Breastfeeding Older Children

[miasmommy]

I wouldn't breastfeed my eight year old.

I don't think it is strange for anyone to do so however. I might give it a second thought if I saw it in public, but I've got more serious things to squack over than a wonderful mother and child sharing a beautiful bond.

Also, my child is 19 months. Still nursing twice a day and sometimes in between. Definitely going to make it through the flu season and at least until she is 2 in March. I would like to get pregnant around that time. I would probably keep nursing (if she wants to and I'm up for it) through the first couple months of my pregnancy (as long as I'm healthy and the babe is healthy). When the new baby is born and my milk comes in full throttle again, I will probably allow my oldest to nurse again (in the home) if she wanted to. I would at least pump and give some to her in a cup or mixed with something.

It's healthy in all ways. It's not even close to perverted or indecent. I've said it before, if you have a problem with it the problem is YOU. If you think it is gross, you are making it gross. If you find it inappropriate YOU are inappropriate NOT the mom.

It's natural. It's beautiful. EXTENDED breastfeeding is normal and acceptable. It's what SHOULD be done like it or not. That is your problem, not the mother and child who are only doing what is NATURAL

"Breastfeeding for 2-4 years was the rule in most cultures since the beginning of human time on this planet. Only in the last 100 years or so has breastfeeding been seen as something to be limited. Children nursed into the third year are not overly dependent. On the contrary, they tend to be very secure and thus more independent. They themselves will make the step to stop breastfeeding (with gentle encouragement from the mother), and thus will be secure in their accomplishment." Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC.


Full term breastfeeding (aka Extended breastfeeding)

AGAIN: 99.9% OF WOMEN WHO BREASTFEED THEIR TODDLERS OR OLDER CHILDREN ARE NOT DOING SO IN PUBLIC. THEY ARE IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR THE HOMES OF THEIR FAMILIES. AND EVEN IF THEY WERE, THE LAW IS ON THEIR SIDE NOT THE JERK WHO IS GAWKING!!!! OTHERWISE THE INFANT IS NURSING ON DEMAND ANYWHERE HE OR SHE PLEASES. THE BABY HAS MORE RIGHT TO EAT THAN ANYONE DOES TO BE A JERK

[Nor Cal Wahine]

Ugh. It's shameful and embarrasing to see mothers become so harsh, judgemental and hurtful to other mothers. It's an ugly recurring theme at this board - there seems to be an awful lot of super know-it-all organic earth mommies around here who bully other mothers for not following their own personal style of mothering. This board represents such a small cross-section of the world - so imagine just HOW many women like this that there are out there.

Women should be kind, loving, and supportive to one another - not hyper-competitive, catty, and morally superior. We could benefit so much more from the opinions of each other if we could only first learn how to get along with one another.

One last point to ponder: the next time one of you wonderful perfect mommies sees a woman feeding a baby formula in a bottle, settle your seething disgust for just one moment and consider this: maybe that mother has no breasts with which to feed her child. Consider yourself blessed for having the ability to feed your own child the way you feel is best, and stop taking to task those who maybe don't have the same options. There are more of those mommies out there then you are aware of, and your biting criticisms of bottle-feeders hurt those mothers much more than you could ever imagine.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Wahine

Ugh. It's shameful and embarrasing to see mothers become so harsh, judgemental and hurtful to other mothers. It's an ugly recurring theme at this board - there seems to be an awful lot of super know-it-all organic earth mommies around here who bully other mothers for not following their own personal style of mothering. This board represents such a small cross-section of the world - so imagine just HOW many women like this that there are out there.

Women should be kind, loving, and supportive to one another - not hyper-competitive, catty, and morally superior. We could benefit so much more from the opinions of each other if we could only first learn how to get along with one another.

One last point to ponder: the next time one of you wonderful perfect mommies sees a woman feeding a baby formula in a bottle, settle your seething disgust for just one moment and consider this: maybe that mother has no breasts with which to feed her child. Consider yourself blessed for having the ability to feed your own child the way you feel is best, and stop taking to task those who maybe don't have the same options. There are more of those mommies out there then you are aware of, and your biting criticisms of bottle-feeders hurt those mothers much more than you could ever imagine.

Wonderful, well spoken post.

[Nor Cal Wahine]

Thank you, ajzjmsmom. I'm just consistently mortified by some of the thoughtless and hurtful posts that come from some of the grown women at this board, particularly on the breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding subject. It's shocking to see how far some women will go in pushing their agenda off on others.

[checking out]

Is it okay if you're in your 40s and she's not your mother??

[yodi]

I agree with this part of your post.

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Wahine

Women should be kind, loving, and supportive to one another - not hyper-competitive, catty, and morally superior. We could benefit so much more from the opinions of each other if we could only first learn how to get along with one another.

The judgement is coming from both sides of the debate and I don't understand how you can't see that. People called the woman who was breastfeeding her 8 year old, disgusting and compared her to a child molester, etc. The people who were defending this women's right to breastfeed happen to be those "organic earth mommas" that you speak of and who you also refer to as bullies. I don't know how you can talk about not being judgemental in one sentence and in the next judge a whole group of women so harshly? People on both sides of the debate passed judgement. It definitely was not one sided.

[Nor Cal Wahine]

Originally Posted by yodi

I agree with this part of your post.



The judgement is coming from both sides of the debate and I don't understand how you can't see that. People called the woman who was breastfeeding her 8 year old, disgusting and compared her to a child molester, etc. The people who were defending this women's right to breastfeed happen to be those "organic earth mommas" that you speak of and who you also refer to as bullies. I don't know how you can talk about not being judgemental in one sentence and in the next judge a whole group of women so harshly? People on both sides of the debate passed judgement. It definitely was not one sided.

My comment about "organic earth mommies" was certainly not intended toward any individual person here but if you are offended by it I assume it's because you identify with it. I also never called anyone a bully. I used the term as bullying, which is an act, and not name-calling label. There is a difference, and it's dishonest to twist words like that.

I am as mortified as most here when it comes to the personal comments like "creepy", "disgusting" etc. used in description of the subject of this thread. I am equally disturbed on the other hand by some of the anti-anything-but-breastfeeding comments made here, too. I read every post in this thread in fact, and in the end all I see is women sniping at each other over differences in nurturing style. No acceptance, no understanding, no consideration for the individual needs of others ... just sniping.

[scarmig]

Originally Posted by checking out

Is it okay if you're in your 40s and she's not your mother??

That reminds me of this one night in New York...

[checking out]

Originally Posted by scarmig

That reminds me of this one night in New York...

Please share!!!