It doesn't make it bad that it's for comfort, I just think by 4 a child needs to be able to be comforted by a variety of ways, not just BFing. If my LO cries now, I don't immediately feed him. I'll pick him up for a cuddle and hopefully that will calm him down. I don't see why a 4 year old needs to be BFed in public
But that's not saying it's bad or wrong! If you as the parent and your child are happy with it, then who am I to judge? But we were asked for opinions so I gave one
After watching previous programmes on the subject I sometimes think it's more the mum that doesn't want to give up, like an emotional attachment. There's no extra health benefits for or against extended bf for the child in my opinion. I personally wouldn't do it with my child but it's not my child to make a judgement on. There's far worse things going on in the world than wanting to be emotionally attached to your 4 yr old.
Stories today in the news: 2 yr old left on it's own (asleep watching cartoons?!?!) while mum 'nips' to the bank.
Pregnant woman caught driving twice over the d drive limit.
Mum drunk in charge of 2 kids under 7yrs .. Cocaine found in system.
Far more worrying stories IMO!!
After watching previous programmes on the subject I sometimes think it's more the mum that doesn't want to give up, like an emotional attachment. There's no extra health benefits for or against extended bf for the child in my opinion. I personally wouldn't do it with my child but it's not my child to make a judgement on. There's far worse things going on in the world than wanting to be emotionally attached to your 4 yr old.
Stories today in the news: 2 yr old left on it's own (asleep watching cartoons?!?!) while mum 'nips' to the bank.
Pregnant woman caught driving twice over the d drive limit.
Mum drunk in charge of 2 kids under 7yrs .. Cocaine found in system.
Far more worrying stories IMO!!
It doesn't make it bad that it's for comfort, I just think by 4 a child needs to be able to be comforted by a variety of ways, not just BFing. If my LO cries now, I don't immediately feed him. I'll pick him up for a cuddle and hopefully that will calm him down. I don't see why a 4 year old needs to be BFed in public
But that's not saying it's bad or wrong! If you as the parent and your child are happy with it, then who am I to judge? But we were asked for opinions so I gave one
I'm sure the child CAN be comforted in a number of ways though. I'm sure she doesn't need to be fed in public either. But even so, so what. Why does it matter that it's not needed? Just interested, not picking on you because most people do seem to share your views.
it's no fun if we all share the same opinion!
It doesn't make it bad that it's for comfort, I just think by 4 a child needs to be able to be comforted by a variety of ways, not just BFing. If my LO cries now, I don't immediately feed him. I'll pick him up for a cuddle and hopefully that will calm him down. I don't see why a 4 year old needs to be BFed in public
But that's not saying it's bad or wrong! If you as the parent and your child are happy with it, then who am I to judge? But we were asked for opinions so I gave one
I'm sure the child CAN be comforted in a number of ways though. I'm sure she doesn't need to be fed in public either. But even so, so what. Why does it matter that it's not needed? Just interested, not picking on you because most people do seem to share your views.
No worries
My thoughts are a bit jumbled on this, so apologies in advance.
I suppose my biggest feeling is that a child should have a more substantial relationship with their mother than just BFing. That's not to say that BFing relationships with older children aren't healthy or that they're detrimental, it's just that I'd like my son to be comforted by me, not my breasts, by the time he's 2/3. I think a morning/nap/bedtime feed are fine for as long as they continue, but I think the nursing because the child is scared/angry/injured should have been grown out of by then. If you compare it to dummy use (which I know isn't anything like the same, but fulfills a similar 'comfort' role) I would also expect a child of 2+ to be weaned, as sucking for comfort is for babies who have a suck reflex, not older toddlers and children.
There's also a feeling for me with an older child (school age) that perhaps it's not fair on them to still be BFing. If their friends knew, they'd probably be ridiculed, and I think the child should be weaned before their memories are formed. Old enough to remember the nice feeling associated with BFing, no so old they can remember doing it in the local park.
Does that make sense? Feel free to disagree!
I suppose my honest answer is 'because I'm conditioned by the society I live in'. But in that case I should be FFing, using a pushchair and disposable nappies, so I think there is a bit more to my opinion than just societal norms. Seeing my SIL bf her 2.5 year old has basically shown me that's not what I want to be doing. She was getting 'fed' more often than my then 7 month old. I just felt she was subsitituting BFing for cuddles, and that didn't sit right with me
But, as you say, each to their own!
It doesn't make it bad that it's for comfort, I just think by 4 a child needs to be able to be comforted by a variety of ways, not just BFing. If my LO cries now, I don't immediately feed him. I'll pick him up for a cuddle and hopefully that will calm him down. I don't see why a 4 year old needs to be BFed in public
But that's not saying it's bad or wrong! If you as the parent and your child are happy with it, then who am I to judge? But we were asked for opinions so I gave one
I'm sure the child CAN be comforted in a number of ways though. I'm sure she doesn't need to be fed in public either. But even so, so what. Why does it matter that it's not needed? Just interested, not picking on you because most people do seem to share your views.
No worries
My thoughts are a bit jumbled on this, so apologies in advance.
I suppose my biggest feeling is that a child should have a more substantial relationship with their mother than just BFing. That's not to say that BFing relationships with older children aren't healthy or that they're detrimental, it's just that I'd like my son to be comforted by me, not my breasts, by the time he's 2/3. I think a morning/nap/bedtime feed are fine for as long as they continue, but I think the nursing because the child is scared/angry/injured should have been grown out of by then. If you compare it to dummy use (which I know isn't anything like the same, but fulfills a similar 'comfort' role) I would also expect a child of 2+ to be weaned, as sucking for comfort is for babies who have a suck reflex, not older toddlers and children.
There's also a feeling for me with an older child (school age) that perhaps it's not fair on them to still be BFing. If their friends knew, they'd probably be ridiculed, and I think the child should be weaned before their memories are formed. Old enough to remember the nice feeling associated with BFing, no so old they can remember doing it in the local park.
Does that make sense? Feel free to disagree!
I suppose my honest answer is 'because I'm conditioned by the society I live in'. But in that case I should be FFing, using a pushchair and disposable nappies, so I think there is a bit more to my opinion than just societal norms. Seeing my SIL bf her 2.5 year old has basically shown me that's not what I want to be doing. She was getting 'fed' more often than my then 7 month old. I just felt she was subsitituting BFing for cuddles, and that didn't sit right with me
But, as you say, each to their own!
You might change your mind when you get there. I didnt imagine I'd EVER feed a baby this long but hey ho, here I am. There isnt an age when a switch goes and the baby automatically becomes too old for BF. I just plan on going until Amelie is ready to stop. I don't offer it but if she asks, I give her.
