Views on if there's an age limit to breastfeeding in public

[Mud]

I am totally for breastfeeding for as long as you are able / want to do it. So have no issues with extended breastfeeding (probably would put a cut off before 3 though)

I do however think that once a baby is no longer reliant on breast milk, and is totally weaned (probably around a year when it progresses to being a toddler) that it becomes a far more private affair between mother and toddler and should remain in the home (morning and night feeds)

So at what stage does a baby no longer need milk during the day? I think from a year. I think from a year is too old to offer a breast in public. And think especially if a toddler can walk, talk, pull up your top and accept a beaker then I think that's too old to breastfeed in public

your opinion is?

Tamum - what else do men do with them? Of course they know that they also feed babies but to them personally, the only function is sexual (unless they themselves are still feeding!!!!!).

I think it's absurd to get upset about a child bf up to about 5.

I personally wouldn't have chosen to bf either of my children past about 18 months - by six months, actually, I really wanted my body back - but I simply can't understand why anyone else would get bothered about someone else's choice.

A child in a school uniform though, and yes, i would think bitty!

Btw, just to make clear, the other thread is not about her bfing it's about her taking a baby on a girls night out.

don't know how old your child is bundle but honestly no I don't think it is alright to breastfeed in a public place when the child is large enough to walk, talk and ask for it

but I would just ignore it if it happened in a restaurant I was in, I would never comment directly so please don't take nay of my comments on a personal basis, this is a discussion on how people feel about it

i know gdg, but the bf might be a reason why she's doing just that

don't know how old your child is bundle but honestly no I don't think it is alright to breastfeed in a public place when the child is large enough to walk, talk and ask for it

but I would just ignore it if it happened in a restaurant I was in, I would never comment directly so please don't take nay of my comments on a personal basis, this is a discussion on how people feel about it

Perhaps GDG your post could say "men think that breasts only owners are men..."

Well ds3 will be in school uniform just a few days after his 4th birthday.

And ds2 is 29 months now and feeding him would just be very strange imo. Totally unnecessary. His diet is exactly the same as mine and I don't drink breastmilk.

no probs sexualising breasts when it is appropriate...but I am arguing that it is inapproriate in the instance of bf a toddler. It is not a sexual activity for the toddler and mum (I hope!) and although yes men do get off on bf women on the whole it should be respected not turned into porn! Little britain demonstrates how MEN sexualise bf..inappropriately...I find it humourous b/c it shows how men are so sex focused, quite disgusting really

"don't know how old your child is bundle but honestly no I don't think it is alright to breastfeed in a public place when the child is large enough to walk, talk and ask for it "

• but WHY??? you still haven't explained why it's not alright. is it seeing a bit of naked body close to another one? would it be "ok" if the child had SN, but was a toddler? intrigued...

also if a 2 year old is unhappy or ill, breastfeeding shouldn't be the only form of comfort that would do - a cuddle should be adequate, why equate feeding with a comfort / boredom reaction?

SP PMSL at tits bigger than head!
Fair play, I wouldn't, others would. I don't think I would find it repulsive, probably a little disconcerting.
I find it a little incongruous though that at 12-18 mo for instance most children are being encouraged to use forks for food and drink from cups, but at the other end others are still breastfeeding. I fully understand it's personal choice, but would ask that at 15 months my Ds only has two milk feeds early morning and bedtime, so can I ask how are those of you who are breastfeeding a child of approximate age feeding in public?

(my daughter is 2 next week btw)

Why IS is alright then Bundle?

because it's my choice and there's nothing (in your opinion) wrong with it before she's 12 months, so why does it suddenly change??? i am absolutely fascinated by your (not just yours, obviously, but society's ) feelings about this and also that you can't tell me what is wrong with it, how it makes you feel.

that's all.

Bundle, don't jump down my throat, and yes I did b/f my children and the last two until they were 12 and 14 months old so longer than most people do, and yes I did b/f blatantly in public and would have a lot to say to anyone who objected, so I am not anti b/f or anti b/f in public, but....

I do associate b/f with pre-weaned babies (biologically) so I suppose my cut-off point for b/f in public would be about the time the baby was fully weaned, eg on three meals a day with only breast milk as a drink, if that makes sense. When is that? Well, it is individual, but when I had my babies, they were on three meals a day by about 8-9 months at the latest. How does that fit with present weaning recommendations?

I am scared of being offensive

I feel that its not right to be infantilising a toddler and milk-feeding (breast or bottle with teat) is something that they wean off as they get older. There are so many threads on how do I get my child to drink out of a beaker and yet all of a sudden because the subject is feeding out of the breast it becomes a sacrosant subject matter.

I wouldn't give a toddler a bottle with a teat in public either by the way

Mud, I'm totally with you. That's how I see it too.

I wonder what those happy to bf their children to 2, 3 or 4 would think about seeing a toddler of 2, 3 or 4 drinking out of a bottle or walking round with a dummy in?

well, IMHO, opinion, it's the attitude that "I am breastfeeding this child, like it or die" that pisses me off. It's for the adult not the child. Let go, they're not babies any more. If you need to feed , have another or [runs for cover] let your dh near them . Poor bloke, he must feel like they're an exclusive baby zone and to be fair, they were his first!I am all for breastfeeding, it's brillant and mums are saints, but we're women as well.

I would think that the parent has responsibility and choice- my niece and nephew had bottles and dummies till quite old (6 I think. It was not my preferred choice and I wouldn't want to encourage it...BUT then they are not my kids!

Oooh, don't get me started on toddlers with dummies or bottles....

breastfeeding for me is part of being a woman...just cos I am extended feeding doesn't mean my dh doesn't get a look in!! It works for both of us or I would have stopped. I think it's presumptious to say 'let your dh in!' as parenting choices have to be supported on the whole by both parents!!

interesting, lonelymum.

mud, of course you wean babies/toddlers off milk as they get older, that's my intention too. and i'm sure anyone who knows me would say that i haven't bfed them often during the day, nor are my children overly clingy. I can't bear seeing children pull up their mums' tops and latch on whenever they feel like it or demanding it all of the time either. where i live i see toddlers with bottles (milk/juice) all the time and find that weird.

thanks for your frank reply, i'm not offended at all, it's given me lots to think about.

sorry, exceptions made for sn kids and kids that have been in hospital loads. Friend with both and it's a lifeline...