So how many of you mothers out there are breastfeeding your child beyond the age of 2?

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

I am looking for support really as I am hoping to feed my 19mth old DS for as long as he wants me to but I am just a bit anxious of the lack of support I might get from other people.

Even though I love doing it and I am well-informed of the benefits to both me and my DS, and to the general population as a whole (from seeing a child still being breastfed) I can't help but feel a little bit alone in my decision. I don't know of anyone who has breasfed past a year, certainly not until aged 4 or 5 and it would be nice to hear from anyone who is a natural-term breastfeeder!

I am past that now as DD is older but I fed her until 3 years plus.

I only ever had one from a guy who came to measure carpets.
I think people sense vulnerabilty/sensitivity tbh. Had anyone questioned what I was doing I would not have felt upset or defensive because I truly did not give one tiny toss what anyone elses opinion is. People sense that and don't comment.
Which actually is a shame. I wish some of the people giving out judgy comments to other mums had spoken to me instead

It is the same situation as when DS2 was small and his autism looked like naughtiness. I was depressed and feeling awful - people would shout at me. DH was upset but is a determined and protective rugby type - no one ever said a solitary word to him.

Try and develop a don't care attitude and people actually back off.

I fed DS1 for 13 months, we stopped at my request.

DS2 went happily from breast to saussages with apparently no in-between stage.

with DS3 i was more casual. when i thought about stopping i got mammoth boobs, and i couldn't be bothered with the hassle. after all, if i wanted post partum breast pain i could have done that when he was born.

so he fed until just after his 4th b-day. and it tailed off without a pang on either side...

i agree with Charchargabor, use your vibes on the eejits. try staring at their eyes, it frightens them and they scuttle off feeling slightly undone.

you are a Jedi mummy - feel the force...x

I don't bf now, but I did for 17 yars solid. All of my kids self weaned between the ages of 3 and 51/2. Most people thought it was wierd, some that it was disgusting and sick. Only a very few thought that it was acceptable at all. BUT, I just ignored everyone and just let my kids gradually wean themselves with no trauma/crying or upset at all.

We never did it in front of people outside of DH and the other kids,past the age of 3 though, because the reactions of friends and family were just too harsh, especially when I was tandem feeding, which I did for years.

My advice would be that you will know what is best for you and your child. Just ignore any negative rubbish that people spout at you and try to see the positives for your child.

Do what comes naturally! I had self-weaners around 7-10mts. I have friends who went on to 3yrs and the little ones were able to tell them that mummymilk was the best, most scrummy drink ever! How fab is that!

DS2 still feeding at 2.4 years old. DS1 stopped at 3. I can't remember DS1's last feed, it happened so gradually; lovely. Not stressful for either of us.

Yep, another one here. Tandem feeding my 2.5 and 6 month old DD's. DD1 is really intense about it, though and I kind of wish she'd chill out a bit when I ask her to wait 5 minutes...

I am still feeding my twins, who are 2yrs and 8mths, but only at bedtime and night. I had to introduce a rule of only feeding in bed, to stop them feeding all day long, about 6mths ago.

I wouldn't like to feed them outside, as I would be worried about people not being very sympathetic or happy about breastfed toddlers, and the twin who was waiting would probably be very loud about wanting some next!! I would be very pleased to see other mums feeding their toddlers outside the home though!

I do tell anyone who asks that I am still feeding them, and have had to defend my choice quite often... I find it quite boring when I get the same cliches everytime: it's for the mother, etc

Mmm thanks everyone for you support once again MN shines! Some food for thought definately about giving off the vibes!

Mawbroon- Is that you? The person I learned the 'Mawbroon roll' from?

I will get hold of a copy of Ann's book on breastfeeding my toddler.

Unfortunately I don't have any NCT groups or LL groups near where I live and BFing is shockingly low here so I'm on a one-woman crusade to make natural term BFing the accepted norm! Wish me luck!

I bf ds1 till he self weaned at 2yr9months I am currently bf dd who is 8months. I personally found that people didn't know I was still bf unless I told them because ds didn't feed through the day after about 18months.

What's the mawbroon roll?

I can only think that it might be that you roll over to feed from the top boob when lying in bed??

I have posted about that on here before, yes, so it probably is me.

yes that's it! Your advice made feeding during the night so much easier for me so thanks! I still call it the 'Mawbroon roll' now and have even had to explain what I mean to DP!

I fed DS until he was just over 4! By then it was only a bed time feed, and he just gave up of his own accord. (He had a bad cold and found feeding impossible.)

that's funny.

I'm glad it helped you.

I didn't invent it though!!

I loved reading this thread. I bf both my girls til they wean naturally around their third birthdays (6 years apart). I had some negative comments from people including a paediatrician which really disappointed me.

I didn't know it would go on for so long - there was just no reason to stop. I know some people think it's odd and a few think it's quite revolting which is a big shame. I'm glad I did it and my advice would be do what's right for you and your child - nobody else's opinion matters.

17m
3yrs
4.5yrs

My DD self weaned at 3.2. It was one of the saddest and at the same time one of the best days of my life. I was sad that, that was it and i'd never bf again but, i was so happy that it was her choice to " give up the boob " and it was in no way forced upon her

I'm 34 weeks pg and DS is 2.3 and still going strong. I could easily have weaned him earlier in the pregnancy when he was down to morning and night (very short feeds) but we struggled through it and he's back up to 2-3 feeds a day when he is with me (I separated from H recently and DS happily spends 3 nights a week there with no fuss)

I know one other person locally who has fed past 2 (and has just stopped at 2.5 (her choice but very little fuss from her DS), another friend still feeding her 3yo and a few from my LLL meetings (although they're not easy for me to get to as I don't drive!) but TBH I just don't care if other people don't like it I only stopped feeding DS in public around Xmas, and that is only because it is physically hard to manage on small chairs, and telling him he only has milk at home is a nice easy way of limiting!

I'm another unenthusiastic breastfeeder of a 2 year old. If he gave up tomorrow I would be delighted, but he adores his milkies and shows no sign of slowing down. I just haven't the heart to take it away from him.