Extended Breastfeeding - what do you really think?!

[Pippi Longstocking]

The other thread on extended breastfeeding made me wonder what people really think of extended breastfeeding. Do you think it is fantastic? Do you think it's abusive? Are you somewhere in between?
Poll coming....

[nemosmum]

hmmm I think ive opened a can of worms with my candid thread:o :laughing:

I used to think bfing past 12mths was weird my motto was if it can walk and talk its a no no

Then I started to think well maybe up until two is fine

BUT now I think self weaning is fab! and if you can do it past 3 or 4 yrs of age :yelclap: well done!

[stellarella]

Well it kinda goes without saying that I think its great! :yes:

I watched that gorgeous video of the mother BFing her 8 year old daughter and I didn't bat an eyelid. It was touching, beautiful and totally natural.

[Pippi Longstocking]

hmmm I think ive opened a can of worms with my candid thread:o :laughing:



Heh, maybe! :p Nah, I just wanted to see people's perceptions via a poll - people tend to be more honest that way because they can vote anonymously.

[forbetoel]

I chose that feeding a toddler is o.k, but I wouldn't do it.

[hayleysmummy]

I chose other I think feeding a toddler is fine I dont see it as abusive or at all sexual but to me over 3 is not my thing BUT in saying that what others do with their children is only their business and I would never critisize (I do think the movie of the mum with her 8 yr old was a bit yuk) mums for going beyond that age whatever suites the mum and bub I guess :yes:

[workin'mumof2]

Im a FF mum (not my choice) my self but i love the fact that some mums go past 6months, 1 year, 18months ect i think it would be the best bond to have with your child. Personaly i set myself a goal with my next child to be a BF mum. You dont see it often enough in public as some people think they look at them strange. I personaly find it amazing what some mums do. And say go for it if you and baby are happy to do it. :yelclap:

[demeter]

I don't like the term "extended" BF because it suggests it's BFing more than necessary. I prefer the term "child led BF" or child led weaning", that way the amount of time is irrelevant, it's about that particular individual child and her or his needs, which is what I see BFing being all about :)

[studyingECS]

I am pretty uneducated on the topic of extended breastfeeding so I dont have much of an oppinion.

[*babygirl*]

i am a ff mum now... unfortunately not by choice... and i would love to breastfeed till my bubba was two... i think that goung past 4 is a bit odd... and it kind of disturbs me because that is nearly school-age. and the 8year old story did freak me out and ill admitt i did think it was wrong because my brother and sister are 8 and i cannot imagine it being right to breastfeed them... but i think anything up to 3/4 is beautiful:yes:

[Pippi Longstocking]

I don't like the term "extended" BF because it suggests it's BFing more than necessary. I prefer the term "child led BF" or child led weaning", that way the amount of time is irrelevant, it's about that particular individual child and her or his needs, which is what I see BFing being all about :)

Oh, I agree completely! I used extended breastfeeding because it was a follow-on from the other thread. I agree that the word "extended" makes it sound as though it is somehow abnormal.

[Mamaduke]

I wouldn't go as far as to say it abusive but it's definitely not for me.

Watching the youtube video with the 8y/o breastfeeding did cause a lip curl in me to rival Elvis Presley's.
I think that at that age, it's more of a need for wanting to feel needed for the mother than the health and comfort of the child.

[Noah_and_Elijah]

I clicked 'other'

I weaned DS at 6 weeks because I wanted to, no other reason than that and I am happy with my decision to do so.

I support extended breastfeeding all the way and praise those who do so, each to their own.

[Pippi Longstocking]

i ill admitt i did think it was wrong because my brother and sister are 8 and i cannot imagine it being right to breastfeed them... but i think anything up to 3/4 is beautiful:yes:

I can't imagine breastfeeding my brothers or sisters either! You are right, that would be strange. ;)

[Kittylou]

I said it's ok but not for me. I used to think anything over 12 months was a bit much but my attitude has changed a lot. My sister is still bfing her 15 month old, which I know is not that old but people still question it, and I'm the first to jump to her defence when anyone says anything negative about it. I failed at bfing my first but plan to try again this time but, while I'm determined to succeed, I just can't see myself going past the 12 month mark (if I can even make it that far). Who knows?? Maybe that will change once I'm actually doing it, but for now and probably because of the horrible memories of last time, it's something that I view as a bit of a chore - necessary but I don't expect to enjoy it.

[Pippi Longstocking]

Watching the youtube video with the 8y/o breastfeeding did cause a lip curl in me to rival Elvis Presley's.
I think that at that age, it's more of a need for wanting to feel needed for the mother than the health and comfort of the child.

You cannot force a child to breastfeed. Clearly the child had a need or she wouldn't have been feeding.

[stellarella]

Even as a teeny baby if my son didnt want boob he wouldnt take it.

That mum BFing an 8yr old also had a 5 yr old who had weaned earlier.

2 different children, 2 different sets of needs.

BFing is only enjoyable if your child enjoys it. The whole lovely aspect of BFing is that your child loves it so much. If my son wanted to wean and didnt enjoy it anymore neither would I. :)

[Mamaduke]

You cannot force a child to breastfeed. Clearly the child had a need or she wouldn't have been feeding.
Okay, we're obviously going to have to agree to disagree with this topic (imagine that!:rolleyes: ) but I thought that a lot of the carry on about her Mum's boob was for the cameras or because she had an audience - it was a game to her.

[studyingECS]

Clearly the child had a need or she wouldn't have been feeding.

correct if i am wrong cause i dont know much about this topic, but she might want it but not need it?

[Pippi Longstocking]

correct if i am wrong cause i dont know much about this topic, but she might want it but not need it?

She could most likely be completely healthy without it. I doubt at 8 that she would be completely nutritionally dependant on it. But an emotional need is entirely different. She may have needed that bond and closeness with her mum.

[stellarella]

Emotional needs, physical needs, nutritional needs.....they are all met by BFing...

Perhaps the nutritional need is less (although BM still has health benefits even for adults) but the emotional needs might be more than ever. :yes:

[studyingECS]

I agree, I just went off the 4 minute video i saw and it looked like MD said it was a game to her IYKWIM, although 4 minutes of a persons life definetly doesnt show much.

[hayleysmummy]

I agree that the 8 year old didnt need to be breastfed she 'wanted' it
IMO bond has nothing to do with it at that age I wasnt bf til 8 and I have an extremely close bond with my mother

[*babygirl*]

but yeah i dont think i could imagine myself sitting next to my mum breastfeeing a twin of each side without being horrified.
but thats just me.

i think at 8 it is definately more emotional

[reAllytee]

I think its gret to see extended b/f mums out & about not sure whether i will/can do it in the long run due to my issues but im hoping to make it part of the way !

I can see both sides of the coin due to my issues & can understand why some find it 'weird' or the likes but i think thats also due to society not accepting it as standard. Which then means that when it gets talked about or seen we freak out due to our mindset.

[misskittyfantastico]

I applaud the practice of extended breastfeeding. I truly believe that a child WILL wean when they are ready. Some kiddies are ready earlier than others.

I do understand that many people feel uncomfortable with the idea and practice, but I really believe that that's an indication of our society's feelings toward breastfeeding in general.

[draught]

This thread is closed for cleaning.