child who is unsure of it's parents love and arent given attention are far more likely to be clingy than a child who is given security and confidence.

That is nothing to do with breastfeeding or bottlefeeding of course as it's the closeness etc that causes the security which of course can be achieved equally by a bf or cowsmilk feeding parent.

Perhaps you could explain the correlation between bf and clinginess???

Interesting to hear.

rant over

although still concerned as always about professionals given wrong advice

went to be last night but like hunkermunker's valiant efforts to censor herself! I only said 'bollocks',to something that was totally untrue, and somebody thought that was enough to drag me and my children thru the mire. Glad people like tiktok are around, i really am.

herclules just said balls!

that covers pretty much what I said

Hercules - i am interested in what you say about clingness. My ds1 has always been clingy we gave him so much love and attention. But i thought it was a thing he grew out of. I am a confident person but my partner is not. Could it be a genes thing? I know bottle fed babies who are in nursey from 8-6pm and they are not clingy and shy either. This would be an interesting thread. My ds1 is now not so clingy but people do say he is very confident. Hmm don't really know what to think.. Good angle though

I have no idea. My bf child was also in nursery from 8-6.

NurseyJo may feel too awkward to post here again - after all, it's not comfortable to parade one's professional credentials as a basis for certain statements of 'fact' (ha!), and then realise (I hope) 'Ooops! I'm wrong after all.'

She is not the only professional to think she knows about infant and toddler diet, and even not the only one to state she knows her info is up to date....when it isn't. Of course only a few professionals are quite as dogmatic in 'print' as she has been,

It might be courteous to post a line or two, even so, Nursey, saying you understand why you got such a reaction, and to reassure us that before you say anything to any mother, any of your colleagues, or post here, you will ensure you update yourself.

Mandy - yes, the discussion has gone away from the original question Think of a discussion board as something like a conversation with real people throwing in related but not identical strands, just as when you have a discussion in real life. I can't see anything wrong in it, personally

Er.....yes Mandy. Conversations meander. That's what makes them interesting.....

are nursey jo and nanny jo different people? Just slightly confused..