Breastfeeding older children......

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

i remember my mom nursing me and i was around 9 months old when she stopped.....(feed as in nurse)

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Yes Julianne...that is why I refuse my child to eat at the table to...just grosses me out to watch them eat....

I feel that when a child can ask for it...they are to old...I feel when they can walk over and pull up your shirt with a full set of teeth, they are too old...I feel that when they can make a memory out of it...and access it throughout there life....they are to old. This is my opinion, and how I am chosing to raise my children. I am just happy that so many babies are being breastfed...but I think there is an age where it is time to stop....just like when they potty train, they no longer need diapers. When they are getting all the nutrition they need from table food...time to stop with the boobie.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

Gabby had a nursing strike around 6month then again at 9 months. It was from her teeth and distractions. Again a few days ago she didnt want to feed as much, then she got another tooth..

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

Lisa: Oh, believe me, I kept trying on the breast. I mean I was engorged and sore because she just wouldn't nurse. I ended up pumping and give expressed milk until I dried up. But I DID keep trying. She just didn't want it from me any more. She's four now and I do miss nursing her. Sometimes when she's really upset I'm almost tempted to nurse her but it's been so long I know it would just confuse the girl. :/

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

7-10 months is prime time for nursing strikes, which are commonly mistaken for weaning

Jane - posted on 01/06/2011

@Rebecca - that was HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

bottles are the most common culprit for early weaning.

Minnie - posted on 01/06/2011

A baby appearing to wean at 7-10 months is EXTREMELY common. Babies become very distractible during this time and it can be hard to get them to nurse for longer than a couple of minutes. Some mothers feel that they are self-weaning at this age. Technically it isn't, because they naturally still have a nutritional and immunological need for human milk.



Then when the mother becomes concerned that her baby is fighting at her breast she gives the bottle- and the quicker flow easily appeases a distractible baby. Baby is efficiently weaned onto a bottle.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

Sometimes mothers are lacking something nutritionally and cannot produce milk that satisfies a baby so they self ween, other environmental factors come into play as well. Some women simply can not breastfeed some can for a bit, then their body tell them its enough.

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

Jennifer: Good point. But some babies DO self wean before a year. I wish she hadn't but she did. :/

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

My son was on pumped breast milk and straight from the tap....bottle goes way faster...he was done with the boobie at 7 months, so was I .

Teresa - posted on 01/06/2011

Pushing, huh? Well, I fully admit that I don't mind still nursing my son, but I have been telling him on an extremely regular basis for the past 9 months that he doesn't need it anymore cuz he's a big boy. He knows he's a big boy (and will get super ticked at anyone that calls him a baby), but he is also extremely comfortable at knowing what HE needs.... and doing things at his own pace. Yeah, mommy calls the shots on things like how much candy he can eat, when he goes to bed, etc... whether he likes it or not, but when it comes to things like potty training or weaning.... I think he is fully capable of knowing what he needs and when.... at least at this point.

Rebecca - posted on 01/06/2011

Yeah, I watched my little brother spit out my mom's breast milk at 7/8 months too. He just got angry there wasn't enough, fast enough too.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

right but kate, that was a situation that could have been caused by outside factors that hinder milk production...i am in no way saying it was your fault...what i'm trying to say is that from a biological standpoint early weaning could be extremely detrimental to us as a species so it doesn't really happen without other things influencing it.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

it creeps you out to have your own child feed..........

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

Eh, okay. I just can't see that influencing me, personally. *shrug*

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

It creeps me out that much Kate. I would fear them wanting to go that long, or feeling pressure from his family to do something I am uncomfortable with. Hell, as it is I want to stop bf my 9 month old....I want to make sure I am done by her first birthday.

Minnie - posted on 01/06/2011

I don't know about anyone else but I couldn't imagine forcing a six year old to nurse. Can you picture it? You'd need at least two sets of hands, I would think...two to hold the kid in your lap, two to open the kids mouth, maybe plug his or her nose...wait, you'd need three to do this- a third pair to shove the breast in the mouth.

Nope. My daughter who is going to naturally wean definitely isn't pushed into this. I can no more force her to nurse than I can to eat her food. And I wouldn't do either.

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

Uhh...my daughter weaned at 7 months. She would get so frustrated with nursing because I wasn't producing enough fast enough for her. I kept trying and she just wouldn't have it.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

marina, i think you are making unfair assumptions about moms who chose child led weaning. it is called child led for a reason.

babies don't self wean before 1 year, without conscious, or unconscious encouragement from mom...and then it cannot be called self weaning.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Jennifer, that is quite a sucess story about pumping...good job...very impressive.

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

"Oh, and Julianne...one last thought...we as parents teach our children what is good for them. Soooooo...if you as the parent keep pushing,....oops...I mean self led wean them,,,,they are gonna keep going until the cows come home...some not all. It is our job to protect from the cruel world that is gonna look at them like they are crazy....If my husband told me his mom bf him til he was 7...you know what would have happened?????? I never would have bf either of my children."

Really? I don't think that would affect whether or not I nurse my kids. Why would that affect whether or not you nurse your children? What one child does isn't what another will do. Just because some kids nurse a really REALLY long time doesn't mean all kids will.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

Yea thats great you did that. Since pumping is so much harder than just feeding or bottle feeding. You should be proud.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

i tried the nipple shield a lot in the first 6 months. the last time i tried to get him to latch was when he was around 9 months...he looked at me like i was crazy. there was a lot i did wrong, in the beginning. i've done tons of research since then and i am 100% confident i can nurse any future children for a natural duration but poor little holden will have to settle for what i am able to get through with the pump. school starts again on Jan 17, and i will be so busy i won't really be able to pump anymore but i am pretty proud that he's been breastfed for 14 months.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Nope...my son and I weened at the same time...7 months we were both done.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

i dont push anything on my child, she does things when she is ready. She co slept till 4 months then didnt want to anymore...but co sleeping lasts forever right??

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

i can say the same thing about a child who is forcefully weened and feels rejected by their mom.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Oh, and Julianne...one last thought...we as parents teach our children what is good for them. Soooooo...if you as the parent keep pushing,....oops...I mean self led wean them,,,,they are gonna keep going until the cows come home...some not all. It is our job to protect from the cruel world that is gonna look at them like they are crazy....If my husband told me his mom bf him til he was 7...you know what would have happened?????? I never would have bf either of my children.

Katherine - posted on 01/06/2011

I agree.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

jen do you frequently try nursing? maybe a nipple shield will help him latch because it looks like a bottle..

Minnie - posted on 01/06/2011

Hmmm. Marina, why does it matter to you if a child and his or her mother share something that is important to them at bedtime? Why is breastfeeding a less-valid way to show love and affection than a kiss ang a hug? If they're not doing it your house, why does it matter? If it's a mutually enjoyable relationship what's the big deal? Different families show affection in different ways.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

IMO school aged children are too old to nurse. You can nurse your kids til...hell....you can have them make a white russian on there 21st birthday from your milk...just don't be shocked and up in arms when they have issues...good night, godspeed...I am tired...I am out.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

i don't see the point in fixing something that isn't broken, i suppose. why take away something that a child is still attached to, and is working perfectly?



also, pumping SUCKS (HAHA nevermind the pun). i exclusively pump for my (near) 14 month old and it is aweful.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

oh what about when shes not hurt and just wants milk because its good for her. NATURAL weening age is 2.5-7, the kid is ALMOST 8, still 7....natural weening age.....not 9..she wasnt nursing everyday like the little video said. So she was in the process of stopping.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

yes marina, that IS pacifying, but children nurse differently when they are nursing for comfort, not sustenance. when a child is nursing for comfort, no milk comes out. when infants and newborns comfort nurse there often is milk, but thats because they haven't mastered the technique yet.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Yes, but I feel tat that point it is for the mother only. The child can get a drink from pumped breastmilk if you are that gung ho about the nutritional content...as far as the comfort goes...a hug and cuddling goes a loooonnnnngg way.

Rebecca - posted on 01/06/2011

Yes you do Kate, it's hilarious.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

9 years old is not the average, but just because its not average doesn't mean its not right for that particular child.



i honestly wouldn't feel comfortable nursing a child that age but i certainly wouldn't pass judgment on someone elses situation.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

It is pacifying...we had this debate a while ago...where a 5 year ld girl got hurt or something at the playground....went right to mommy and started nursing....something like....the girl was pacifying for comfort...not nutrition. I am on my 2nd child breastfeeding...I know the benefits 100%...otherwise would have chosen to bottle feed. This situation is extreme...sorry...there is no argument that anyone has made to convince me that breastfeeding for this extended period of time is healthy or anyone involved.

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

Do I want to watch that? I don't think I want to watch that...

Rebecca - posted on 01/06/2011

Sorry had to do it.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

and if a child is nursing for only one or 2 sessions, then those one or 2 sessions have value in that childs mind. who are we to say he or she doesn't need them?

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Ok Julianne, you keep saying society...where in the world do people truly bf til 9 years ol? Third world countries that have no food readily avaiable? Maybe we do not as a whole, see breastfeeding acceptable at that age...couldn't it be that it just isn't ok? Isn't there a point where you can say that age just may not be appropriate? It will not make you less of a AP parent.it just means that you maybve able to see how this could be potentially damaging to this child....

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

"Just because elephants and other mammals do it, it does not make it an acceptable practice for a human being."

It should be an acceptable practice. People should not be condemned for what they think is best for their child.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

every drop of human milk a human child recieves has immunological benefits. it is not pacifying if the child is getting milk. also, children are EXTREMELY efficient nursers, so a lot of milk can be contained in those 1 or 2 sessions.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

well i guess eliminating milk all together is ideal for a 2 year old, after all, theirs no nutritional value in just one glass of milk.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2011

Jane, most of time when a child starts school and is still nursing, the childs friends don't really know about it...not because its a secret, it just doesn't ever need to be brought up. moms don't typically come to their class and nurse them for a lunchtime snack, its something kept at home.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

we are animals. that is my point. separating us from the animals is what fucked us all up, we are separated from our natural selves.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 01/06/2011

Well in that case, if they are only nursing 1-2 times a day, that sound like pacifying with benefits....it is unecessary sustanance...might as well ween...gotto get rid of that binky...whoops I mean boobie sometime.

Jane - posted on 01/06/2011

Well, I think breastfeeding through toddler is fine...3 or 4 at the MOST. I think, quite frankly (and don't shoot me...it's just my opinion) that once a child is in school, it's socially destructive to the child to still be breast feeding. You can say all you want about nutrition...I won't argue that a mothers milk is healthy but from a social perspective, it is what it is...that kid is going to be ostracized because it will get out that the kid is still breast feeding.

And please stop comparing humans to other mammals....we are mammals but we are not animals. Just because elephants and other mammals do it, it does not make it an acceptable practice for a human being. We do not freely screw in public, pee or crap in publc, sleep outdoors or in trees, roll in mud, walk around naked, eat fresh kill, etc. A human mother nursing an 8 year old child is weird, socially unacceptable and I guarantee will create a very socially backward child.