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Original poster

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

313 replies

Mud · 14/04/2005 20:02

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mud · 14/04/2005 20:47

good analogy goddledigook

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 14/04/2005 20:48

jollymum - bollocks.

I don't feed ds because I like it (I don't really), i feed him because he needs breastmilk. He won't take a bottle anyway, but that's beside the point - forcing him to drink expressed milk from a cup would be like forcing him to eat a banana with a knife and fork.

I also disagree that there's a "like it or die" attitude. "Deal with it or fuck off" perhaps, but what's wrong with that. no-one forces you to look at a breastfeeding child.

hoxtonchick · 14/04/2005 20:49

yay - go SP & bundle!!

SenoraPostrophe · 14/04/2005 20:49

...that should be "...because breastmilk is good for him"

Original poster
Mud · 14/04/2005 20:49

andhow old is your baby SenoraP?

OP posts:
bundle · 14/04/2005 20:50

"they were his first" ???? hmmmmmmmmmmm jollymum

Original poster
Mud · 14/04/2005 20:50

"like it or die" is extremely close to "deal with it or fuck off" IMO

OP posts:
binkybetsy · 14/04/2005 20:51

Bundle can I ask when during the day do you feed your two year old? My ds only has two milk feeds a day early morning and evening and is starting to reduce the amounts himself at 15 mo. Not from a bottle either. Just to ask within the public aspect of this feeding debate, thanks.

Gobbledigook · 14/04/2005 20:51

I can never understand this 'my child won't' thing - who is in charge here? If the child is 10 months or over there is no need to give a bottle either - what about beakers? Transition from bottle to beaker is hard too and some babies/toddlers don't like it at first but it's gotta be done! Can't stay on them forever! Like nappies!

Enid · 14/04/2005 20:52

no, deal with it and fuck off is better

bundle · 14/04/2005 20:52

bb, whenever i'm at home with her before she has her sleep

aloha · 14/04/2005 20:53

What on earth is the HARM in breastfeeding a child?? Why does it bother you? It can only do a child good, healthwise, it doesn't hurt them and it certainly doesn't hurt you. If you don't like it, aesthetically, well poor you and your aesthetic sensibilities. Look away! I just don't understand why people get so upset about these harmless things. It's not like you are hurting anyone. So what if a child has a dummy or drinks out of a bottle? What's the big problem? They won't do it when they are 20. As for infantalising....they ARE infants!

paolosgirl · 14/04/2005 20:53

I think I take the attitude that it's not hurting anyone, so it's not worth getting upset about.
That said, I do kind of wonder why the bond that mothers b/feeding toddlers and above seem to need has to involve breastfeeding, IYKWIM? I breastfed my babies for nutrional reasons (that and I was too lazy to make up bottles ) - obviously that's not an reason for b/feeding children in the developed world (or whatever the latest pc term is)

Original poster
Mud · 14/04/2005 20:53

so do you think that you might be teaching your child that you goto sleep after you drink milk?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mud · 14/04/2005 20:55

No aloha, they are patently NOT infants that is the very point

a baby is a baby is an infant

over the age of a year it is a toddler

then a child

OP posts:
bundle · 14/04/2005 20:55

yes, that is what she does in the evening too. but she also has milk in the morning and doesn't go back to sleep then. is that a problem/criminal offence? (she doesn't drink herself to sleep btw, she's awake when she goes into her cot)

Original poster
Mud · 14/04/2005 20:56

I also don't like people who

light up in restaruants
drinkm too much adn become lary in the street
swear loudly

but that's just my aesthetic sensibilities again, I suppose

OP posts:
hunkersneakymunker · 14/04/2005 20:56

DS is one. He was one 11 days ago. He's still breastfed. I do occasionally feed him in public. I can't see why some of you are so violently against it. I don't give a stuff how long other children have bottles or dummies for, I really couldn't care less. So why on earth are people so offended by breastfeeding older babies? DS can't walk yet, isn't so great at holding a cup (though he self-feeds himself food well).

Breastmilk doesn't suddenly stop being good for children as soon as their first birthday candle's blown out.

As for the "more for the mum than the baby" camp - yeah, right. What, you think I'm sitting there getting a thrill out of my baby nursing? That says a great deal more about you than it does about me.

hunkersneakymunker · 14/04/2005 20:57

Mud, is my DS a toddler? He's over a year, but he can't toddle.

SenoraPostrophe · 14/04/2005 20:58

mud - he's 16 months.

GDG - I could put my foot down and force him to use a cup but frankly i can't be bothered. but why should i? I don't see what's wrong with children under 2 having bottles either - why put yourself and baby/child through all that stress when they'll probably naturally drop the breast/bottle at some point anyway?

I personally like to see women feeding older babies in public - stops em crying so much.

Gobbledigook · 14/04/2005 20:58

'Infant' means 'without language' so a child that is talking is not an 'infant'. Generally most children over 2 are not infants then.

binkybetsy · 14/04/2005 20:58

See bundle, but I don't have a problem with the breastfeeding per se at such an age, just feel that once able to drink from a cup then is the breastfeeding necessary or for comfort, esp as a nightime feed.
That said, if that's your choice and in private then fair enough.
I would find toddlers feeding in public odd because at the age where it would surprise me I would wonder why isn't that child moving towards independence IYSWIM.
I'm trying to answer your question of WHY and hope this goes a little way.

morningpaper · 14/04/2005 20:58

Jollymum: "they were his first"

UHHHH actually they are mine. Why do people think that breasts belong to husbands?!!

bundle · 14/04/2005 20:59

i can't bear those things too -

"light up in restaruants" - harms health of others
drinkm too much adn become lary in the street - biggest cause of admissions to A&E from what i can remember, when they lay into people/each other
swear loudly - not nice esp in front of children

but NONE of these things are like breastfeeding in public, no matter what age...

aloha · 14/04/2005 20:59

Of course you can have a bond without breastfeeding, but why does that mean you shouldn't breastfeed? I stopped breastfeeding my mixed-fed ds once and for all at about 14months. And one of the reasons - not the only one, but one of them - was because I knew there were people who thought like this and it made me sad and embarrassed. It wasn't a big issue to stop, but I do know how hard it is to continue in a society that really doesn't value breastfeeding. I had my first ever negative reaction (I think) at the Imperial War Museum cafe the other w/e. I sat down with a cake and coffee and my tiny daughter, and some bootfaced middleaged woman and her mother moved tables, and I'm sure I heard something about ''dont' want to look at that while I'm eating my lunch." I thought, here we are, surrounded by the implements of death and destruction, by an exhibition which tells us about the babies that died in bombing raids, where you can see the horrors of the holocaust and the trenches, and you are offended by a tiny baby having her lunch...what kind of world is this?