Do you think breastfeeding beyond 3 years of age is weird?

It’s a no for me dawg, but do what you want.

I don't find it weird as long as mom and baby are both okay with it. I do find it strange that our society has chosen 1 year old as the age to stop breastfeeding as the baby's immune system isn't even fully developed yet. I tried to breastfeed until at least 2 unfortunately my daughter self weaned at 15 months. I was so sad.

Why is it a vulnerable moment for you?
Not weird at all to me. I nursed until my daughter was 3 and probably wouldn't have weaned if I didn't have nursing aversions.
But do what you want with your boobies ya know?

I thought it was weird and then I started breastfeeding a baby who will not take a bottle. She’s turning 2 in July and I get it

Weird is to make a statement that doesn't concern you. Unless you are the one bf it's none of our business. I would definitely congratulate the mom. Bf is HARD work.

yes yes

I breastfeeding my first son and second son up till two years old

The biting and the suction as they get older is next level and I stopped before my oldest turned 2 and that was unbearable so can't imagine an older child🥴 if you're still physically and mentally able to do so I applaud you.

nursing an older toddler is actually way easier! They kind of just look at your boob as separate from your body, but the biting stops and gets replaced with things like putting their toddler foot on the side of your face because that's the position they want to latch on to your tit in 🥲

That's really interesting. Sounds like fun times😆🫠🥲

that's one way to look at it 😂😂

I breastfed my daughter until she self weaned, she was 4. There’s a reason natural weaning age is what it is, it’s just a shame western society sees it as ‘weird’.

I don’t think it’s weird. As someone who is still breastfeeding a 2yo and has tried to stop, they can be very adamant about it lol. I would’ve stopped after 1 if it wasn’t the best thing for her and if she didn’t regularly ask and grab at my breasts for it. I’ve also heard that in other places of the world, it’s common to feed up to 7yrs

Definitely not weird. I’m currently pumping for my almost 2 and a half year old son and I nurse my 7 month old as well. My little guy doesn’t take a bottle so I plan to nurse him until he’s ready to wean himself.

My daughter was BF till 4 and my son til 3 and my first I flunked but she was on donor milk for a year so between 3 kids I’ve Bf for a total of 7yrs and a couple weeks lol. My bestie, amazing human that she is- tandem fed 2 toddlers 4 and 2yrs the girl is now 3yrs and still Bf the older boy same age as my boy has stopped now. Having said that it was mainly morning wake and bedtime feed they wanted, rarely in public. Like on a play date if I didn’t TELL you you wouldn’t even know

your breast health is gonna be amazing when you're old 😊

😂🙈

I thought it would be weird until I became a mom. I’ve been nursing my daughter for over 2 years now and she’s starting to wean off of it herself, very gradually though. I thought I only wanted to nurse until she was 1 year old, then 2 years old, but soon realized that there was no reason to if my baby and I didn’t have any issues. She’s never taken a bottle and doesn’t really accept dairy any other way so I wouldn’t be surprised if we keep it up until 3+ years old. I do believe she’ll naturally wean herself off when her body tells her to, and I’m enjoying this breastfeeding journey. It’s not weird at all anymore. I certainly face judgement from friends, family, health care providers, and strangers every day but I’m doing what feels right for me and mine. Folks tend to forget how beneficial breastfeeding is for the mother too, when it comes to preventing cancer and diabetes, etc.

I read an article about a mother who had 2 children ages 7 and 4 (if I remember correctly). They were facing some sort of genocide. The only way she could keep her children from starving to death and keep them quiet while hiding was by nursing them on each breast. She died while breastfeeding and her sons survived, the 7 year old grew up to tell this story. Any time I feel judged for breastfeeding my toddler, I remember it. It’s incredible that mothers can produce nourishment and nurture their children with their bodies. I’ll be sad the day I stop producing, it gives me purpose and I’m grateful to experience this side of motherhood. Nursing can be so much more than just giving a baby milk.

I remember seeing my friend breastfeeding her 4 year old and thinking it was a bit odd at the time, and now my eldest is nearly 3.5 and she still feeds a couple of times a week. I never expected to go on this long, but it’s a massive comfort to her and I think it’s been instrumental in her accepting her baby sister. I hate seeing the comments saying “she’s doing it for herself, toddlers don’t need to breastfeed”. I am absolutely not doing it for me, she cries if I say no. Breastmilk is full of nutrients and antibodies at any age, and it’s designed to last until your milk teeth fall out, so calling it weird is absolute nonsense. And yeah I actually find it much easier to feed my eldest, she hasn’t bitten me since she was a baby, my 10 month old though… 🦈👀

Thank you all for your responses!

I’m just coming up to a year and don’t plan to intentionally wean until my baby is ready. Whether that’s next week or in five years.

Usually seeing things like this doesn’t impact me but on this occasion it really did as I didn’t think there would be so much judgement from other women surrounding this topic. Especially as it’s a biological norm which is beneficial for both mother and child.

I saw comments saying it was selfish, negligent, abusive, sexual, etc.

I’m not entirely sure why it made me feel so vulnerable, I think it may have been the seemingly controversial aspect of it, which I hadn’t considered in as much depth before.

It’s definitely really sad that people find it weird or strange, or any of the other things above, but it’s also so reassuring to see that so many don’t. 🤍

I also agree with Monét & Lauren - my baby is already biting and kicking me in the face every chance they get 😆 it’s not for the faint-hearted lol.

Very strange for me but I wouldn’t judge someone else - anything over 2 is odd - baby is all knowing. They shouldn’t have memories of breast feeding I don’t think. But everyone has their own ways

Those comments say much more about the people that wrote them than anything to do with breastfeeding. Abusive, sexual, selfish and negligent?! The truth couldn’t be more opposite!!

I thought it was weird before I had my son but now I totally understand and support it. What I don’t understand is why people feel the need to make negative comments on it, I think if people don’t have anything nice to say about it then they shouldn’t say anything.

My daughter is 20 months old and has always been exclusively breastfed, there are no signs of her wanting to stop yet and I’m naturally going to let her wean herself. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be breastfeeding her at 7 because I personally do think that’s too old 😬😂 but it’s a natural thing to do I don’t get why people have such big opinions on it, let us breastfeed in peace I say xx

I would not think to judge someone else for how they feed or use their body. My mum did bf me extendedly and I regret that she was so open about it because I have always been embarrassed about it (though not at the time as I was too little to understand). My little is still boob obsessed at 19mo but Im hoping with more language skills I will be able to explain to him soon that we won't feed in public or in front of anyone other than his dad anymore so it won't cause any embarrassment for him as no one has to know and he can just wean himself when ready. I don't actually remember being on the boob but I remember being in the car aged 2 and asking for it. My mum made a point to tell everyone I guess she was raising awareness but I felt shamed by those people she was telling.

No, it's not weird imo! It might be a rarity for others but if it works for you and you have a happy child then do it! 💗

I breastfed my daughter until she turned 3. I had not planned it at all but at this point she needed it once a day and I was happy to do it so no, it's not weird at all, I don't know why people judge mothers so harshly. There is no need, it doesn't concern anyone but mother and child.

Tbf OF creators don't help this either when some are using breastfeeding as a kink 😤 so us mums, that do breastfeed, are trying to, continue to do so past 1yr+ or are coming to an end end up feeling like its sexual thing due to those people making it that way. Breastfeeding beyond the minimum age of 2 is not weird and no breastfeeding mum should feel that way. Our bodies are incredible and they even know when enough is enough. I did it for 2 years and would have tried to continue for longer but my body was just done, I had to stop for my own good (self weaned tho, it was much harder on me but glad it ended like it did, calmly and still being able to comfort without boobies). More information and more support is needed when it comes to breastfeeding

Not weird unless you make it! I breastfed until 2.5 years & loved every second 🥰 I’m convinced it’s why my son hasn’t been sick very often

Not weird at all
I was breaded until 5 lol
I stopped by my self first day of school I even remember…
My mum tried everything to make stop but nothing worked ..
my daughter is 20 months and everyone around my is surprised “ ah you still breastfeeding “… so I think it’s just society and maybe the milk powder industry they make it weird.

Honestly I don’t care. It’s not my business. I’m going breastfeed until my child stops, or until I want to stop.

I think after 2, the child is using the boobs for comfort, like a pacifier so I would look at alternatives and get my body back. I bf mine until 2 bc she was using me as a comfort, it was hard weaning her off but I did it.