Breast Feeding Ages

[Unregistered]

I said I might have a problem ...maybe
I am not sure what age is good for a child to not have mothers milk any more
or when they would no longer need it
I " assumed " it was just around 2 yrs old ....not 3 ...which mom had said she would bf to age 3
I would think if getting lots of belly filled with milk the child would not want the food ???

today at pick up when we where out side ...they didnt bf and I did mention faster drop off in am
the child is doing very well for just new here and new day care experience and smart as a whip
so if the child at 2 can still eat much solid food I agree she can wait and do at home
I have many parents and children to concider and interact with at these times , I just had a special needs 10 yr old boy who left at same time they started and well, it would of been very hard on him to see ...and I would of course had to separate them all, if that was happening ....he would of been too focused ...we had a person come to teach him boundries of his and other bodies while he was here ...he would of been giggling and talking about nursing and bobbies all day long ...very sweet boy
they are not my first bf just my oldest and remember she said to 3 years old

and I do not believe in cows milk for humans ....

[Sugaree]

I said I might have a problem ...maybe
I am not sure what age is good for a child to not have mothers milk any more
or when they would no longer need it
I " assumed " it was just around 2 yrs old ....not 3 ...which mom had said she would bf to age 3
I would think if getting lots of belly filled with milk the child would not want the food ???

today at pick up when we where out side ...they didnt bf and I did mention faster drop off in am
the child is doing very well for just new here and new day care experience and smart as a whip
so if the child at 2 can still eat much solid food I agree she can wait and do at home
I have many parents and children to concider and interact with at these times , I just had a special needs 10 yr old boy who left at same time they started and well, it would of been very hard on him to see ...and I would of course had to separate them all, if that was happening ....he would of been too focused ...we had a person come to teach him boundries of his and other bodies while he was here ...he would of been giggling and talking about nursing and bobbies all day long ...very sweet boy
they are not my first bf just my oldest and remember she said to 3 years old

and I do not believe in cows milk for humans ....

Actually, 2 is the minimum recommedation by the WHO. Three is not unheard of and is, in fact, evolutionarily normal. Remember that most children will self-wean when they are ready and almost all of them do that before their 4th birthday.

After the first birthday, nursing isn't just about sustinance. It's about comfort and immunity. The human immune system isn't fully developed until well into childhood. Breastmilk continues to provide the antibodies that a child needs until that side.

It seems to me that this is less a problem with breastfeeding and more about breastfeeding a toddler. It's up to you whether you provide a nursing space, but please do some research about the benefits of extended breastfeeding before passing judgement. kellymom.com has some great resources.

[daycare]

While I agree with you 100% on what you are saying, I don't think that anyone is passing judgement on it.

The real issue that I see here is that DCM is getting an additional hour of the providers time each day taking away from running her business and personal time.

A child of this age should have no issues with feeding at home in the morning and then waiting to get home at night.

I have two kids age 2 and 2.5 the moms still nurse, but I don't allow for them to nurse here. I don't have the space or time for it. My program does not take infants, so we did not design it with BF in mind.

Neither of my families have an issue with BF at home and not here.

[_Dana_]

While I agree with you 100% on what you are saying, I don't think that anyone is passing judgement on it.

The real issue that I see here is that DCM is getting an additional hour of the providers time each day taking away from running her business and personal time.

A child of this age should have no issues with feeding at home in the morning and then waiting to get home at night.

I have two kids age 2 and 2.5 the moms still nurse, but I don't allow for them to nurse here. I don't have the space or time for it. My program does not take infants, so we did not design it with BF in mind.

Neither of my families have an issue with BF at home and not here.

Yes to all of this, but especially the bolded parts.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Why does the morning feeding have to occur AT your house? Can't she nurse before dropping off?

Same with the pick up feedings? Why do they have to take place AT your house? At 2 yrs old the child can wait until they get home.

I would NOT entertain that for ANY age child when the feedings can occur BEFORE drop off and AFTER pick up. During the day is a completely different thing but those two particular times are not something I would be okay with as there really doesn't seem to be a reason for it...kwim? not at that age.

ABSOLUTELY!!! ...says the mom still nursing her 16-month-old. You want to do extended breastfeeding? AWESOME! But, you don't HAVE to do it at my place of business/my home. You can wait or do it before arriving.

[Cradle2crayons]

I agree. Nobody here is passing judgement on the breast feeding. Just the fact it's happening at daycare when it's not needed.

I absolutely require all babies come fed... Before daycare. And a child that age can wait to get home. It has nothing to do with the act of feeding but more to do with them arriving early, staying late, and staying too long each day.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would welcome any parent at any time to come and breastfeed their baby. Maybe I am weird but I have zero issues with it and would be very supportive and I would not care if others saw it including the kids in my care. I am really not sure what the issue is?! She is providing comfort to her child. Is it because it's a breast and how much we as a society sexualized breasts? If she gave her kid a cookie and sat and let him eat it would that be an issue?

Maybe the mom has a long commute and wants to connect before and after daycare? Maybe she doesn't have a supportive partner at home? Who knows!

Yes, a cookie would be an issue as well. Any meal/snack would be. I provide all snacks and drinks here...there is no need for a toddler to be consuming anything else here and I have even written that into my handbook.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I said I might have a problem ...maybe
I am not sure what age is good for a child to not have mothers milk any more
or when they would no longer need it
I " assumed " it was just around 2 yrs old ....not 3 ...which mom had said she would bf to age 3
I would think if getting lots of belly filled with milk the child would not want the food ???

today at pick up when we where out side ...they didnt bf and I did mention faster drop off in am
the child is doing very well for just new here and new day care experience and smart as a whip
so if the child at 2 can still eat much solid food I agree she can wait and do at home
I have many parents and children to concider and interact with at these times , I just had a special needs 10 yr old boy who left at same time they started and well, it would of been very hard on him to see ...and I would of course had to separate them all, if that was happening ....he would of been too focused ...we had a person come to teach him boundries of his and other bodies while he was here ...he would of been giggling and talking about nursing and bobbies all day long ...very sweet boy
they are not my first bf just my oldest and remember she said to 3 years old

and I do not believe in cows milk for humans ....

Honey, you insisting she not nurse her toddler on your property has NOTHING to do with weaning. I only nurse my toddler during business hours ONE time. She still gets two other nursing sessions outside of work (early morning before kids arrive and before bedtime). She can still get a lot of mama milk time by tweaking her schedule a mere 15-30 minutes.

Oh, and they have shown how beneficial human milk is for children from birth on up. It doesn't stop providing wonderful things after they turn 1, 2, 3...so you don't even need to make the call on when she should wean her child. You just need to decide what you want to do as far as having mom nurse her toddler right at drop off and right at pick up on your property when you could be having your work day start later and end earlier.

[Blackcat31]

Yes, a cookie would be an issue as well. Any meal/snack would be. I provide all snacks and drinks here...there is no need for a toddler to be consuming anything else here and I have even written that into my handbook.

ECS~ You are the first breastfeeding mama, I have ever had the pleasure of knowing that doesn't automatically get defensive about nursing/BF'ing issues when they are mentioned.

Just because a provider has an issue with a parent being at her house early or later than they need to be, doesn't automatically mean the provider is anti-breastfeeding.

I FULY support breast feeding moms....I don't care if they do it until the child graduates from college....just don't make it something that affects MY program and/or the needs of the other kids in care.

I am GROUP care, that means I need to do what works best for the group verses one child.

I am a self-employed business owner, that means I need to run my program in a manner that works for ME, verses what works for one parent.

This situation has zero to do with nursing, breast feeding or extended nursing....it is about the time and space the parent is using that belongs to the provider.
It's that simple.

[lovemykidstoo]

I have a problem ...maybe
I have a very new client that has a early am start
she comes and sits and breast feeds for 10-20 min ..no one else is here
then at pickup comes at pick up time and sits and breast feeds again
for 15 mins or more
the child is "2" in Feb
I asked yesterday ..how long does she plan to BF ..she stated an other year
so .....I have a plan
I will do my best to feed this child as much as possible during the day
and at pick up I will do my best to be busy and not availible to visit and have the gang busy in an other room
she is a lovely young mom and is open to ideas and learning ..which is great
and I know it is a personal choice of how long one bf .....but
I feel this one might confuse the rest of my gang and she often ( the child ) will stand on the floor while mom on couch and feed ...
and I am not sure how I feel about a 2 1/2 year old breast feeding

I'm just curious and that's all it is, but is this a normal setup for a child of this age to BF with the child standing and the mom sitting on the couch?

It boils down to the time that the mom is there with her child. Just as none (or most) of us would not allow a child to bring a snack in, gum, candy, toys, etc, this is the same thing. It does not change anything because it's breast feeding.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

ECS~ You are the first breastfeeding mama, I have ever had the pleasure of knowing that doesn't automatically get defensive about nursing/BF'ing issues when they are mentioned.

Just because a provider has an issue with a parent being at her house early or later than they need to be, doesn't automatically mean the provider is anti-breastfeeding.

I FULY support breast feeding moms....I don't care if they do it until the child graduates from college....just don't make it something that affects MY program and/or the needs of the other kids in care.

I am GROUP care, that means I need to do what works best for the group verses one child.

I am a self-employed business owner, that means I need to run my program in a manner that works for ME, verses what works for one parent.

This situation has zero to do with nursing, breast feeding or extended nursing....it is about the time and space the parent is using that belongs to the provider.
It's that simple.

That is so kind, thank you. It really is an issue about time and space.

[sharlan]

I would welcome any parent at any time to come and breastfeed their baby. Maybe I am weird but I have zero issues with it and would be very supportive and I would not care if others saw it including the kids in my care. I am really not sure what the issue is?! She is providing comfort to her child. Is it because it's a breast and how much we as a society sexualized breasts? If she gave her kid a cookie and sat and let him eat it would that be an issue?
Maybe the mom has a long commute and wants to connect before and after daycare? Maybe she doesn't have a supportive partner at home? Who knows!

Yes, it would be an issue for me. Mom and child can reconnect at home.

I have had many bf'ing moms over the years. I don't have a problem with an infant being nursed before the ride home. Once the child is able to eat, he/she can wait until they get home.

I like my parents to come in and make a quick drop off in the morning. I also appreciate a quick pick up in the evenings.

[Play Care]

Actually, 2 is the minimum recommedation by the WHO. Three is not unheard of and is, in fact, evolutionarily normal. Remember that most children will self-wean when they are ready and almost all of them do that before their 4th birthday.

After the first birthday, nursing isn't just about sustinance. It's about comfort and immunity. The human immune system isn't fully developed until well into childhood. Breastmilk continues to provide the antibodies that a child needs until that side.

It seems to me that this is less a problem with breastfeeding and more about breastfeeding a toddler. It's up to you whether you provide a nursing space, but please do some research about the benefits of extended breastfeeding before passing judgement. kellymom.com has some great resources.

The WHO recommendations are in place because in many areas of the world water and food supplies are not up to standard. Better for a mother in Africa to breastfeed her 3 yo so he's getting *something* in his belly...
In addition there have been recent studies on breastfeeding that show its not the panacea motheringdotcom and the like would have you believe in terms of immunity. I am NOT saying that breastfeeding isn't wonderful. It is, I've done it twice but it's no magic wand.
Regardless of the op's personal feelings, there is NO reason for a toddler to be nursed at day care *especially* if the provider is expected to open early and close late for it. Just as I wouldn't allow a mom to come early to bottle feed her 2 year old...

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

The WHO recommendations are in place because in many areas of the world water and food supplies are not up to standard. Better for a mother in Africa to breastfeed her 3 yo so he's getting *something* in his belly...
In addition there have been recent studies on breastfeeding that show its not the panacea motheringdotcom and the like would have you believe in terms of immunity. I am NOT saying that breastfeeding isn't wonderful. It is, I've done it twice but it's no magic wand.
Regardless of the op's personal feelings, there is NO reason for a toddler to be nursed at day care *especially* if the provider is expected to open early and close late for it. Just as I wouldn't allow a mom to come early to bottle feed her 2 year old...

That's interesting! I figured the immunity thing as my daughter catches many a cold despite the "liquid gold" in her diet. ::

[Play Care]

That's interesting! I figured the immunity thing as my daughter catches many a cold despite the "liquid gold" in her diet. ::

I have two kids - one who was exclusively breastfed and the other who had a mix of EBM/formal (cause the hussy wouldn't latch!!:: ) the one who started out with EBM but eventually switched to formula has never had an ear infection, allergy, serious cold, etc. the exclusively breast fed child has asthma, allergies, ear infections, etc
My one neighbor is a LLL leader and has extended bf all her kids - all three have had major ear infections, tubes etc. the oldest is grossly overweight.
Most of my neighbors breast fed, and our kids are all...normal kids (No superheroes or geniuses among them:::: )
Anecdotal to be sure, but shouldnt be dismissed on that alone

I think the new line of thought is that it's more the interaction with baby (because parents who breastfeed are more likely to be highly educated) rather than the actual milk that leads to optimal results for breast fed babies.