Mother asks "You're not still bfing, are you?

[wagamama]

I was on the phone with my mother discussing our summer visit when she said this. (I live overseas but will be visiting for a month with my 4 & 2 years olds.) My daughter is almost 2 1/2 and still nursing. I am fairly sure that not only my mom, but also sister and her family, think this is pretty "weird".

My question is -- how should I deal with this. I'm feeling like I don't want to bf DD in front of them. So the solution would be to go to the bedroom each time DD wants to nurse? She nurses quite frequently, so this will be a challenge ... Any advice appreciated!

[anneliza77]

Personally I let my family sweat it out. One person once BF a baby beyond 5 months in my family before me (my DD is 2.75 and pregnant). I'm around them several times a year though.

[annettemarie]

I'm going to move this out to Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy.

[Pirogi]

I also don't try to hide my nursing. I will move to a spot in the room that unobtrusive, for my own comfort, but I do this wherever I am anyway. My dad is the vocal one about it, but only every once in a while will he make a remark. If he were to say something in front of DD or to DD, I would have a problem with this. I would probably not visit, actually, until she had weaned. But if it is just a bit uncomfortable for the adults ... eh, whichever. I refuse to be uncomfortable about it, so if they want to feel weird about it, that is their choice.

[averlee]

I'm very sorry your mom doesn't support your nursing. I find it sad that nursing your baby- and yes, at 2.5 I'd still consider most little ones babies- is some kind of controversy. Me, I'd probably tell her off in an informative and no-nonsense kind of way...but I'm pushy like that, I never let anything slide. Example- "Yes, I absolutely am still nursing my baby, it is what's best for her and I do everything I can to give her every advantage in life, I've read about 50 books about childrearing plus studied child development, which if you had done, you'd agree with me. If you aren't going to be supportive please do not mention it again. Thank you! Now let's have some tea."

[seashells]

I'd just nurse. Going to the bedroom isn't going to make them shut up; they'll just yap at you when you get back. I think I'd just go with "I'm the mama, my choice, end of story" if anyone tries to make a federal case out of it.

I think it IS kind of strange to get used to if you aren't exposed to it. You get this idea that only TINY babies nurse. I think it will be harder for you since you are overseas, and they aren't seeing your baby grow on a more day-to-day basis.

My mom made some anti-BF-beyond-infancy remark when my DD was just a few days old. She was talking about some friends who were still nursing their 2.5 year old. But my mom got over it, as she watched DD grow she saw DD as a baby for longer than 6 months or 12 months or whatver her magic age was before. At 13 months nursing still seemed natural. And 15 months. And 18 months. She just got used to it.

DD just weaned at 4.5.