How old is too old?

[Odd Socks]

after failing to breastfeed my first daugher, i was desperate to breastfeed my second (& got lucky, Lauren's been a dream to feed!) & to breastfeed well past 6 months. i'm so excited about extended breastfeeding, but i feel that if she got to 3 & still wanted to breastfeed, i'd probably gently wean her then.
xx

 

[Ozzieshunni]

They call them milk teeth because in some cultures, they don't stop breastfeeding until they lose them all, around age 7

Only just got to this part but lose them all at seven? My little boy lost his first at seven and my little girl six, they are now almost eight and almost seven and it seems them and most of their friends have lost one or two, at most four. Are you sure it is all and not the first? I am not saying you are wrong just wondering.

I could have been mistaken, but it could be the average age they start to fall out.

 

[mummy2be...]

They call them milk teeth because in some cultures, they don't stop breastfeeding until they lose them all, around age 7

Only just got to this part but lose them all at seven? My little boy lost his first at seven and my little girl six, they are now almost eight and almost seven and it seems them and most of their friends have lost one or two, at most four. Are you sure it is all and not the first? I am not saying you are wrong just wondering.

i was always taught that deciduos teeth are ref to as milk teeth because of the milky appearance compared to second dentition- adult teeth are alot more yellow due to the enamel being thinner and the dentine being yellower

 

[Tasha]

Yeah I think it is probably the average they start falling out. My almost eight year old has lost two and my almost seven year old is just about to lose her third. I remember losing my last as a teenager.

It is interesting how many people see three as a child and not a baby, I think in the grand scheme of things, three is still very young. I wonder if part of the expectations to stop these things is because of the age they go to school now?

 

[aliss]

Yeah I think it is probably the average they start falling out. My almost eight year old has lost two and my almost seven year old is just about to lose her third. I remember losing my last as a teenager.

It is interesting how many people see three as a child and not a baby, I think in the grand scheme of things, three is still very young. I wonder if part of the expectations to stop these things is because of the age they go to school now?

I wonder if that perception changes for many as their children grow. For me, I would have thought 2 was a "child" but now that mine is 2, he is in diapers and can't talk, so ... I don't see him as anything but a baby still!

 

[stepmum]

Yeah I think it is probably the average they start falling out. My almost eight year old has lost two and my almost seven year old is just about to lose her third. I remember losing my last as a teenager.

It is interesting how many people see three as a child and not a baby, I think in the grand scheme of things, three is still very young. I wonder if part of the expectations to stop these things is because of the age they go to school now?

I wonder if that perception changes for many as their children grow. For me, I would have thought 2 was a "child" but now that mine is 2, he is in diapers and can't talk, so ... I don't see him as anything but a baby still!

I think your exactly right I always thought as soon as they reached the age of 1 they instantly become a toddler/child..obviously now I've had a baby I realise that in 3 short months he'll be 1 but very much still a baby and as you say even to the age of 2..still a baby.

 

[Kage76]

the thought of was really confronting to me when i first heard of it- and then i saw a mum who was an extended breast feeder- and you know what- it was the most natural beautiful thing. I dont know if its for me- (if i could have BF in the first place) but i have no issues with it per se

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

i intend to BF Scarlett until 2 and then after that, for as long as we are both happy with doing so. i don't believe there is a set age where it becomes too old. i wouldn't feel that Ruby was too old - but she never did latch on.

 

[Neko]

They call them milk teeth because in some cultures, they don't stop breastfeeding until they lose them all, around age 7

Only just got to this part but lose them all at seven? My little boy lost his first at seven and my little girl six, they are now almost eight and almost seven and it seems them and most of their friends have lost one or two, at most four. Are you sure it is all and not the first? I am not saying you are wrong just wondering.

I could have been mistaken, but it could be the average age they start to fall out.

Average age to lose first teeth is from 4 - 6 1/2. However if you want them to lose all their baby teeth plenty of kids are still holding onto their premolars at 12.


TBH, I do not see three year olds as babies. My son could read books at 3, so I would have felt silly giving him a bottle or breastfeeding him at that age. Once a child is old enough for preschool at 2-3 years, I personally wouldn't give them baby things anymore. But that's my opinion and style of parenting.

I don't even think my daughter is a baby anymore (despite the diapers and bottles). She walks, talks and definitely has an opinion on everything, that's not a baby but a little person. I have hopes of the bottle being gone by 2, but she still loves her baba. If I had been able to breastfeed her I would have until 2, but not after that.

 

[Lauki]

But why is breastfeeding a 'baby' thing? Just genuinly curious?

 

[Frooty]

I bfed in the beginning but i would of never done it til past 1 so IMO yes 3 years old is too old. Kids don't need expensive toys no but i think some simple things are good for their development. The mattress thing i don't get i spose she cant have 2 kids in bed lol

 

[Neko]

But why is breastfeeding a 'baby' thing? Just genuinly curious?

Breastfeeding is necessary when a baby cannot eat food. It's their food source. When a baby becomes a toddler/older infant, they start eating. If the child has no issues, by 2 they would be able to consume their nutritional needs through food.

Developing countries breastfeed longer through need. They do not have the same access to nutritional foods, clean water and as much food as their growing child wants. Of course in those circumstances, it's better to know your child is getting nutrition and liquids.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

But why is breastfeeding a 'baby' thing? Just genuinly curious?

Breastfeeding is necessary when a baby cannot eat food. It's their food source. When a baby becomes a toddler/older infant, they start eating. If the child has no issues, by 2 they would be able to consume their nutritional needs through food.

Developing countries breastfeed longer through need. They do not have the same access to nutritional foods, clean water and as much food as their growing child wants. Of course in those circumstances, it's better to know your child is getting nutrition and liquids.

so would you say that my 3 yr old shouldn't drink cow's milk because she can eat food...

breastmilk has all sorts of amazing benefits that continue past the baby stage, despite the child's diet being 'enough'. plus if a child is going to drink milk, surely it's optimum that it's human milk.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

The reason we think these things is because society has drilled into us that BFing past one is not needed. There are many reasons to continue BFing past one.

 

[Neko]

To me cows milk = food.

There has to be a cut off some point in life for breast milk? I understand that varies greatly from person to person. My opinion is 2. I certainly wouldn't BF my bigger than me 12 year old son.

 

[Blah11]

To me cows milk = food.

There has to be a cut off some point in life for breast milk? I understand that varies greatly from person to person. My opinion is 2. I certainly wouldn't BF my bigger than me 12 year old son.

but human milk isnt? that makes no sense.

 

[stepmum]

I dunno, I kinda see where you both are coming from but if there wasn't some sort of seperation between human milk and cows milk, we would be having breast milk all of our lives, there would be no need for cows milk. I mean extended BF is pretty much divided in opinions but I'm sure most of us would be a bit wierded out with an adult's main source of nutrition being breast milk.

 

[Lauki]

But breastfeeding is so much more than just pure nutrition. What about all the antibodies a child gets through them? What about the hormones that help them sleep?

It's also comfort. And yes there's many ways in which to comfort your child, but we're talking about 3/4/5 year olds here, they are not old and independent.

I don't get the reasoning that human milk is nutrition but isn't food?

 

[Neko]

To me cows milk = food.

There has to be a cut off some point in life for breast milk? I understand that varies greatly from person to person. My opinion is 2. I certainly wouldn't BF my bigger than me 12 year old son.

but human milk isnt? that makes no sense.

I meant food as in the sense of eating solid. Babies shouldn't drink cows milk period unless they are eating solid foods. Regular milk is toddler/child food, not for babies at all. Neither of my kids could tolerate entire cups of regular milk at 12 months, which is why my personal opinion is 2 for BM/formula. By then most kids are on a mainly solid food diet supplemented by milk instead of relying on milk for most of their nutrition. Before 2, plenty of toddlers really rely on bottles/breastfeeding for their nutritional needs.

 

[Lauki]

I dunno, I kinda see where you both are coming from but if there wasn't some sort of seperation between human milk and cows milk, we would be having breast milk all of our lives, there would be no need for cows milk. I mean extended BF is pretty much divided in opinions but I'm sure most of us would be a bit wierded out with an adult's main source of nutrition being breast milk.

But that's surely only because of the sexualization of the breast?
Cow's milk comes from cows boobs (udders).. It needs lots of stuff done to it in order to make it safe for us to buy and drink.

I'd drink human milk if it wasn't such a damn hassle to express!