Replies for YOUR STILL NURSING?

[caiesmommy]

So, my ds is 11 months..so it's starting,

"YOUR STILL BREASTFEEDING....SO HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND TO DO THAT FOR?..."

Please give me your best replies, cause I keep feeling cornered or that I have to explain myself,

My dp is gettinng frustrated cause he knows how much it bothers me that people are actinng like I'm doing sommething "wrong"..when I know that it's right...

HELP

[glorified_rice]

I always like to say "Are you aware that the World Health Organization recommends that all children are breastfed for a MINIMUM if two years?"

Or, to the question "How long do you intend to do that for?" I would ask them, "why are you asking." and leave it at that.

[13moons]

Heh, well I think I just ended up using "Until he/she is done" as my main answer for people when I was nursing. Not terribly creative, I know, but honest and straightforward. Occasionally I would elaborate that I believed in extended bf or CLW or whatever, but generally the simple answer worked as good as any for me during the 9 years I spent nursing.

Keep in mind that you are absolutely are right and doing a wonderful thing for your child and that you don't actually have to explain yourself to anyone you don't feel like explaining to. I know that sometimes that is hard to remember, but it is true.

[Meiri]

"Are you still nursing?" Of course not, I weaned from Mom a good .... years ago!

"Are you still nursing?" Of course, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) says that nursing into the third and beyond is good.

"Are you still nursing?" Yes. why? are you thirsty? You'll have to go get yourself something. We'll wait. (could ask them to bring you some water....)

"Why do you ask?" is always a good reply to such impertinent and rude questions.

[alegna]

of course
what's it look like?
what do you think?
at least until 2 years old!
he's not even TWO yet!
now that's a silly question
why do you ask?
why do you care?
what's it to you?
why, you want some?
what an odd question
do you always ask rhetorical questions?
why would you ask a question like that?
yes.
no, it just looks like I am
no, it's a magic trick

-Angela

[gaidinsgirl]

"what an odd question" is so great! I will have to remember to say that for other ridiculous questions too!

[wonderwahine]

depends on if he goes to a local college or not

[Ruthla]

"When do you plan to stop nursing him?"

"In about 5 minutes."
"until he's ready to stop"
"How long do you plan to keep asking me that question?"


"Are you STILL nursing him?"

"why are you so interested in my breasts?"
"Of course!!" (said with a huge smile)

[railyuh]

Originally Posted by 13moons

Keep in mind that you are absolutely are right and doing a wonderful thing for your child and that you don't actually have to explain yourself to anyone you don't feel like explaining to. I know that sometimes that is hard to remember, but it is true.

This is so true!

My response has just been "we have no plans to stop." I like the answer someone else gave, "Of course not, I weaned from Mom a good ... years ago!" I'll have to remember that one

[Madeleine'smom]

Originally Posted by wonderwahine

depends on if he goes to a local college or not

My standard answer is "when she is done"

[Oonah]

Originally Posted by glorified_rice

Or, to the question "How long do you intend to do that for?" I would ask them, "why are you asking." and leave it at that.

: that's what i tell those that I really don't want to talk about it with....

to people I know and understand that they're just curious....I just say I don't know.

[Oonah]

[QUOTE=Ruthla;8816978"How long do you plan to keep asking me that question?"

[/QUOTE]

[Daisie125]

SO HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND TO DO THAT FOR?..."

I suspect he'll wean sometime before college. If not, I guess I'll have to pump and ship it to him.

[pantufla]

It depends on how straight-faced you can be. I usually said, with absolute sincerity, "I am reasonably certain that he will be weaned before he goes off to college..." I got a lot of laughs that way, and then, depending on the situation, I could follow up with "The AAP & the WHO recommend nursing for at least two years, and for as long thereafer as is mutually agreeable."

Otherwise, I would say, "Until he's done." Or, "we're in the process of weaning." (Technically, once you start feeding solids, you are starting the weaning process.) Or, depending on the tone of the question, "We really have no plans at this point. If he wants to stop, he'll stop, and if not, then we won't."

[jaidymama]

Are the people really looking for an answer or are they surprised and feel the need to make a comment to deflect their own discomfort?

I know it doesn't make you feel any better when people are perhaps judging you for something you know is GOOD.

I would keep my response simple, and void of reactionary thinking. Otherwise you're just setting yourself up for a debate or something...

--Are you still breastfeeding? "Yes"

--How long do you plan to do that? (answer depends on how much you want to open up the conversation).

"As long as he wants" (be prepared with follow up information regarding recommendation to nurse until a child is 2 years old and beyond as mutually agreeable)
"I haven't decided" (perhaps deflects/ends that line of questioning)

Or you could just ignore the question/comment altogether and change the topic.

[ledzepplon]

I'd just smile and say, "Yeah, isn't it great?"

If they keep pestering, maybe "Um, I feel a little uncomfortable with your obsession with my breasts." Okay, I probably couldn't say that, but there have been times when I should have!

[marfmom]

I don't let them ask the question. If I think I'm going to be in a situation where someone is going to pull the "he's still nursing" routine. I put Him in his "I'll wean when I'm ready, it's not up for debate" T-shirt (he's 3).

-Heather

[SuperMoM2GTO]

I just say "are you serious?" and laugh.

[elvenpath]

My child is only 3 months old and I am starting to get that asked already. It's sick. I tell them it's none of their business.

[Turkish Kate]

"Sana ne?" Turkish for "What's it to you?"