We have reached that 'age' where BF can be an awkward topic :(

[atlantamomofthree]

It's too bad that people respond the way that they do, especially given that it, in no way, affects them!  They don't have to see it, hear about it...nothing! And yet they have comments. Yeesh!

How you feed your child is just one of the many, MANY decisions you will be making in which others may have something to think/say about it. I have found that it's best to steer clear of conversations/comments relating to personal things that I do that are not within society's norms. Even if I know good and well that a great many people do whatever it is-if MOST don't-I don't discuss it unless I know the person (and even then, not always). A few examples...homeschooling, not letting the kids watch most PG movies, cloth diapering, etc.   

I censor myself a great deal so as to preserve my own peace. 

((hugs)) You're doing an awesome thing! 

[becj86]

Not yet spoken about it really, he's at work and this was said just as we were driving into the ferry terminal this morning. I have to work out how to address it, seems we need to have a chat...

[my3girlsjde]

Hugs becj86. Maybe starting with discussing how he feels about it and why first.

My dh was encouraging me weaning at just over a year when we did. Had I been able to continue I think I would have tried to ease some of the fears he would have and definitely use humour as that's the type of relationship we have. Like "you don't have to worry hun, I won't get caught trying to stick my bb through the fence at school, I'll be far more discreet at that age" From his point of view it's not common in public view so we really don't know how many people do bf beyond the time we did. I think real numbers and statistics as well as a list of benefits would help.

[becj86]

Well, we do work on the same tiny island and for the same company and people know I go up to the day care to feed Logan during the day, so maybe dropping the day feeds and keeping the AM and BT ones would help the visibility of it.

I will have to find out what he thinks about BFing past age one. He has acknowledged that it will be hard to wean since DS loves his milk so much though...

[ZacsMumme]

I still can't get over the fact that all these reactions are about babies under the age of 2!! And some under the age of 1!!!!! I could see that if it was a 4 year old running up for a feed at the shopping centre that people might question- that's not really seen much.. but UNDER 2!!!!!!!!!! AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Insane- INSANE!!

I know

"that was the plan, wasn't it, feed til he's one?". It was the plan while I was pregnant. Now I just don't want to force him to stop BFing when he still wants it.

This is such a biggie too. DH is fine with it but also is kind of like 'well he doesnt really need it' and kind of blames it for unsettled periods at BT which are never to do with feeding - last time it was an ear infection! I promised myself 6 months, and never dreamed I would still be doing it. But quite frankly it makes me feel close to my son, and its special so why stop!
HUGS Bec - I think Vicki has a good point about asking him first, then any issues may be able to be addressed without having to have a debate IYKWIM I also think there is a persona attached to BF past the age of 2-3 that it is icky, and that is really sad, but for a lot of men, probably a concern that we/them may become a target for people if BF does go beyond that point. (And for my DH apparently past 18 months - though I think this is all to do with his family as he is clearly not pushing it )
 

[becj86]

I think family is an issue for DH too. He was BF'd the longest (4 months I think MIL said) out of all his brothers (all were combination fed almost from birth or FF - the youngest was premmie and fed every 2hr and MIL pumped til he was 3months then went to FF). FIL doesn't say anything to me but hints at formula started when DS was 6 days old and were coming thick and fast when we visited them, particularly after DS was 6 months old.

[becj86]

"At what age does it become weird?" was DH's main concern...

So, we're going to do don't offer, don't refuse during the day (offering one feed while at day care instead of two) and still do the wakeup and bedtime feeds... I do want to feed him through winter especially since we live in a place where people bring their foreign germs on holiday with them.

[amayzie]

How old is your LO again Becj? And your winter isn't that cold is it? So he'd still be benefiting from the fluid..

[katyusha]

As for pumping at work, I find it annoying that no one ticks off anyone who has to go get coffe or cigarettes or go online shopping, etc. There are many minutes that can be wasted that way. I did find it hard to pump at work so had to stop as the location was in another building.

[becj86]

He'll be one 16 April, Katy!! Can't believe he's made it to a year...

Anyhow, our winter isn't particularly cold (tops of about 20 at the coldest), but the Melbourne and Sydney people who come to Hammo/Airlie for holidays bring all their lurgies and we get sick

Totally agree on the smoking/coffee, etc. Kate - I'd be gone less for BFing twice a day than anyone who smoked regularly, esp. if they had a coffee after the cigarette(s).

[katyusha]

Strangely, with DD DH was very insistent on me stopping and i think it was because she was low weight and we had the wrong charts back then. But also I was going through a lot of effort/tiredness trying to pump, E refusing feeds or being too impatient, refusing formula and then she just loved cow milk. With DS because of the allergies and because it is second time round he is less bothered. However the unsettled times, the clinginess, the special smiles I get do get to DH. Plus the ED means different foods, maybe missing on something, etc. Having spent more time last week putting LOs to bed, etc, I think made things bett for us as DH could see that M can still take formula and be settled. But, yes I guess there is the potential for standing out, being considered wierd, etc. Last week DH saw an article on on-deamnd babies having higher IQ. That must have helped as well. Subtle unintential media compaign....

[amayzie]

but the Melbourne and Sydney people who come to Hammo/Airlie for holidays bring all their lurgies and we get sick

Us sick southerners!! I can imagine though!

[becj86]

Katy - haha! Yeah, you know how you get sick when you are on holidays?

Anyhow, after all that discussion about weaning L, now he's teething and so miserable and we had the worst night in a long time Oh, and his saliva's all acidic and burning me and his latch has gone out the window. This too shall pass.

[tigerlilly905]

Becj86, id your l/o on probiotics? It can really help ease the acidity in his saliva. You can mix some in his food, in a little expressed BM, or even put some of the powder on your nipples and he will get it when he nurses. xo

I think the "don't offer, don't refuse" is a great way to go about things.

[becj86]

No he's not on probiotics, I wasn't keen on the ones I could find here... They didn't go well for me when I had them so not sure whether to try the kids one on him :-/

I might stop offering him so many acidic foods though, he loves tomato and citrus fruits of any kind and while he's not eating much (other than frozen peas, strawberries and corn) I have been giving him guaranteed swallowing foods