The rude comments have begun...

balihaigirl

I was at dinner last night with my family and it came up that I am still bf'ing my son in the am/pm.  My dad, sister, and brother were all asking me "why" and asking me when I'm going to wean DS.

I think it's so rude.  I'm not going to wean DS just because he's almost 12 months.  I only nurse him in the AM/PM - it's not that big of a deal and I'm willing to nurse DS until either he self-weans or I'm ready to wean him.  

FireChiefsBride

I recommend looking at it from the perspective of your family just being uninformed.  I have to say I wasn't very familiar with long term BFing before this board bc none of my sisters or anyone close to me BF for more than 6 months.  Try not to take it offensively and just explain to them your position. 

espana21

it is rude and none of their  business!! 

michelleaxo

FireChiefsBride:

I recommend looking at it from the perspective of your family just being uninformed.  I have to say I wasn't very familiar with long term BFing before this board bc none of my sisters or anyone close to me BF for more than 6 months.  Try not to take it offensively and just explain to them your position. 

This. Pre-baby/pre-nesties/pre-research I would have given one of these at someone bf'ing for a year. They are just uninformed/unaware of the benefits. Let them know why you are doing it and maybe then they will understand. If they keep with the questioning, proceed to let them know it is none of their business anyway.

Mrs.Froggianna

I have to agree with FCB & Michelle.  And since I'm fully prepared to get the same rude questions (esp. from my ILs), I'm getting together my list of pros so that when they ask I can give them a civil, informed response.  If they persist with the questioning then I'll have to find a creative, but civil way of saying STFU.

brideonjuly8

I will never understand why anyone cares.

Mrs.Purdue

brideonjuly8:

I will never understand why anyone cares.

amen!

monkeylamb

Even if they are just uninformed, I can't imagine making someone else's breastfeeding my business!  My DD is 18 months old and still nursing strong!  I'm the only one in the family to breastfeed, but they don't dare make any comments.  I tell them the proof is in the pudding.  When they comment on how smart/sweet/loving/etc my DD is, I remind them that she is the product of ALL my parenting decisions, not just the ones they agree with.  Good for you for continuing to breastfeed! 

rssnlvr

I agree with FCB. I don't find them asking "why" rude so much as ignorant/uninformed. My mother strongly encouraged me to breastfeed, and is now asking when I'm going to wean, and when I told my brother that the AAP recommends nursing for at least a year, he said, "yeah, but I don't think anyone actually does that anymore." I think a lot of people just don't know the benefits--it wasn't as common in the past.

Hopefully they'll hear your answer and leave you alone about it.

misjenn

brideonjuly8:

I will never understand why anyone cares.

I completely agree. I don't get why people care how others parent. Unless they are hurting the child leave the comments in your head. 

Mainer-in-Texas

brideonjuly8:

I will never understand why anyone cares.

I sooooo agree w/ this! I don't even have the kid yet and people are commenting about stupid stuff, like how I registered for pacifiers. Unless I am beating my kid /doing something that is obviously going to harm them, why the eff do you care?

I have found that providing people with the facts works well to shut them up, because I agree that a lot of the comments are out of ignorance. Yes, they shouldn't be saying anything and "Because I want to" is a good enough answer, but I think it's also good to educate people if given the opportunity. (I deal with crap like this w/ my CF all the time, and I'll choose either option as a response, depending on my mood).

Abrooks

I think people that are older and formula fed (b/c they were told it was better) don't get bfing - especially longer term.  And I think people that have never had kids or had to think about it seriously have no idea.  In our society - the norm is not to still be bfing at 11-12 months or longer so they just go off that and think at this point everyone should just be doing formula.  I got a little bit of that - but it was always from people who literally had no clue.  I would just tell them the importance of it and why I was doing it and that would usually shut them up.  And if it didn't, well, frankly it's not their child or body so they can have their opinion - but it's just that - their opinion and not their decision to make.