Why do people assume that someone who is breastfeeding a child over 6 months isn't giving them food?

Question

When I see a question about breastfeeding concerning a child over 6 months people give their answer (which usually involves weaning) and then adds that the parents should be giving their child finger food. Duh! My son is 2 years old and still breastfeeding but that doesn't mean that is all he eats.

Belle - an exact example of assuming. My son uses a sippy cup for water and cow's milk but sometimes he still wants mine. And he is right on schedule for all his developmental milestones. BTW - no one has actually answered the question yet.

Answer 1

I think it's because they don't want you to breastfeed anymore...seriously. My dd is almost 11 months and often nurses more than 20 times a day. Some days she will eat three meals plus snacks, and other days she will barely pick at anything. I'm always getting questions like "well what did you FEED her today?" after someone has seen me nurse her 7 or 8 times. DUH!

I'll be glad to continue nursing her for months or years to come. I'll be especially glad when she enters the picky-eating stage of toddlerhood and I know she's still getting all the nutrients she needs from my milk.

Answer 2

Kudos to you for still breastfeeding. I breastfed my daughter until she was 2 and probably would have went a little longer if I hadn't gotten pregnant with my son who is now 6 months old and happily breastfeeding. I just started giving him some baby food too. I think it's just ignorance on some peoples part to think a baby can't be breasfed and eat food to. It's no different then giving a formula fed baby food. Do people think that someone should wean there formula fed baby at 6 months. Breastfeeding is a great experience, I have loved every minute of it with both my children. It creates an amazing bond. ANd it's the best thing for them. Why wouldn't peopIe want the best for there child. I know I'll breasfeed my son until he is at least 2 unless he weans him self earlier. Good luck with however long you decide breastfeed. Sometimes we just have to overlookn the ignorant people out there.

Answer 3

Why do people assume it? I don't know- we live in an age where some people think it's unacceptable to nurse a child too long. My daughter is 9 months old and still breastfeeds. That girl wouldn't touch formula with a 10 foot pole! I don't intend on making her and as I wean her (SLOWLY) she will get more and more nourishment from a sippy cup too, in addition to the meals she eats at the high chair. Sure, right now she only eats 2 meals and some snacks in addition to nursing, but that's what she likes. I don't see anything wrong with it, and I don't understand why people have problems with it, unless they're just jealous because their children rejected the breast!

Answer 4

Interestingly enough, I breastfed all of my children and on my most recent (now 10 months old) my pediatrician told my no foods until she was over 6 months, that she got everything she needed from the breast milk. And even then he said not to push too many foods as I hear a lot of people do, especially not fruits as they can cause diarrhea. I never pushed table food on my kids as I was afraid of them developing food allergies which can happen if you introduce them to food too young. And all of my children turned out to be very good eaters. None are picky and will eat whatever I cook including broccoli, asparagus, etc. (this refers to my sons ages 11 and 9, not my 10 month old daughter as she is now on formula as I am pregnant and the milk supply usually dries up pretty quickly when you get pregnant).

So I wouldn't worry about what other people assume or say. Most people are just plain idiots.

Answer 5

My belief in all this is our stupid govt and their ability for mass control of the people..... lol

ok well back when our moms were babies, the govt decided that cows milk was best and that giving a baby mommas milk would harm them.. that we could not do a good enough job... then the drug companies and such just had to try and mimic mommas milk with milk made for cow babies growth and development... im suprised we are all giong around mooing... ok that was just a joke....

our society has also encouraged moms to not be intune with their children.. what a great start when they tell us to bottle feed... now im not putting down moms who bottlefeed, but there is a totally different and closer bond to moms who breastfeed past one year. and the fallocy of moms who say i nursed a couple of months.. give me a break.. you still didnt give nursing the baby a chance at all... you didnt even get a good start....

so in this way... people have been brought up with the ideal that ALL babies should be brought up as if they are bottle fed... they dont understand the concept or the benefits of bf a baby especially after 1 year of age. .. ( i nursed my last baby until 20 months.)

Doctors dont even get training in school at all on the issue of breastfeeding and benefits... most doctors will say the promote breastfeeding, but at the first sign of distress, instead of figureing out the problem, the just say its time to switch to formula... there should be a lactactions specialist in every doctors office to help bf mothers...

ok enough of my opinions..

trish

Answer 6

Oh please I can tell people in here are ignorant and now nothing! Or they have their own "issues". Deal them with your mama and don't knock a real mother who gives her child the best for as long as the World Health Organization suggests. Plus who says that the breast is the only thing they are receiving? My baby is only 7 mos old now and he is breastfed, drinks from a sippy cup and eats. I will nurse my baby until he wants to, no matter how old they are. And for the stupid pervert idiot who said after one it's only for the benefit of the mother, you need some serious help, or maybe your mother didn't breastfeed you that's why you're so stupid.

Answer 7

He should have been weaned off the breast at one year of age. If not, then soon after. To be breastfeeding any longer is a comfort for you, not just him. He's old enough to be using a sippy cup. Playtex makes several in cute patterns & colors. There are even ones that keep the milk, juice or water cold while they nap or leave it sit around. He'll wean himself, you say? Hardly. There have been women who let their child or children breastfeed beyond age 3 on several talk shows, including Dr. Phil. It comes down to the mother not willing to wean the child & allow their child(ren) to grow & mature.

Answer 8

I think its because people assume that breastfeeding is done solely to provide nutrition for a child. Unless you have breastfed yourself it is difficult to understand that there is an emotional element to breastfeeding as well. I didn't realise what a special bond it creates between mum and baby until I breastfed my two boys.
There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding a child for extended periods. I'm pretty sure your son will let you know when he doesn't want to feed from you anymore!

Answer 9

Pure and plain ignorance! (to answer the question). Breastfeeding is a very personal bond between mother and child. Our culture, as a whole, doesn't understand it (unless they breastfed their children) & older generations didn't do it at all. I breastfed my daughter until 2 years old, and caught a lot of flack, which I ignored. When asked about food, I would quip, "Well, she certainly doesn't look malnourished, does she?" Keep up the good work, it's your personal decision! (and nobody else's business). I have absolutely NO regrets. Good luck!

Answer 10

People are idiots! Don't listen to what anyone else says. It's your child, do what you will. If you want to continue to breastfeed until your child is five, that is fine. People are uncomfortable with their own animal nature, and that is why comments get made and judgements occur. It's fine to breastfeed your child for as long as you please, so long as your body continues to make the milk, you can continue to breastfeed.
Besides, look at the health benefits. That is all that should be of concern to any breastfeeding mother.