Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Did you feel judged for breastfeeding longer?

32 replies

Mumlife101 · 29/03/2018 22:29

My DC is 9 months & still BF. Just recently I've started getting a complex that people think I'm BF for too long & DC is too old. I don't know where this has come from? A few weeks ago I was breastfeeding at baby group not worried at all & now I wouldn't because I feel like people are thinking 'is she STILL BF?' I don't know where this shame has come from.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BertieBotts · 29/03/2018 22:32

Yes a bit, but not at that age, more when we passes 18 months. It didn't really matter though in the scheme of things.

Do you have a La Leche League near you? I found that helped me feel more normal!

MrsJamin · 29/03/2018 22:32

I fed both of mine until they were a year old, never felt judged. What do your friends do? I think a big part of it is feeling like you're not doing anything different from your peers.

afrikat · 29/03/2018 22:32

Still going strong at almost 2 years. If people are judging I haven't noticed and don't care 😁

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6-9 months old 9-12 months old Babies & sleep Breast & bottle feeding

BertieBotts · 29/03/2018 22:33

I think most people in the UK tend to BF until about a year so I don't think people at a group would judge you.

MrsA2015 · 29/03/2018 22:33

Good god I’d wonder what they’d think of me, dd is 2.5 and still latches on whenever she can!

Do what feels right for you and your baby, forget what others think and 9 moths old is definitely not too old!

ImMrsBrightside · 29/03/2018 22:33

Not really until we passed a year. DD is now 16 months and I sometimes feel judged but mainly people just act surprised.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 29/03/2018 22:35

I bfed DS2 until he was 23 months. All I really got was comments about teeth. If he bit I just broke the vacuum with my little finger and told him to stop. He soon learnt.

Acorncat · 29/03/2018 22:35

A bit but not at 9m, more once they were reaching 2. I didn't feed out and about from that sort of age though so maybe it just didn't come up. 9m is still tiny

Foodylicious · 29/03/2018 22:35

Yeah, but I think they have given up asking about it now he's nearly 4

Bigpizzalover · 29/03/2018 22:37

My daughter is 14 months and still breastfeeding, I do get a couple of comments but to be honest I don’t really care, it works for us x

Original poster

Mumlife101 · 29/03/2018 22:40

No one has actually said anything to me to be honest!! & she rarely feeds anymore when we're out about only if she's really tired. I think maybe because she is so grown up in my eyes all of a sudden... she doesn't feel like that tiny baby anymore! I'd always intended to go with it till she was 1 & never expected to feel like this! The only other mums at baby group who BF have very young babies, all the older ones (DD is actually the oldest at 9mo) have formula so maybe it did stem from there...!

OP posts:

rockinghorse284752 · 29/03/2018 22:41

I'm still bf DD who is 11 months. I am starting to get occasional comments from family members. However I will not let this stop me. I love bf my DD and for now as long as she still wants to I will carry on. For some reason in western countries there is pressure on women to stop bf by 6 months or one year at the latest. The recommendation is to bf for two years (if you want to). If you are happy to carry on then do so please don't stop because you are worried about what others think.

Firenight · 29/03/2018 22:42

I was with my son but found that over the age of 2 people stopped going on about it. My youngest will be 4 this summer and still nursing - no one has said a thing about her age and I would say I feel supported to feed to natural term by a good friendship network.

9 months is still a baby!

AntiHop · 29/03/2018 22:42

I'm feeding my 3 year old!

If you're on Facebook, I'd suggest joining the breastfeeding older babies and beyond group. Then you'll see how many people are feeding toddlers and older children!

Sandsnake · 29/03/2018 22:46

I don’t think so. Inlaws were visibly surprised when I mentioned that I still feed DS (2.5) once a day whilst we were there last weekend. I don’t think they judged though (if they did they were polite enough not to in front of me!).

Isadora2007 · 29/03/2018 22:47

Awww 9 months is teeny. Just enjoy it.
I didn’t feel judged but then I was very comfortable with my decision to BF past 2. A few people asked “isn’t it weird when they can ask for it?” Type questions but I was happy to talk about it.
I wonder if your own feelings are changing, and maybe it is as you feel she isnt a little baby any more. But give yourself some time to think about your feelings about this next stage of babyhood- and maybe look up some longer term breastfeeding pages. It is more like a relationship than a method of feeding at this stage and beyond. Like a form of communication in some ways.

TizzleBizzle · 29/03/2018 22:53

Gosh my DD was 2.5 when she finally weaned!

I hated the thought of faffing with sterilisers and formula so was determined to bf until both were at least a year old. Until 1 they can only have breast milk or formula so why stop sooner than 1 when you can transition straight to cow's milk and a sippy cup?

Also without wanting to antagonise anyone, I'm very proud that my milk was my childrens' main source of nutrition for their first year.

milleniumhandandprawn · 29/03/2018 22:54

I still bf DD who is 18m.
The ONLY person I’ve felt judged by is my own mum. Which is really sad, and now I try not to feed around her.

No one else bats an eyelid tbh

Eatmycheese · 29/03/2018 22:58

I’m breastfeeding my third baby and his two year old sister still.
Nine months is by no means “too old” just sonwhats right for you.

My two year old has a couple of feeds a day sometimes more if she’s a bit under the weather. She’s a remarkably gentle and efficient feeder and I love being able to do this for her.

BertieBotts · 30/03/2018 00:01

WHO recommendations BTW are to feed for 2 years and continue if it feels right for you - so if anyone did judge just know you're doing what's recommended by the top experts in the world!

NHS say "Breastfeeding into your baby's second year or beyond alongside other foods is ideal."

SuperUnicorn · 30/03/2018 12:36

I had my first comment about age from a stranger last week, my baby is 11 months. It did make me uncomfortable, she came back 4 times to ask me how old and comment on it. I was with my mum who fended her off, I think if I had been on my own I would have tried to get a member of staff to ask her to leave me alone (I was at a soft play and bowling place). Up until then the only comments I have had have been positive. I don't know anyone else still feeding, most of the others in our baby groups were formula fed from day 1. None of them have ever commented other than a couple said they wished they had tried harder to bf.

ProperLavs · 30/03/2018 12:42

With my last (of 6) I fed in well into his fourth year. The only person that complained was his father( now my ex). i reckon he was jealous. Everybody else was very positive really. I didn't think twice about it.

Original poster

Mumlife101 · 30/03/2018 15:22

Thank you ladies for the over whelming amount of comments! I have read them all... & it has really made me feel better. Will definitely be BF till 1y at least.. formula seems like such a fuss now for the sake of 3 more months...! Thanks again!

OP posts:

Sashkin · 30/03/2018 16:30

Nine months! How ridiculous to think of switching to formula at that age, she’ll be on solids and dropping feeds soon if she hasn’t already! Complete waste of money buying all the kit for just another couple of weeks.

I’m still feeding DS at one year, but he only feeds overnight now so no more feeding in public. He does feel a bit big for it now he is able to walk over and pull my top up by himself (and I’d rather he didn’t do that, it feels a bit pushy to me! I’m not a bloody vending machine ). But I don’t mind carrying on night feeds for a few more months.

Original poster

Mumlife101 · 30/03/2018 16:45

I wasn't really considering it tbh not for 3 months but I just didn't expect to feel she was getting too big for it just yet! Plus the teeth thing is definitely an aspect for consideration... few times she's chomped down now 😬

OP posts:

Flip

1 2