Breastfeeding at 2?

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

I hope I didn't offend anyone, it wasn't my intention, the only reason I was surprised is that no one in my life with kids still breastfed after a year or so and when I mentioned it to those with kids, they thought it was a little strange. Maybe it's a regional thing, I never thought of that.

Thank you for your opinions.

I don't think you offended anyone. I think whomever initially pointed out the before / after effect of having kids & having nursed on the whole comfort level w/it was spot on. I admit that I started to feel akward when my friend was nursing her (very verbal) son well past 3 (for some reason the more verbal they are makes them seem so much older), but I never, ever would have said a thing.

[Deebs]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

I don't think there's anything wrong with breastfeeding into toddlerhood, but I also don't think it's unusual that you would think it is strange. In the US, we can't show a nipple on television. Our country is, on the whole, prude, and treats breasts as sexual objects, not the source of nutrition.

Last week, we had long-time friends come stay with us - a mom, dad, and three sons. Every time I nursed my 4-month old, I felt awkward because of their reaction. The husband (whom I have known over 10 years and had no idea he would react like this) wouldn't come take a remote control out of my hands while I was nursing, and the wife kept making comments about how inconvenient it is and that this is why she didn't breastfeed.

Most of our friends who are pediatricians will admit that they had way more education during residency regarding formula feeding than breastfeeding. At my last job, I worked alongside lactation consultants, and learned a ton from them, including the fact that most people have very strong feelings about breastfeeding, based on how and where they were raised, and personal experiences, not the facts of benefits to both mom and baby.

Okay, I think I've diverted onto a bit of a rant - sorry. Long and short - I don't think you're any different from many, many people thinking that two is old to be breastfeeding. And, I don't think you should feel bad for bringing up the topic - this is a safe environment to bring up these discussions and questions.

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

ITA with Davita. DD was BFed until 27 months and DD2 until 18 months. When I was PG with DD1, I imagined myself BFing until the token "one year" but things change as you get to know your kids and their needs. I just nurse until they decide to wean themselves.

[Sheherezade]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

Both my kids breastfed until 18+ months, but were weaned completely around two years. The first was easier to wean because I was preggers and he just....quit. I believe the old wives tale that the milk tastes "funny" as you advance in pregnancy. Maybe that's how kids were weaned naturally in days of yore? Mom got pregnant again when the fertility kicked back in? (Total theory! )

I don't see anything off about nursing a child approaching two. In the East Coast cities we inhabited during our children's baby years, it was the norm. Around here, I can't imagine seing it regularly at the park. I'd probably get a whole lot of . I'd buy that there are regional differences.

Interestingly, with baby #1, I was much more concerned about nursing "too long" and started to taper off our nursing schedule around 15 mos. He became critically ill at 17 mos. and during his month long hospitalization the pediatricians strongly encouraged me to increase nursing as much as possible to get his fluid intake up. We probably nursed more then than when he was an infant because he was weak and feverish....and it was doctor's orders. After he was discharged, we continued the nursing while he recovered and I lost all concern about "what people thought". Sometimes it is good to have the doctors back you up.

[Momo]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

Oh you should! You are such a natural cheerleader!

[Phoebe]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

I had heard of people breastfeeding until much later, but I have never seen anyone doing it. I believe it is a personal choice. We had friends whose daughter wouldn't ween and was about two. We were at a wedding and she kept going up to her mommy saying "boobie in the car". We all got a kick out of it. The mom included.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

I don't know about the right age to stop breastfeeding in Western culture, but I definitely have an opinion as to the fine motor skills stage that requires a halt to it: Stop breastfeeding if the child can unbutton your blouse and unhook your front-snap bra. I don't care how open-minded, La Leche, mom-power, yea!-boobs you are: it is just weird to see a toddler do this on a public bus in downtown Manhattan, and demand (using WHOLE sentences--subject, predicate, verb, and inflection!) to be fed. Seriously.

[MamaChristie]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

It's strange, while pregnant with Ben I thought breastfeeding was a great idea and so healthy for him, I knew I wanted to do it. And then when I had him, those first few months were one big long marathon session for me. It was SO hard to breastfeed him, he wanted to nurse literally ALL the time and I really struggled with issue after issue (and a nosey, insistent MIL who drove me batty). I swore that when/if we made it to 12 months, I was Done with a capital D. Then we went through even more trials and colickiness and all sorts of other things... and got to about 11 1/2 months and things changed. It got SO much easier and we really fell into a rhythm. At 12 months I cried thinking we were done, so I decided to continue. We're at 17 months now and my son is seeming to self-wean, and I'm sad. I want to get to 2 years.

My perspective has changed with every step of the way. Everyone else has said it well- don't feel bad for thinking the way you are, it's not out of the ordinary. But also take into consideration the benefits of nursing kids past a year. It's a bit taboo I think to say anything to anyone, but trust me- plenty of people still do. A look or a comment can really hurt someone who has chosen to breastfeed their kids longer- encouragement does much more good.

Now the McDonald's on the other hand.... hm.... :|

[Cumberland]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

We just moved from an extremely conservative place where at a playgroup of just moms, moms would go into another room to nurse, and nursing past six months was unusual. In the week and a half I have been in our new city I have seen full on boob in public twice. The regional differences are interesting.

[migirl]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

We just moved from an extremely conservative place where at a playgroup of just moms, moms would go into another room to nurse

Wow! I'm pretty sure at this point my friends and I have all seen each others' breasts.

In the week and a half I have been in our new city I have seen full on boob in public twice.

Uh ... That's funny!

[MamaChristie]

Re: Breastfeeding at 2?

Shoot Cassy, I just hit "ignore" on facebook as I thought it was yet another advertisement (I belong to waaayyy too many groups on there). Sorry! Will you add me again please?

I'm really quite sad about Ben self-weaning, it's bittersweet. On the upside, I love mojitos and welcome to chance to have a few before we get pregnant again. But... I just treasure that time with Ben right now and it's the only time he really sits still and is calm and happy. I wanted it to be his constant, his source of security though the beginning of residency and our moving. I'll have to see what happens in the next few days and go from there. I decided I'm not going to pump or go all out anymore, if he wants to wean it's okay.

Wow, sorry I got off topic here... back to the grindstone!