Three years!

[littlestar85]

I barely come on here anymore but got a bit nostalgic on my son's birthday lol so browsed lots of threads and it really took me back to the early days when breastfeeding was the HARDEST thing in the world...

... and here we are 3 years on still going strong!

To anyone who's struggling... it is possible! Hang on in there, it does get easier

 

[dizzy65]

congrats! thats such a awesome mile stone to reach

 

[Tacey]

Yay! Congratulations!

 

[cat_reversing]

that's great to hear. so many people seem to stop early, imo, everyone has asked me when i'm going to put lo on cow's milk, but why do I have to if I produce milk just for her?! not sure how long we'll continue, as long as she wants, we'll take it as it comes.

 

[lily28]

Yay congrats on 3 years! I really hope I can make it that far!

 

[kerrie24]

Well done!

 

[mdjoy]

no offense but the t hough of grown children drinking milk from a breast is just disturbing.. breast milk, like formula is there to provide nutrition to infants since they cannot eat nor digest solid foods until a certain age..not for kids who can eat and get nutrition from food.. to think of a grown 4 ir 5 year old sucking on his or her moms boob for milk is very odd.. and the poor child when they start school crying for there mothers breast is even more disturbing.. this takes the phrase "get ur kid off ur breast already" to a whole other level!!

 

[Tacey]

no offense but the t hough of grown children drinking milk from a breast is just disturbing.. breast milk, like formula is there to provide nutrition to infants since they cannot eat nor digest solid foods until a certain age..not for kids who can eat and get nutrition from food.. to think of a grown 4 ir 5 year old sucking on his or her moms boob for milk is very odd.. and the poor child when they start school crying for there mothers breast is even more disturbing.. this takes the phrase "get ur kid off ur breast already" to a whole other level!!

Saying 'no offense' does not make this any less offensive. It may well be odd to you, but it's pretty arrogant to suggest that your view is the only right one. Incidentally, my nursling is 4 now, and certainly doesn't 'cry' for my breast! The benefits of full term nursing are myriad, and if you want to be open minded enough to investigate it, I'd really encourage you to look into it. Unfortunately "EWW!" is not really a great argument in your favour.

I find it really quite astounding that you'd come on here to post an inflammatory comment when the OP is celebrating something important to her. What do you hope to gain by it? As my mother would say, if you can't think of anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

 

[Super G]

Well done littlestar85 on your precious 3 year breastfeeding journey! Totally awesome. You should feel proud. I can relate as I can't quite believe that we've been going as long as we have, but I'm so so glad. There's something very special about breastfeeding and the path it takes.

no offense but the t hough of grown children drinking milk from a breast is just disturbing.. breast milk, like formula is there to provide nutrition to infants since they cannot eat nor digest solid foods until a certain age..not for kids who can eat and get nutrition from food.. to think of a grown 4 ir 5 year old sucking on his or her moms boob for milk is very odd.. and the poor child when they start school crying for there mothers breast is even more disturbing.. this takes the phrase "get ur kid off ur breast already" to a whole other level!!

I've wanted to reply to this comment for a while, but it left me a bit speechless. Firstly, I think it's unkind to post this in response to the original poster celebrating her breastfeeding journey. Secondly I think it's very ignorant of the benefits of longer term breastfeeding and offensively worded.

You may not want to or see the need for breastfeeding past a certain age, but there are many benefits to doing so. Breastfeeding is about more than just delivering nutrition. It represents comfort, calm and safety to a child. It's medicine when they are ill. It's perfectly normal and natural for a mother and child. Please think a little more before putting forward an opinion that quite frankly is just rude.

 

[lily28]

to think of a grown 4 ir 5 year old sucking on his or her moms boob for milk is very odd..

It is odd to the eyes of western (and may I add puritan) societies the last 40 years.
All around the rest of the world (which is billions of people) they keep nursing as long as a child needs it, and before the formula almost all children were breast fed until early childhood for millenia.

So the really odd in terms of population around the earth, and history are the babies who are weaned early.

According to research a natural age of weaning is between 3 and 4 years of age.

https://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html

I hope this info helps

 

[babyjan]

no offense but the t hough of grown children drinking milk from a breast is just disturbing.. breast milk, like formula is there to provide nutrition to infants since they cannot eat nor digest solid foods until a certain age..not for kids who can eat and get nutrition from food.. to think of a grown 4 ir 5 year old sucking on his or her moms boob for milk is very odd.. and the poor child when they start school crying for there mothers breast is even more disturbing.. this takes the phrase "get ur kid off ur breast already" to a whole other level!!

Wow! If you don't agree with breastfeeding past infancy don't comment, OP came on here to share her acheivement not looking for opinions on breastfeeding after 3 years!

Seriously how rude!

OP, congratulation hun on reaching 3 years, can I ask how often your LO nurses now? Mine is still attached literally all day at 21 months.

 

[SteffyRae]

Wow that was rude, can't you learn thats its her damn business? If she wants to bf her id till he or she is whatever age is her choice, I used to say breastfeedinG was creepy and gross but started and now Im sad that my milk is too low to EBF, you have no right to say something until you are in that position


CONGRATS MAMA WHAT A WONDERFUL MILESTONE

 

[kbkb]

Congratulations on the 3 year milestone!! They say 2-3 years is a BIG development leap for a child and I;m sure you helped your lil one to negotiate it that much better....amazingly well done!

mdjoy- there is enough judgment of mothers in this world. You're entitled to your opinion, but if you dont approved of extended BF, this is not the forum for you.

 

[daneuse27]

no offense but the t hough of grown children drinking milk from a breast is just disturbing.. breast milk, like formula is there to provide nutrition to infants since they cannot eat nor digest solid foods until a certain age..not for kids who can eat and get nutrition from food.. to think of a grown 4 ir 5 year old sucking on his or her moms boob for milk is very odd.. and the poor child when they start school crying for there mothers breast is even more disturbing.. this takes the phrase "get ur kid off ur breast already" to a whole other level!!

Agreed.

And I think all nursing moms are welcome on this forum, whether they believe in nursing school age children or not.

 

[Cangaroo]

If you really think about it, a lot of things we do are odd. Squeezing juice from a cow (which, by the way, contains a significant quantity of pus as so many dairy cows have chronic mastitis there have to be quotas for the percentage of pus which is allowed) to feed your child is odd. This seems much more odd than allowing your child the nutrition designed for them and provided lovingly by their healthy mother. I'm not being anti-dairy or judging anyone for drinking cow's milk. My daughter drinks and enjoys "milk from a cow in a cup". However, I'm trying to point out that many practices common place in our society would be seen as disturbing to anyone who hadn't encountered them before.

It simply isn't true that breastmilk is designed just for babies prior to solids. Breastmilk composition changes over time to best nourish the growing child, including providing antibodies and immune modulators a child can't get anywhere else. The article already posted is a fascinating read and explains that biologically, evolutionarily and anthropologically it is clear we are designed to be breastfed well into childhood. Just because we as a society have lost our way doesn't make those of us doing what comes naturally "odd".

Feeding a toddler is very different to feeding a newborn. My daughter goes to nursery while I am at work and certainly does not cry for my breast while she is there. A nursing 5 year old may only nurse once a day or less. They have the maturity to regulate their nursing by then.

I actually do understand where you're coming from. I couldn't understand why anyone would nurse a toddler until I started on this journey myself and started questioning mainstream parenting as it felt so unnatural. But even when I didn't understand it, I would never have judged as you did. We all try to do what is best for our children, and for many of us here that is full-term nursing. Supporting each other to feel empowered to make choices we are comfortable with should be our goal, not shooting others down who do something you personally wouldn't choose to.

OP- Congratulations on reaching 3 years! A wonderful achievement in the face of these hostile and ill-informed opinions.

 

[daneuse27]

If you really think about it, a lot of things we do are odd. Squeezing juice from a cow (which, by the way, contains a significant quantity of pus as so many dairy cows have chronic mastitis there have to be quotas for what percentage of pus is allowed) to feed your child is odd. This seems much more odd than allowing your child the nutrition designed for them and provided lovingly by their healthy mother. I'm not being anti-dairy or judging anyone for drinking cow's milk. My daughter drinks and enjoys "milk from a cow in a cup". However, I'm trying to point out that many practices common place in our society would be seen as disturbing to anyone who hadn't encountered them before.

It simply isn't true that older breastmilk is designed just for babies prior to solids. Breastmilk composition changes over time to best nourish the growing child, including providing antibodies and immune modulators a child can't get anywhere else. The article already posted is a fascinating read and explains that biologically, evolutionarily and anthropologically it is clear we are designed to be breastfed well into childhood. Just because we as a society have lost our way doesn't make those of us doing what comes naturally "odd".

Feeding a toddler is very different to feeding a newborn. My daughter goes to nursery while I am at work and certainly does not cry for my breast while she is there. A nursing 5 year old may only nurse once a day or less. They have the maturity to regulate their nursing by then.

I actually do understand where you're coming from. I couldn't understand why anyone would nurse a toddler until I started on this journey myself and started questioning mainstream parenting as it felt so unnatural. But even when I didn't understand it, I would never have judged as you did. We all try to do what is best for our children, and for many of us here that is full-term nursing. Supporting each other to feel empowered to make choices we are comfortable with should be our goal, not shooting others down who do something you personally wouldn't choose to.

OP- Congratulations on reaching 3 years! A wonderful achievement in the face of these hostile and ill-informed opinions.

Thank you. Everything you wrote was very respectful, and well said. I am a person who doesn't feel comfortable with the idea of children over 2-3 nursing.. BUT, I have tried to understand it for a long time. This is one of the clearest arguments that I have seen; parly because you didn't blame or judge me for what I said. While I still may not 'agree', I respect that this is your view, and you were polite enough to state it without putting me down for having my own views. So thank you

 

[Lawhra]

Congratulations on your milestone!

I used to be one who felt uncomfortable with the idea of nursing a toddler. Until I was educated and nursed my son (still breast feeding at almost 27 months).
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, sadly some opinions are based on false 'facts'.

 

[daneuse27]

Congratulations on your milestone!

I used to be one who felt uncomfortable with the idea of nursing a toddler. Until I was educated and nursed my son (still breast feeding at almost 27 months).
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, sadly some opinions are based on false 'facts'.

See, I think this is a big part of what rubs me the wrong way sometimes about people who feel differently about this topic than I do.

Every time I have had this 'debate' online, I feel like the other side (those advocating for long-term breastfeeding) are quicker to judge than I am, and label me 'uneducated' or archaic, or say I'm a product of society's tendency to sexualize breasts. I don't believe this is fair or true. There are valid, educated points for the other side too. I'm educated and have actually done a lot of reading and research on this: still I come to the same conclusion. I would like my feelings and opinions to be respected as valid, just as I'm doing with Cangaroo even though I have a different viewpoint than her.

 

[Marie000]

See, I think this is a big part of what rubs me the wrong way sometimes about people who feel differently about this topic than I do.

Every time I have had this 'debate' online, I feel like the other side (those advocating for long-term breastfeeding) are quicker to judge than I am, and label me 'uneducated' or archaic, or say I'm a product of society's tendency to sexualize breasts. I don't believe this is fair or true. There are valid, educated points for the other side too. I'm educated and have actually done a lot of reading and research on this: still I come to the same conclusion. I would like my feelings and opinions to be respected as valid, just as I'm doing with Cangaroo even though I have a different viewpoint than her.

I have not yet seen any research that has shown any benefits for the child in weaning early. Perhaps I missed something. I don't mean that to criticize, but I am curious.

 

[daneuse27]

See, I think this is a big part of what rubs me the wrong way sometimes about people who feel differently about this topic than I do.

Every time I have had this 'debate' online, I feel like the other side (those advocating for long-term breastfeeding) are quicker to judge than I am, and label me 'uneducated' or archaic, or say I'm a product of society's tendency to sexualize breasts. I don't believe this is fair or true. There are valid, educated points for the other side too. I'm educated and have actually done a lot of reading and research on this: still I come to the same conclusion. I would like my feelings and opinions to be respected as valid, just as I'm doing with Cangaroo even though I have a different viewpoint than her.

I have not yet seen any research that has shown any benefits for the child in weaning early. Perhaps I missed something. I don't mean that to criticize, but I am curious.

First off, determine what you mean by "early?"
My daughter seems to be weaned now at 13 months, and I don't consider it early. I went longer than most people do, and longer than I ever expected I could..

There was an article online about a girl who regrets her "memories" of being nursed until the age of 3.5. Its an anecdote, so not based on research. Given that I know I would feel the same as her if I were in her shoes, thats one of the few reasons I choose not to nurse my child until that old of an age.

That doesnt make me right or wrong, but its a valid concern.