Toddler Support (kinda vent?)

[mum1984]

Im just after a little bit of understanding and support because Im tired of hitting my head on a brick wall with people who have limited knowledge of BF and just dont understand

DS is BF, very much BF lol. He is now 16 months old, almost 17 months.

If I get one more comment from someone asking me why? Or telling me I can wean him now I think Im going to scream. Especially when they come from XP! ARGH! I have had this discussion soooo many times and Im really tired of it. Perhaps instead of telling me that I can wean him now and im odd for feeding my son these people can look up ABA or WHO heck even talk to our MCHN. and XP is the worst of them. telling me that wow that must hurt I feel sorry for you blah blah blah. No NO that just shows your ignorance and misunderstanding. He also tells me im odd and no one else he knows has BF this long. So why am I getting punished because they were physically or mentally unable to or they give in to the social 'norms' or heck just made the human decision that suited their needs.

I know what I am doing is right and best for my child. I have done the research and read the facts and while my body is able to support my son and give him a kind of nurturing that only i can provide than I will continue to do so. Im just really really sick of hearing the unwanted, uneducated and uncalled for comments.

I dont care how people feed their children, i never have, so why does everyone seem to see fit to comment on how I feed mine

[sweetpea678]

I to get that a fair bit from alot of pple, my dd is 15.5 months and is still very much bf, at least 7 times in 24hours.

Just a thought are you a member of ABA, I am this time round with number 3 and it is so much nicer having made friends with people who bf past 6-12months.

I do feel for you it is hard when you get pesterd about something all the time. I ended up buying a top for dd that says milk junkie member of milkaholics annonyms (sp) and put that on her when people are really sh****ting me of.

[MantaRay]

It's annoying itsn't it? I started getting the "are you still feeding?" comments from about 9 months I think. It's really sad that so many people think it's not normal or natural to be bfing even at that young age, let alone over 12 months!

I, and many others here, think you are doing an awesome job. And by doing this, you are also doing your small part in helping to normalise full term bfing. Next time your XP meets someone who is bfing beyond 12 months (and admits to it ), she won't be the only one he knows and neither will you anymore!

Keep up the great work hun, and try not to let it get to you. I have to admit that by the time I was getting the comments with DS2 it was water off a duck's back - but it took a while to get there. I hope you are able to get to that point also.

ETA - I also second the idea of joining the ABA if you haven't already. It is so nice to be around people who understand what you are doing and accept you no matter how you parent.

[feeb]

I get the:
why are you still feeding him?
You are not going to be a sicko who feeds him till he is old?
You need to wean before baby arrives as baby misses out on colstrum!
etc etc

Drives me insane, well done on keeping going!!

[Jennifer13]

Hun, check out the article in my sig, that Barb posted on BB. It's not you that's wrong, it's just that you're not living in the right country.

You can tell them that you know plenty of Mums who are bfing their three and four year olds. And if you don't, pop along to your local ABA meeting. Sitting down with a group of like-minded Mums does a lot to help you feel 'normal' and remind you that it's the rest of society that's at odds with how we are meant to feed our children, not you.

Well done for giving your toddler exactly what he needs at his age! (FWIW I had nooo idea when pg I would be bfing this long and I often thought/said it wouldn't be beyond when DD could walk and talk. So consider yourself further contributing to the education of those people who don't know any better. It certainly was mums like you that encouraged me to keep going.)

[aussienic]

Well done for feeding so long.. I made it to 21 months with Ds3 then 21 months and 9 days with DD. I feel proud of that acheievement as should you..

I think Bf is tough but once you get it going well it is easy

Ignore everyone else. just say my baby my body my choice. It isn't like it is bad for him at all..

[kelebek]

our toddlers can be the strongest wrestlers in town

I think you are doing a great job and feel free to tell anyone about me. I openly bf D anywhere and tell anyone I am still feeding and loving it. Next time I see xp down the street I might have to 'remember' that I know him and strike up a convo about how cute your DS is and put it down to still being bf

[mum1984]

Originally Posted by kelebek

our toddlers can be the strongest wrestlers in town

I think you are doing a great job and feel free to tell anyone about me. I openly bf D anywhere and tell anyone I am still feeding and loving it. Next time I see xp down the street I might have to 'remember' that I know him and strike up a convo about how cute your DS is and put it down to still being bf

Oh Kelebek you made my day

Jennifer - thank you so much for posting that link in your signature. Its amazing how much come down to perspectives.