*** Spin off *** when should a child no longer be BF

[rainbow road]

Oh FFS.

There's only one answer to this question - a child should no longer be breastfed when both mum and/or bub are no longer comfortable with the breasfeeding relationship.

Fact:

- Children will not be breastfeeding in high school, at their wedding or while breastfeeding their own children
- Breastfeeding is not akin to eating poo or wee - other primates breastfeed because breastmilk is the best food for a little animal. Cow's breastmilk is best for calves, gorilla breastmilk is best for little gorillas, human breastmilk is best for little humans.
- A breastfeeding relationship will end naturally if early weaning doesn't occur in it's own course as that is what the body is designed to do (milk teeth are lost, sucking/breathing reflex goes).
- It's no one's business how long someone else does or doesn't breastfed for, as long as the child is being fed, clothed, sheltered and loved appropriately.

The end.

[Boobycino]

^^^ what she said

[Loveabug]

Sorry but has anyone on here actually BF a 7 year old. I only ask because we are all arguing back and forth and I was also wondering how the child would feel. Especially if at school there peers found out. Children can be cruel to each other. Has anyone thought about the effects on the children socially there are so many arguments about how breast milk is so good. But there other issues that need to be taken into consideration for the SCHOOL AGE child. And yes it is because it's not the norm I understand this and other peoples opinions and BF or FF will always be debated everyone just needs to agree to disagree.

[Loveabug]

Sonja I wasn't aiming my general comment at you sorry I just know how hard it would have been to feel the way you did with your child. I don't normally join in on these BF debates as we all have different OP and it doesn't matter which side you are on people always judge you for your choices in these matters. And they usually don't end well people start to get nasty.

[WorkingClassMum]

Sorry but has anyone on here actually BF a 7 year old. I only ask because we are all arguing back and forth and I was also wondering how the child would feel. Especially if at school there peers found out. Children can be cruel to each other. Has anyone thought about the effects on the children socially there are so many arguments about how breast milk is so good. But there other issues that need to be taken into consideration for the SCHOOL AGE child.

Kids are savvy - kids are not going to say to their friends "Hey, I still b.feed", a 7yo will only be b.fed at home anyhow, so how are their friends going to know?

That being said, being at school will be one of the factors that will cause/encourage a child to wean.

[Benji]

I've known mothers who have fed until after 5 yo, school aged children. They were bf just before bed. Their friends would have been none the wiser. And I must admit, I don't think my DS would think anything of his friends being breastfed TBH.

[Renesme]

Umm sorry but children don't understand so unless told not to tell their friends they are breastfeeding they will if it comes out in conversation. I agree with what Rainbow road and what lovebug have said.

I think it comes down to personal choice and what does it matter to anyone else? Some people are acting as if breastfeeding your child past 2 is abusing them lol.

[Bellaxo]

I think it should be when the child weans off or mum is ready to stop - no two mothers are the same, its different for everyone

I remember a thread quite some time ago where several members kept saying formula was poison and ffing mums just simply didn't try as hard as they did, that's why they succeeded. That one went on for about 36 hours before it got closed and got me my one and only warning in the 5 years I've been there

I actually think ff'ers and extended bfers equally cop it. You sit outside the 'feed for only 12 months' box and it seems you're fair game.... and it's really sad.

So glad I didn't see that thread! DD is formula fed, and at 21 months STILL has a bottle in the morning and before bed *gasp!* we have copped so much crap over it, but we don't drink cows milk, neither does she. I think DD is getting far more nutrients from her ffing than if she had a glass of milk. Some days she's a picky eater too, so its nice to know she's getting vitamins and whatnot - but in the hospital DD was under the billy lights and needed formula on day 3 until day 6 of her life and my milk NEVER came in, I tried expressing for weeks but could never get more than 5ml. I was devastated- especially since when we would go get formula, the chemist people would lecture about how breast is best. Next bub if I can successfully bf I'll do it until they wean, or until I reach a point where I can't do it anymore.

How about every mother does what a right for HER and HER child. And everyone else just stfu!


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[waterlily]

Oh FFS.

There's only one answer to this question - a child should no longer be breastfed when both mum and/or bub are no longer comfortable with the breasfeeding relationship.

Fact:

- Children will not be breastfeeding in high school, at their wedding or while breastfeeding their own children
- Breastfeeding is not akin to eating poo or wee - other primates breastfeed because breastmilk is the best food for a little animal. Cow's breastmilk is best for calves, gorilla breastmilk is best for little gorillas, human breastmilk is best for little humans.
- A breastfeeding relationship will end naturally if early weaning doesn't occur in it's own course as that is what the body is designed to do (milk teeth are lost, sucking/breathing reflex goes).
- It's no one's business how long someone else does or doesn't breastfed for, as long as the child is being fed, clothed, sheltered and loved appropriately.

The end.

:iageee:

[decemberbubba]

Spin off from the Time mag thread.

So, by what age do you personally think a child should no longer be breastfed.

I always said I would never breastfeed once they had teeth but then once I started I was just going to keep going and going, unfortunately I couldn't so I never had to really think about weaning. But with all this latest discussion, it got me thinking, how old is too old???

For me I think 2.5 - 3 is going to be enough. We'll take it as it comes though. I really don't mind how long anyone else feeds their child for, so I'm not going to make a general comment on how old is too old. I think anyone who goes past 3 is doing an awesome job though - it can be a big sacrifce having to share your body sometimes.

DS is 16 months, and feeding him now is really no different to feeding him at 12 months - he was walking then and is walking now, he wasn't talking then and still isn't talking now. So I'm not sure what the relevance of walking and talking is, as some people think that's when they shouldn't be bfing anymore. He needs to be drinking something, my BM is better for him than cow's milk, and I wouldn't bother buying toddler formula when I have free milk in my boobies