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?

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Total misnomer!
Milk has calcium in it, but a diet with high protein which is what the majority of people eat these days, meat every day etc., counteracts calcium absorption.
My kids drink soya milk on cereal, don't have cheese (why should they?), aren't vegetarian, have a more varied diet than any other child I know, supplement each day.
You can get calcium from almonds, prunes, poppy and pumpkin seeds, sardines & tofu, which are all a part of our diet.
My kids do more than just fine and I'll happily wop any HV who tries to tell me otherwise thank you very much!!!

Marthamoo, theres calcium in loads of stuff, pulses and beans and that kind of thing, spinich (I think) as well as fortified thingies. BB will do this better, I'm out of practice...

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cod - take your glasses off and go for a lie down - everyone is trying to convert each other to their way of thinking - it ain't gonna happen!

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PMSL!!!

you have glasses on on your photo!

sing us another song

"everyone is trying to convert each other to their way of thinking"

Bloody hell - you mean that's banned on mumsnet now?!

Bugger, how come everyone else can type so much quicker than me???

OK, bb, fair enough. I don't even like milk, and never drink it but I do love cheese and chocolate etc. I can't see that it's foul but you are doing what you believe is best for your children - which is what we all do.

Please don't "wop" me!

I think people who breastfeed their children for longer than a years don't want to convert anyone. I suspect, however, that they do find it sad and a bit oppressive when other people not only find them repulsive/wrong/unnatural but feel free to tell them so as well.

Merely answering the questions, no intention of educating, converting, whatever!

GA - that will be the day

Just gotta say it...sorry...

Prunes? Dairy Milk? Dairy Milk? Prunes?

It's a no brainer for me

No but sorbet is nice!

Georgina, let me rephrase, we are the only species that routinely drinks the milk of another species. Better?

Most people I know who breastfeed past age one do it almost furtively, because they know how society disapproves of it.

I'm almost afraid of posting because these threads get so heated. But, here goes. A good friend of mine breastfed her ds until he was about 3. It became fairly obvious that he would play with the other children and be perfectly content until she started to enjoy herself at the party, gathering, etc. Then, suddenly, he had to nurse. So, I did find it interesting that it went from a sweet bonding type of thing, to what appeared to be a control issue from the standpoint of her ds. He also had the tendency to come and take a quick 2 second nip about every 5 or 10 minutes when she would come over for tea and conversation.

I would have loved it if ds had wanted to nurse longer. I regret it frequently that he did not. But, if we had done extended nursing I envision it as a special time between the two of us in the morning and evening, maybe before naptime, you know.

bloody hell - I've only posted a couple of times and my quotes getting ripped to shreds

hit me!

moo - stop it

(mental note - if I p*ss moo off get her some Dairy Milk)

Mud, from WHO website: "A recent review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond."

I think that's a pretty strong recommendation, don't you?

much, whatsername

Sorry, I'm being insufferably pedantic this evening, I do apologise!

Aloha, I agree. In many ways I'm glad ds2 was losing interest in an afternoon feed, because it is a pain to feed him in public as he's so wriggly and I've had negative reactions in my own home from my mother's boyfriend for a little while now. It's so much less stressful not to have to worry about it now it's only twice a day feeding.

But at the same time, I do confess to feeling quite resentful that that has had to factor in my thinking, even though that feed was coming to a natural end, iyswim?

After all, if it's "okay" to feed over x months why should it not be "okay" for those feeds to be held discretely in public (okay, so ds2 doesn't really know the meaning of discrete and therein lies the dilemma... but in principle, why that duality?)

I probably wouldn't feed much past one anyway - I like wearing dresses too much. But I just don't see why it is a big issue for other people. It doesn't hurt anyone, gives pleasure and is healthy. What is the problem?