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?

Have bf my dds whilst todders in public - on trains, restaurants, in shops holding them whilst walking around shopping, parents meetings - everywhere I went with dds I bf them if they wanted. Nothing wrong with this - why should I say no?? - because it might offend someone??? Why should normal behaviour be thought offensive. Think how many kids run riot when out & about - mine peacefully breastfed & caused no problems. Why should bf even be thought a contentious issue?? Why do people make "rules" for others when it's nothing to do with them. If a mother bottlefeeds, gives a beaker etc I don't care and start complaining about it - why should others think they can do the same towards bf mothers????

Nah, I was breast-fed and I'm 35 and I'm not still breast-feeding...

As the immortal suzywong once said, they have mostly stopped before they get to school and if not you can always go and shove your boob through the railings at play time

for me personally, once the baby starts toddling and is no longer a babe in arms, nature's way of saying you can walk and drink your milk now (also once they get teeth..I got bitten and then stopped at 11 months for both ds and dd).

Also why is there any argument about drinking cow's milk? It's foul to drink the breastmilk of another species and my kids have never had it for that reason, neither have we for about 15 years.

hunkermunker WHO does categorically not recommend until 'at least' 2, it recommends sole breastfeeding till 6 months then the introduciton of appropriate foods and goes on to comment that extended breastfeeding till 2 and beyond is fine

I don't think it's foul to drink the breast milk of another species though.

I saw a woman sunbathing topless in Greece once (when going topless was relatively unheard of). She had a child of about six who was building sandcastles and every so often would come back, have a quick suck and go off and play again. Thought that was a bit gross.

Jolllymum - yes in recognition to your story of a very verbal 3 year old who needs to grow up

Why marthamoo, it's designed for calves not humans. You don't feed your dog expressed milk do you?

WHO: "As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed1 for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health.2 Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond."

It's not saying "it's okay to feed up to 2" it's saying "SHOULD"

source from WHO website

I used to bf anywhere and everywhere. I know there are people that get offended at the site of breastfeeding (although I never came across it, personally, or perhaps just never noticed), but it never occurred to me that they would have a problem specifically because of the age of bf'ing dd.

I think it's ridiculous to object to someone doing something as beautiful as breastfeeding. Who does it hurt? Piercing babies ears on the other hand.....

Have to agree with BinkyBetsy about it being quite unpleasant and unnatural to drink the milk of another species. We are the only species to do it.

Having said that, I am a hypocrite. I used to be vegan, but reverted to vegetarianism when I got pregnant.

I am trying to cut down on dairy again, mainly because of the health issues.

I haven't got a dog but if I had I guess I would feed it cow's milk (if grown-up dogs drink milk - I don't know if they do). I don't think you can buy expressed dog milk at Tesco.

If you think drinking cow's milk is foul does that mean you don't have cheese, or yoghurt, or cream cakes or...God forbid...Dairy Milk?

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Just to add I bf in public, as discreetly as I could, when it was time for them to be fed. ditto to the greek woman story, ewww!

Binkybetsy, do your children have yoghurts, cereals (what milk do they have on those ETC. Milk is useful for growing bones etc, calcium intolerance means using other methods but I bet dairy intolerance kids' mums would love their kids to be able to drink, partake in normal milk products etc.

Yes marthamoo

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Where do you get calcium from then? I'm not being argumentative, am genuinely interested. I would say milk and milk products are a major and important part of my children's diets.

And no Dairy Milk...?

Cod, how is 'cows milk is for calves' a cliche??? It's true.

moo - you're hilarious!

"We are the only species to do it."

Are we? Hmm... I'm sure I've read cases of species "adopting" others and becoming surrogate mothers... goats that nurse calves and such like... or is that only because the farmer encouraged that?

Going to have to waste my evening researching now

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tell it to the Milk Marketing Board