Thoughts on this....??

[mummy2be...]

*I do not want this to turn into a bitching thread- just opinions*

I've just spoken to a friend if mine who still regularly breastfeeds her 4 year old When he requests it. Anyway- yesterday she was doing this in public and a lady told her off because he is not a baby anymore and told her she was disgusting and ought to be ashamed of herself.

Does the lady have a point or is Breastfeeding a 4 year old acceptable? I FF so I don't know much about Breastfeeding. My friend is really upset by it, bless her.

Thoughts .......

 

[going_crazy]

Oh no...... Here we go.....

 

[vhal_x]

This is gonna end badly xx

ETA: I wouldn't BF till that age, I planned on BF until 6 months-1 year, but it wasn't possible, so I FF now, but if I had been BFing, the max. I'd go to is a year, but that's just my opinion on it.

I wouldn't look down on anyone who breastfed longer though, although when it gets to the point that the child should be independent, such as the 14 year old boy I once read about in a newspaper, than IMO is pretty wrong, purely as by then breasts are seen as sexual (especially by boys) and the poor boy would no doubt be ridiculed at school

Sorry to start the post stating that it will end badly, but 99% of these threads, even when started purely for opinion, no nastiness, do tend to go down that route, so good luck, I hope this thread stays clean xx

 

[ProudArmyWife]

I think its a little weird but to each their own. If thats what she chooses for her child then thats her perrogative. Imo I def think the woman who told her off was out of line.

 

[tootyfruity]

I don't think there was any need for the lady to have a go at her!!! personally i wouldn't breastfeed a 4 yr old n public but i certainly wouldn't have a go at someone for it.
Some 'old people' have a different view on breastfeeding for some reason, she was out of order, i feel sorry for your friend!!! xxx

 

[Rockell8788]

Erm hard to say really. The average for weaning worldwide is 4. Personally the idea of still breastfeeding my son at 4 creeps me out and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it, i dont know why it just does. Possibly as iv got a 4 year old and shes so adult like. Iv decided to start weaning at 18months 2 years at the most

I do feel sorry for your friend the lady should have kept her opinions to herself. The old saying of got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all

 

[CarlyP]

I FF my LO, her brother is 4 and he only drinks cows milk, in my opinion I don't see any need for breast milk or formula milk at his age, he has a good balanced diet but that is my situation.

Its not right for that woman to have a go at her.

 

[mummy2be...]

I don't think there was any need for the lady to have a go at her!!! personally i wouldn't breastfeed a 4 yr old n public but i certainly wouldn't have a go at someone for it.
Some 'old people' have a different view on breastfeeding for some reason, she was out of order, i feel sorry for your friend!!! xxx

I feel sorry for her, she was in tears When she told me about it, then asked what my opinion was....I'm with you, I personally wouldn't- but I don't know much about BF- she always talks about the amazing bond she has with her son because if it, I think that's why she might be a bit apprehensive to stop maybe?

 

[KatieB]

There's no need for it to end bitchy if we all remain civil... Anyway, I think it's disgusting that this woman said this to your friend, I'd have gone bonkers! It's up to each mum and child when bf stops IMO, I'm sick of hearing about interfering people being so judgmental when it comes to how we choose to raise our children xx

 

[3011busyyear]

Hmm i'm not sure really. Tbh it depends why he is still bf, i guess at 4years old it's a comfort thing, personally i would be workingn on building independance and comfort from other things at that age.
But then again i desperatley wanted to bf but LO just never latched at all, so the way i see it is she's giving her 4year old healthy nutritional goodness and that is not can't be a bad thing. Many people posted yesterday about it being no harm that a 20month old was having the odd macdonalds- which i sort of agree with, but then i'm not going to support feeding macdonalds but then criticise someone bf a child, i would feel hypocritical.

Her child will grown out of it, and it sounds like it's only occasionally already so i'd not worry about it x

 

[mummy2be...]

There's no need for it to end bitchy if we all remain civil... Anyway, I think it's disgusting that this woman said this to your friend, I'd have gone bonkers! It's up to each mum and child when bf stops IMO, I'm sick of hearing about interfering people being so judgmental when it comes to how we choose to raise our children xx

Well said X

 

[Faffalina]

Your friend did nothing wrong, of course.

The woman who had a go ought to be ashamed, surely there are people more deserving of a telling-off than a breastfeeding mum.

 

[Natsku]

Nothing wrong with breastfeeding a 4yr old. And kudos to your friend for not being afraid to do it in public - if more extended breastfeeders fed in public then people would begin to not view it as so weird.

 

[Bartness]

I dont think this lady had any right to say anthing to your friend. If it had been me seeing your friend I'd be uncomfortable and leave, not say anything.

That being said. I wouldnt give Jaxon a bottle in public at 1 year old (I formula feed), so I wouldnt bf in public after age 1 either. I think a sippy cup of water or juice should work fine when in public.

 

[special_kala]

I wouldnt breast feed at 4 but what that woman said to your friend was horrible

 

[Blah11]

I dont see anything wrong with it and no, that woman doesn't have any right to tell another what to do with her body and her child. None of her business.

I would BF amelie in public if she asked.

 

[milf2be]

the woman had no right to criticize, she should be the one who is ashamed of herself!

compared to the rest of europe, we in the UK stop breastfeeding very early. its our views that are backward and wrong, really, not 'extended' breastfeeding.

like someone else said, she is giving her child something that is good for him in so many ways, who are we to criticize?

 

[cherryglitter]

honestly, yes i would find it strange. but there is no way on this earth i would ever say anything!
ever!
it's none of my business.

 

[Blah11]

& Ive said it time and time again in these sort of threads, how can someone find it weird for a child to drink human breastmilk but its perfectly fine to drink breastmilk from a COW?!

 

[sapphire1]

I personally wouldn't BF a 4 year old, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. I do think it's wrong to BF a 13 year old though - I remember a thread about that a while back.

That old woman should have minded her own business, it's got nothing to do with her. I feel sorry for your friend, but she must realise that BFing a 4 year old in public is going to attract some attention - simply because it's not the norm here.