Formula feeders only. Why are so many people bothered by those who breastfeed their children past 6 months?

Question

Really, I don't complain or bug them about feeding formula to their kids. Why is it anyone else's business when I wean my child?

My mistake. I should not have asked this of formula feeders only because I have heard this from breastfeeders, too. But I do want to hear from those who did not breastfeed past 6 months.

Answer 1

"Insecurity", is my guess. THOSE who are not able to breastfeed OR who are too lazy to breastfeed, are usually the ones who complain! The American Pediatric Association recommends breastfeeding until the child is 24 months old. Personally, I feel this a bit OLD (I stopped nursing all three of my children at 13 months of age). Now if you see a kid OVER two years of age................. well, THAT'S a bit much!

mb

Answer 2

My sister in law breastfed all of her children (she has 4) up to and beyond 2 years old. I on the other hand nursed 6 months or less with my children (I have 3). When she would come visit and wanted to nurse her 2 year old in public without covering up, I became uncomfortable and asked her to do it in the air conditioned car (we were at the park). She got mad and we had and still have an ongoing "discussion" about this very subject.
My stand point with her and with other people is that I don't care what people do in the privacy of their homes, but when they are in public they should (as they would expect other to do) respect that some people might not be comfortable with what they are doing. All I ask is that they cover themselves while nursing in public. Personally the idea of a big child, that can eat table food, hanging on to my breast is odd. I KNOW that in other countries women nurse their kids until past the age of 4, but we are not in other countries. Look I did a ton of research about breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding, and nothing can change my mind on what I see is wrong with nursing a big kid.

Sorry about the soap box - the point I wanted to get across is that your right, it's not any of my business when you wean your child, BUT ........ I shouldn't have to be okay with you nursing unexposed in public either. (When you are in public, I feel you are inviting public comments.)

Answer 3

I wanted to breastfeed my daughters, but for medical reasons was not able to. If I had, I would have done it for at least a year. People think of breastfeeding as sick or perverted because womens breasts have been downgraded from a natural part of us used to nurture our babies to something men oggle while they drink and fart in front of a game console. Do dogs get grossed out at the sight of puppies nursing?? Is it absurd to think a cow would nurture her calf through her teats?? People think we're so far above animals that we're to civilized to feed our young the way nature intended- when really doesn't that perversion make us more barbaric?

Answer 4

I don't think there's anything wrong with breastfeeding up to one year. At about one year, most pediatricians recommend that babies be weaned off bottles, and start drinking from sippy cups. Since a breast is basically a bottle that's attached to your chest (LOL) I assume the same thing goes for breastfeeding.

Answer 5

i say breast feed as long as u can handle it.personally i formula feed.