Extended breastfeeding on Jeremy Vine

[emkana]

Did anyone listen to this today? I thought it was good to hear the topic discussed. There are just two arguments against extended breastfeeding that really wind me up:

1. That it will make children clingy. WHERE is the evidence for that?????
2. That mothers do it more for their own benefit than the child's. My dd2 is 17 months. There is NO WAY that I could make her feed if she didn't want to. You can't force a child to breastfeed!

Sorry, just needed to get that off my chest. Otherwise quite a good discussion, I thought.

Didnt hear the show but

1. never heard why this is so. Cant understand how it can be true and certainly never seen any evidence in my own two.
2. As if!

Unfortunately I only heard the last 2 minutes of this. I only heard the woman saying she left her dd with her grandma for 2 weeks to get her to stop breastfeeding!

It was quite interesting. Did anyone catch Annalisa Barbieri's (not sure of spelling) website address as I fancy taking a look?

I have breastfed mine for 2, 2.5 and 2 (ongoing) years but haven't really questioned why. Have now reached the stage with no.3 that I only want to feed him before he sleeps or needs comforting (especially as he now asks for it).

None of mine have weaned themselves off the breast but neither have they complained too much when it has come to an end. My eldest two already say that they would like to feed their babies when they have them (a long way off I hope) which I find encouraging as I can only remember seeing one of my relatives breastfeed her children and I have to say that, in that respect, she was a bit of a role model.

I have had many negative comments about extended breastfeeding from my own parents to mums at toddler groups. I don't respond anymore as their opinions are unlikely to change.

I find Jeremy Vine very irritating. He ends up arguing points of view just for the sake of it and it makes him look like a rather dreadful Daily Mail reader.

As for point 2, there is some truth in it. I bfd dd until 23m partly because it worked for us, but partly because there are health benefits for me. Of course you can't force a child to continue feeding, but if, as in my case, the child is perfectly content with either breast or beaker, then the mother's future breast-health becomes a relevant deciding factor whether to continue.

exactly
there is no way you could make a child who can walk take a bf if they didn't want to.

My ds2 is now 16 m and that is the age that ds1 decided he wanted the bottle and not the bosom at night, so I am prepared for ds2 to do the same but it will be his choice.

As I only feed him at night or for comfort if he is ill I'll keep going as long as he wants to.

Amazing how people get all worked up about this isn't it. What bloody business is it of Jeremy Vine's anyway?

And actually, what's wrong with mothers doing something for their own benefit? Should we be wearing sackcloth and ashes all the time and sacrificing ourselves?

And what's wrong with a clingy child? They've usually grown out of clinginess by the time they're eight. Or if not, by the time they're fourteen. Or if not by the time they're twenty. And they manage to function as adults.

God save me from media pundits.

Well, JV was just raising teh profile of the issue, not judging it himself, to be fair.

The website talked about was iwantmymum.com and I've just had a quick look, but it seemed to be just a chat/forum site.

I fed my dd until she was 14 months as there was no way before that she'd take a bottle. I would have carried on if she wanted to, but I was absolutely in a minority amongst other mums I know who all seemed to stop after a few months (or weeks).

Ive just stopped bf 2 yr old dd and she is in no way clingy.

Yes she was a persistant breastfeeder and it took months to finally stop. But in all other aspects of our lives no she is not clingy!!

Message withdrawn

I only managed to partly b/f my ds for a couple of months (desperately didn't want to give up but there were health problems), but just wanted to say I think extended b/f absolutely lovely. I used to be pretty squeamish about it but have several friends who've done it, no clinginess or embarrassment or problems at all. I always feel so sad when women say 'Oh I didn't really want to give up but it was just too long, wasn't it?' - mostly because of my own wistfulness but also, it just has to be the most natural thing, surely?

Didn't hear JV today unfortunately.

I've stopped breast feeding ds1 when he turned 3 years old. Still breast feeding ds2 (14 months) and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future!

I gave up answering questions from my antenatal buddies who asked whether ds1 was off the breast...too many raised eyebrows. Personally, I'm rather proud of myself as I nearly gave up after 6 weeks with a horrific cracked nipple.....here I am over 3 years later.

Should add that ds1 was only having a quick slurp in the morning and one at bed time!

I thought most of the comments were pretty positive - I'd expected an onslaught of disapproval so was pleasantly surprised at the reaction. I fed two of mine for 14ths and one for 2yrs. As someone said, at the age of two, they're just have a quick feed, not hanging onto your chest for hours, and why deny them the chance of a cosy cuddle?

JV has a baby himself so he may well have an interest in the subject. Did anyone else hear the final comment, from a man who was bf until he was 12?? That surely is extended feeding!

Oh God, that sketch from Little Britain springs to mind.

My friend is still bf her DD who is 3 and she is an independent little girl. My DS who was not bf for that long is very clingy and always has been. He gave up bf himself. Had other things to do I think.

Haven't had a chance to listen yet but I am an EBF myself (eldest weaned at 4, youngest still going at 2). I've put together a blog post this week - What kind of woman breastfeeds a toddler? - and over 100 women have so far sent me their details. I thought it might be of interest on this thread, and you are welcome to send me your info if you would like to be included!
Best for now in all your choices x
www.the-mule.com/2012/05/what-kind-of-woman-breastfeeds-toddler.html

I don't think any pp's dcs are still toddlrs mule, the thread's over 7 years old! Will have a look at your blog though

Ha ha! I was going to have a listen on iPlayer later!!!

Oh ha, that is funny. And the weird thing is, Jeremy Vine actually DID discuss extended breastfeeding on his show yesterday (May 2012).
Interesting to know he has discussed it before.
Sorry for my mistake - I blame too many broken nights with my breastfeeding children! :)