When does extended breastfeeding become weird....

splishsplash

conradmum wrote: »

Have a look at this site, splishsplash:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

Thank you - will do tomorrow, finally some references I can chase up!

peachyprice

TheCardcan wrote: »

I continued for more than two years, but not during the day. Have to say IMO it looks very strange for toddlers and older children to be breast fed in public.

Yes, that's the bit I don't get.

I understand completley BF before bedtime, at whatever age. We all want our children to go to bed, content, safe, happy and knowing that mummy loves them and we all have routines so suit our own children's needs.

But I find it very odd in circumstances when all the other 3-4yo children are off happily playing and there's one child stuck to mummy's boob (I had a friend whose child that did this regularly). That just gives the impression that that child is far too attached and overly dependent on it's mother and isn't gaining independence and confidence. Is really that for the child's benefit or the mothers?

melb

some scary stuff in there including a mum who is currently breastfeeding 2 kids of 4 and 2 and is wondering how she can manage the new baby when it's born. Mmm plus the one whose toddler sleeps with her and breastfeeds for hours on end while she's asleep. I'm sorry it's just not normal behaviour!

poet123

splishsplash wrote: »

Thank you - will do tomorrow, finally some references I can chase up!

Completely unbiased ones!;)

mountainofdebt

What I dont' get is what benefits there are for bf beyond the age of 2 (and even that seems late in my book) when, especially in western society, the nutrients that a child needs can be provided by the means of food.

lostinrates

conradmum wrote: »

In hunter gatherer societies children are normally spaced by about 3 - 4 years, and hunter gatherer societies are supposed to be how humans lived for millions of years.

However I wasn't saying that, nor that it's 'natural' to extend breastfeeding into childhood. I was just answering your query as to why you felt strange about it. I think it's because it isn't commonplace in our society and we have cultural baggage about the idea, for all sorts of reasons. We're unusual in that compared to the rest of the world, which is why I think it's a cultural phenomenon, rather than extended breastfeeding actually being intrinsically weird. There's no biological reason we should stop feeding at babyhood either.

Sorry I don't understand your last sentence.

Hmm. You argument about rest of work depends where you are talking about.....I've lived in a lot of places as a child, beyond Europe, I am not restricted to British cultural stereotypes but rather a complicated mosh mash.

lostinrates

toomanyshoesfortwofeet wrote: »

Ok, so we'll just agree to disagree. That's fine. I don't think it's extreme, you do. Fine. (I do think most attachment parents would baulk at the prospect of being lumped with helicopter parents). I take issue with your strange foal analogy, but I'll get over it.

My point is that I believe your personal 'cringe' factor with extended breastfeeding and the prejudices about its role in thwarting independence and whatnot is engineered by our current society and parenting philosophies that mandate breastfeeding is for babies only - even though I've yet to hear one sound argument that makes this case.

I'm bowing out now, this is going round in circles. I think I was too hopeful to think that I could nudge someone's prejudices about extended breastfeeding a little, and if that can't happen here in this fairly affable exchange, I probably never will, never mind.

The strange foal analogy was mine, not the person whom you accuse it of being.

It's not s strange though, in my mind, it was an example of natural parenting and weaning age relating to biology, and attempting to draw people out on the similar proces in the human.

conradmum

lostinrates wrote: »

Hmm. You argument about rest of work depends where you are talking about.....I've lived in a lot of places as a child, beyond Europe, I am not restricted to British cultural stereotypes but rather a complicated mosh mash.

Sorry, I did assume you'd lived in Britain for most of your life.

I found an interesting discussion on this question here if you'd like to read further on the question.

FatVonD

poet123 wrote: »

Completely unbiased ones!;)

I've not read your link but on the subject of bias, do you honestly believe that, faced with huge potential loss of revenue, the likes of Nestle etc won't have commissioned studies to debunk health department advice?

Do you honestly also think that the Government would do anything to upset big business for the sake of our health if there wasn't something substantial behind it? Remember how they were still telling us British beef was safe to eat while the rest of Europe wouldn't touch it with a bargepole?

Surely common sense tells you that the milk of the same species is going to be ideally suited to an infant over and above the milk of a different species?

You really do seem to have a bit of a bee in your bonnet, I'm starting to wonder if you're quite as guilt-free over your choice as you would have us believe.

poet123

You haven't read "my" link, because it wasn't my link!! It was a link to a "mom" site which promotes breastfeeding and which makes claims which are not supported by evidence. I have explained my motivations for posting on here, it was triggered by the other thread. All these types of sites are partly responsible for the feelings that poster had, and they were pretty sad to read, I am just redressing the balance somewhat.

Sorry to disappoint, but I am wholly guilt free about my choice, interesting you should assume that I am posting because of guilt, why would there be guilt attached to my choice? You would feel guilty if you had neglected or failed your child in some way, mine have all turned out very well, and if they hadn't, it wouldn't be down to my feeding choice, that would far too simplistic, most studies agree there are too many variables between birth and adulthood to isolate breastfeeding or bottlefeeding as causation for xyz.