It creeps me out....

ladybugpjb

I EP'ed for DS from the time he was two weeks until he was almost 5 months, so this comment is in reference to the comments about just pumping and giving BM in a sippy to older toddlers.

1. Pumping sucks. It's hard work.

2. Pumping is not as efficient as LO. A mom in one of my FB groups recently posted about trying to pump for her 16ish month LO because they'd missed some nursing sessions - she got NOTHING. BFing an older baby (past a year or so) isn't like BFing a newborn. The milk changes over time - from what I understand, milk is denser, and they require less as they get older, and pumping gets harder. (I don't know this from experience, just from the responses that mom received.)

3. Pumping sucks. Oh, did I say that already? It bears repeating. By 5 months, I hated my pump. I was used to it by that point, but I hated it. This time, if I have to pump again, I'll keep at it with the memory of how stinking expensive formula is, but I'm sure I'll still hate pumping.

It's not something you realize until you've had to do it, so please don't suggest that women should just pump until you've had to do it yourself.

KittenGator

ohdrama09:

The average age of weaning globally is 4.5.  That's average.  Some people do way less, and some do more.  While nursing to 4 is NMS, I won't knock it.  Believe me, nursing isn't about mom.  It's 100% about the child.  DD just weaned at 17 months.  I'm happy to have my boobs to myself again.  If she had continued to want to nurse I would have let her.  Notice how I "said" that, if SHE wanted to continue.  

 

Before having a child I said BF past 1 "freaked me out".  Then 1 came and went.  2 seemed easily the "age".  Maybe this one will nurse till 3.  I have friends who have children nursing at 3 and 4.  It's not weird at all.  It's not mother centered at all.  Those children are developing wonderfully and are very independent.  It's not like they're attached to the boob all day like a newborn.  It's here and there.  

The antibodies and nutrients don't vanish at a certain age.  Sure, they can be fine without it but if the relationship is working for them and that child is still getting the benefits of it.    

 

https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/    <I suck and can't make it clicky. 

 

 

 

 

I'm not riding in here nipple nazi hat on and b!tching ya'll out.  It's just a very misunderstood thing.  Two years ago I was in the same frame of mind.   

 

 

You. Are. Awesome. I love this. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

I've only been flamed once on the Nestbump, but it was when I talked about being sad to wean my toddler. I didn't really care what others thought. When I chose to wean her, she wasn't ready yet. I didn't nurse her that long for me, it was about her, and weaning her before she was ready felt rotten.

 

She's 4.5, friendly, well-adjusted, intelligent, social and a really sweet kid.  

Before I had her and even after I had her I would have never imagined that I would nurse her for that long, but so many things change when you're actually in that situation!  

TunaRoll78

I've learned to never say never in parenting. I would have NEVER breastfed a child old enough to "ask for it". And if you told me 10 yrs ago, that I would have breastfed a 3.5yr old, trust me, I would have been the first one to either fall off my barstool and gag. However, it IS childcentered, and it IS still beneficial to the child. They still receive nutritive and antibody benefits. But for for us, it came down to the fact that my daughter still wanted to emotional bond of nursing. We were down to just nursing to go to sleep at night for the longest time, a year, I think. She just was NOT ready to give it up yet. We started talked about when she would not need to nurse anymore and set a deadline of when she wouldn't nurse anymore. She stopped a month before her 4th Birthday. She's now 4.75 yrs. She's always been social, and independent, however I think that having a healthy attachment in the home helps their social and intellectual development. It's really more about what's right for each family, and for each mother and child. Surely I'm in the minority in this group with these beliefs, however.

MoparWife67

TunaRoll78:

I've learned to never say never in parenting. I would have NEVER breastfed a child old enough to "ask for it". And if you told me 10 yrs ago, that I would have breastfed a 3.5yr old, trust me, I would have been the first one to either fall off my barstool and gag. However, it IS childcentered, and it IS still beneficial to the child. They still receive nutritive and antibody benefits. But for for us, it came down to the fact that my daughter still wanted to emotional bond of nursing. We were down to just nursing to go to sleep at night for the longest time, a year, I think. She just was NOT ready to give it up yet. We started talked about when she would not need to nurse anymore and set a deadline of when she wouldn't nurse anymore. She stopped a month before her 4th Birthday. She's now 4.75 yrs. She's always been social, and independent, however I think that having a healthy attachment in the home helps their social and intellectual development. It's really more about what's right for each family, and for each mother and child. Surely I'm in the minority in this group with these beliefs, however.

TunaRoll78

And yes, nursing was in addition to a healthy diet of solids. It seems odd to me that humans drinking human milk is considered "weird", however, its considered "normal" for humans to drink cows milk which is meant for an entirely different species. And also weird that women think their bodies were created for solely men's pleasure. Our nipples, while erogenous, were NOT designed with a man's needs in mind. Otherwise, they would be on our foreheads, haha.

Rogue Lily

Ladybug beat me to it, but all of the FTMs being all "why can't you just pump?" is making me ELL OH ELL.

 Like, srsly. Just you wait.

mckiernk

Ok so I never meant to piss anyone off I thought this was someone asking for opinions... just because it is not something that I understand doesn't make it wrong ... I was just offerring some opinions and some options ... and for everyone out there who said I was ignorant I breastfed twins up to six months and I know what it is like to have to pump like crazy and I know it sucks and I agree that the bond that you form with your newborn up until at least 6 months because I probably would have gone to a year if I could have kept up with my twins but it was almost impossible... all I was saying is that I can see it from everyone's point of view however, IMO (and opinions are like assholes everyone has them and they all stink) but IMO I do not see the benefit for the child and I believe in developing independence and confidence in my children from a young age... more power to the women that stand up for what THEY believe in ... but don't hate me simply because I shared an opinion when it was solicited... I have nothing but respect for mothers that would do anything that they thought was best for their children... WOW!! I am soon to be a mom of 4 and I know how hard it is and how many things you question .. "Am I doing what is best for my child" ... it is not easy so follow your heart ... and good for all of you who stand up for yourself

KittenGator

TunaRoll78:

I've learned to never say never in parenting. I would have NEVER breastfed a child old enough to "ask for it". And if you told me 10 yrs ago, that I would have breastfed a 3.5yr old, trust me, I would have been the first one to either fall off my barstool and gag. However, it IS childcentered, and it IS still beneficial to the child. They still receive nutritive and antibody benefits. But for for us, it came down to the fact that my daughter still wanted to emotional bond of nursing. We were down to just nursing to go to sleep at night for the longest time, a year, I think. She just was NOT ready to give it up yet. We started talked about when she would not need to nurse anymore and set a deadline of when she wouldn't nurse anymore. She stopped a month before her 4th Birthday. She's now 4.75 yrs. She's always been social, and independent, however I think that having a healthy attachment in the home helps their social and intellectual development. It's really more about what's right for each family, and for each mother and child. Surely I'm in the minority in this group with these beliefs, however.

 

I love this, thanks for posting. I nursed DD until she was 3 and looking back, I wish I would have let her pick.