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

[lisalisa]

Message withdrawn

i mean about the shoes, not the kids..

just catching up on this never ending thread!!

Caligula --I didnt get your comment about extended b/f being important to an allergic child!
Are you saying the mothers of these children cant work that out for themselves?

What happened to live and let live!(not directed at anyone at all)

sorry Caligula just read your next post!!!
I am sorry for replying to I got to it but so much has been send since I was last on was tring to deal with one thing at a time!!
I also believe strongly in my own views and will defend myself to do what I feel fit to do for my children,but I dont think just because I am a mum I am an expert. All I am trying and seemingly failing to do is say let people do with their child what they think is the best. We all hate to see certain things,but who are we to judge?
And why isnt everyone entitled to their own poinion?
I agree it is wrong for anyone to post stuff that is misinformed or just plain wrong but we are entitled to say what we feel.
Some hate to see an older child with a dummy or a bottle or a boob. That our human right!!!

NQC I think everyone NEEDS cuddles and kisses regardless of age. I know I do and I am decidedly older than 4!!!!!

Er, no Mandy, I was responding to somebody's post about children not needing to be bf after 2, and making the point that there is a benefit to children with allergies, to have breastmilk long after the age of 2. And as for mothers not being able to work it out for themselves - if they keep being given wrong information by professionals or others, then why would they be able to "work it out for themselves"? There are lots of things about breastmilk that mothers don't know (every time there's a thread on it on Mumsnet I learn something new about it).

Most of the comments not compatible with "live and let live" have come from people who have indicated a disapproval of breastfeeding a child past a certain random cut off date before the age of 2.

again sorry!!
I wish my little ones would have let me feed them past 1 never mind 2!!!
Little one seems ok with it and he is almost 10 months so might go a bit longer with him!

Not Quite Cockney - point taken about the wire cage - I agree.
You said that he wants cuddles and kisses, but not needs them.
I think they are the real needs, not just wants.

Back to the original subject, of bf after four, from the reactions, this is a very deep issue.

Just for the record, I still am not sure about bf post four. 100% support breastfeeding pre 4. Its not even that I am uncomfortable with it. My mum and I have talked about it before. Neither of us opose it. Just not that sure about it.
I don't as ks suggested, vehemently opose it. I not sure I agree with suedonim, that people who opose have a hangup with sex.
Surely this is acceptable.
Please tell me that no one thinks this is judgemental.

i think thats fairly reasonable RD. I think the question in the thread is problematic, because people who do 'extended' breastfeeding are only speaking for themselves, and so it becomes difficult when people judge others and their choices rather than just speak for what is right for them.

OMG I agree with RD on something! I think hugs and cuddles are a real need as well.

if we asked the question again 'how do you feel about seeing a 4 year old breastfeeding' not is it good for the child or mother. what are the benefits. But what is your gut reaction when you see it.
I wonder what most would say.
Honest first reaction?

honest mandy? well before i had my ds my gut reaction would have been shock. Now, it would be admiration. Honest.

Gut reaction: blimey she's brave!

but i think most mums who do it do it privately anyway.

I wonder how many others would have felt shock or even disgust?
I personally dont have an opinion!! that sounds silly but I thought I was going to say I think 4 is too old (gut reaction) then think of the odd one or 2 i have seen and I didnt bat an eyelid!
So obviously I didnt think anything about it.
Funny though I dont like to see a 4 year old out with a bottle or dummy. these to me are ok for comfort at bed time!! pleas no reactions to my comment we are just giving open honest gut feelings without the fear of reproach!!!!

I'm pro-extended-bf, but I am certainly surprised every time I see a walking child bf. I did bf DS1 after he was walking, but that was always in private.

I think I've only known one child older than two, in this country, who was breastfed in public. And by "in public" I mean in the confines of a fairly yoghurt-knitting sort of childcare co-op. I don't know if she was bf in the park, say.

i think the way you are discussing the issue is entierly fair mandy.

It does seem to create very strong reactions.
A couple of people before said that I should read the thread.
But I had read the thread - not every single post admittedly, because it is very long, but most of it.
And what struck was - apart from silly comments about abuse, awas that many of the people who did bf post 4, did it in private.
One pro bf, said she "definitely wouldn't feel comfortable doing it in public.
Presumabnly, some pro bf, have already experienced very bad reactions from members of the public.
I have seen it in public. I know people who have done it-publicaly & privately.
I am not shocked or disgusted.
Jst quietly thought to myself that post 4, it was not really necessary.

Thank you tiktok and ruty..

i think post 4 is another discussion - i mean i still think it is entirely within a mother's rights to bfeed post 4, but it was people here saying breastfeeding was repellent after two and not necessary after one that got people going a bit!

just one last time for all of you who seem to be struggling with reading my posts on here...

Breast feeding past the age of 1 is (IMO!!) unnecessary.

BF at 4 is (IMO!!!) a form of abuse.

How many BFeeders do you see with a 4 yr old attatched to them for milk????

None because if they did it in public then they KNOE it would be looked upon as weird or wrong in many peoples opinions, not just mine.

If theres nothing wrong with it then why do mothers hide it??

If anyone else thinks that i have said it is a form of abuse past a year then they are WRONG and i would kindly appreciate them to stop this form of slander immediately.

Thank you.

Pleases remember that this is a site where peoples opinions are asked for and very entitled and i have never thrown a direct insult in anyones particular direction, except for the immature person who though it was sensible to tell me to f*ck off!! Very valid comment there!!

You're not still here are you nannyjo???
God,I can't even get annoyed about your nonsense-you are plainly bonkers!!
You've really made me laugh today.

no nannyjo i wasn't even mentioning you, because you are on one strange planet all of your own. Did you read WWB's post? Probably not.

and mothers hide it nannyjo so they don't get ABUSE from someone as nuts as you!

is it just me, or did nj's last post just not make any sense???

do you seriously think that BF at 4 is ok?? i don't, so what why does that make me in a world of my own and full of nonsense???

Mirror please?