[Nan'sMom]

My dds are 3.5 years old and 22 months old. I do NIP, but there are places where I try to avoid tandem NIP, partly because it's hard to get comfortable and partly because I don't like showing my belly to one and all...it seems like a bit of a spectacle for me to tandem NIP (I usually try to get dd1 to wait until dd2 is finished in these situations). I also find that I am sometimes a bit concerned about peoples' reactions to nursing a 3.5 y.o. Dh's coworker paled and switched conversations when she heard I was nursing dd2 at 18 months! I forget how off the norm we are sometimes.

So...I do NIP with both of them, but I do sometimes ask dd1 to wait a bit. Another thing I do is that if I'm with someone else's kids I don't know well, like kids we've just met at the playground or library, I make sure to NIP near the parents or out in public, so that if they are offended on behalf of their children, they are free to move their children (I know...strange thought...but I'd rather be on the safe side here).

I've never gotten anything but positive reaction (if any) about NIP (other than a woman who was surprised at the clothes store and a heavily medicated woman at the hfs who suggested the bathroom, in a sweet way)...and even got a huge smile from a man in NYC as I was latching on dd2 in her sling last week!

I'd love to hear how other people deal with all of this.

 

[cheenya]

I won't tandem in public anymore, but when I did I wore nursing shirts, the type with a slit over each breast, in order to keep a bit of privacy. DD is 4.5 now, and while she is showing no signs of letting up on nursing in general, we've talked a bit about not nursing in public. The conversations started because tandem nursing does frequently show so much, so I talked to her about privacy and not letting people we don't know see our breasts. If she gets hurt or otherwise seems to really need to nurse, I will still NIP, but that is very rare, usually now she can be comforted in other ways. I was comfortable nursing her anywhere until she was 3, after that we've slowly limited the places we'll nurse. In our area nursing a baby in not the norm, nursing a toddler is rare, but I'm not worried about social services being called, but nursing a child who looks like she might be old enough to be in school, I'm cautious about that around people we don't know.

 

[alegna]

I've only got one so far, but I do still NIP. Most recent was at a restaurant after a long day with no nap.

-Angela

 

[thismama]

I NIP in some places, not so much in others. Depends on how comfortable I feel. Mostly I say no to NIP, but I'll do it to enjoy a peaceful time hanging out with my friends at the activist-frequented pub in town. People are pretty cool, nobody stares, and the little one is quiet so I can actually have some adult social interaction!

 

[ChinaDoll]

I never did TNIP, but did NIP until around age 3. I probably would still NIP if DS was really tired/sick/hurt, but it just hasn't come up because he doesn't ask to nurse much while we're out - mostly at home on the couch, naptime/bedtime/owies.

 

[NatureMama3]

Like others it depends on how I'm feeling (what I'm wearing--I'm daring to wear some NIP-unfriendly things finally!) and what the place is. It also depends on how flustered my nursling is. If he's really upset he'll thrash around and pull my shirt up and such. Those times I head for somewhere more private. If he's just sleepy and snuggly I'll still NIP no problem.

Nobody has ever said boo about it and if they'e giving odd looks I must not be paying attention properly. The only person who has been shocked upon learning about his still nursing was my former OB who even while shocked didn't dare say anything about it while sitting under his pro-BF poster.

 

[hottmama]

I nursed my older nursling in public frequently until about 3.5, when my oldest son, by mutual agreement, cut back to only nursing 2-3 times a day, so usually it wasn't in public. Since about 4 he's been nursing only once a day and never in public, but if he was really hurt (like broken bone or something) I'd NIP without a second thought. He just doesn't need to nurse much anymore-- he does it to connect and relax, not to soothe his hurts or to get to sleep or for it's food/drink value.
My little guy isn't even 2 so I NIP with him all the time.
I tandem nursed in public a few times when my little guy was small and my biggest was only 3, and it was sure a spectacle! I had my shirt up past my boobs.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

I've only got one but he is 23 months and we still NIP. We were on a hike a week and a half ago and he was quite unhappy when I asked him to wait a couple of minutes until there was somewhere to sit. The funnest part is when he asks to ride in the cart while shopping and then pulls up my shirt while I am pushing the cart

 

[mama2toby]

This may be weird, but I'm more comfortable NIP than I am nursing around my friends that don't have kids. I dunno why.

 

[WannabeaFarmer]

We nip at the park and other places if we arent in a hurry. I actually figured out how to nurse DD in a shopping cart after reading how someone else here did it

 

[momuveight2B]

I do depending on the situation. We often have very long days out of town running errands. It is not always possible to wait till we get home for me or her.

 

[phreedom]

I said when once DD turned one I wasn´t going to be NIP anymore. (she is EASILY distracted and insists on having them both out at the same time...she goes back an forth) But that is easier said than done. If we are out for long periods of time, I don´t deny her. But when she is kept busy, itś not usually an issue. I try to find a comfy, quiet place or I go out to my big comfy truck. My main concern isn´t so much flashing my boobs, but my stomach. I´m self conscious of that. And when I´m nursing DD wants full access. I try to avoid it mainly for my own comfort.

People freak out when they hear I´m ¨still doing that¨ She just turned one on September 24th. It´s like once they hit that magic one year mark they are all of a sudden too old.

 

[SereneBabe]

We still nurse in public, though Maya rarely asks anymore.

I don't know if I'd be able to tandem, though, because of the more obvious nature of it.

Since Maya's such a big kid (4+) I am quite sure that many people who see us nursing assume she's just snuggling up in my lap.

I definitely say no to the "reaching over to the other breast and twiddling" nonsense when in public, though.

--Heather

 

[Dandelionkid]

I still nurse my 17 month old in public but I stopped NIP my 3.5 year old around age two. I was at thanksgiving dinner recently nursing my DS (18 months) and my BIL made comments to his wife across the room that he thought I couldn't hear (something about whipping out "that thing") I never use a blanket but never, ever show any breast. My babies head, my shirt cover everything. Still boiling about it... Anyway.... I will probably keep NIP till age 2 again-then limit to home after.

 

[being]

dd-2.5 NIP daily -several times as we are out & about for extended periods.
She's nearly 3 foot tall !!! and looks @ 4years old.As a pp mentioned i think many people assume she is snuggling on my lap.
Outside she's got the no uncovering/twindling #2 as she calls "her"down...
but when we are at home or someone elses she loses all restraint...Go Figure...

 

[imbarefoot]

I NIP just about anywhere. Well, besides church. I just don't feel comfortable nursing in the sactuary. But I will go upstairs and nurse in a room that has the TV in there with the service being played. There are often other mothers and fathers in there and I have no problem doing it in there.

But at parks, stores, or resturants, sure.

The only time I wouldn't in those situations is sometimes I get some creep that won't stop staring so we usually get up and leave and I do it in my car or outside in some grass.

 

[mama_nym]

I nurse my children anywhere they need to nurse (except the bathroom!!!). They are 5 and 2. I nursed Z in public when he was 6. For us, it's a normal part of life and I really don't give it much thought- my child has a need, and I meet it.

 

[east carolina]

I only have 1 DC, he's 30 months. I NIP anywhere, except when we're visiting certain relatives, in which case we go find an empty room where they won't notice. I do this mostly to shield DS because these relatives unfortunately can be very nasty and I don't want DS to be exposed to any bad nursing vibes from his family. Thankfully, we don't see them that often, so it's not that big of an issue.

I still feel very comfortable NIP, it's ironic that I can nurse my big toddler on crowded bus and no one bats an eye, but my mom and my aunts

 

[[email protected]]

My DS (4 years & 10 months) has stopped NIP and even if others are around at home. Nut I have to sometime tandem NIP DD#1 (3.5 years) with DD#2 (8.5 months). Care to be taken on such occasions depends on where we are. I try to avoid tandem NIP at places where rank outsiders are present (only DD #2 is nursed under the Burqa (veil). But if only known women and very little children are around, say, at somebody's place or in a separate enclosure, there is no need to worry about NIP, especially if some other women are doing it. In our community and culture womenfolk do not hesitate to show their body parts among themselves, a la at community baths or in a relation's inner courtyard. We may even talk about size and shape of each others' breasts, brassiers, breastfeeding issues etc. on such occasions.
Uzra

 

[Ammaarah]

I don't really consider my daughter an older nursling, because she's only 25 months, but by US standards she is. We NIP when she needs it but I don't offer in public and haven't in a long time. It's not because of any objection or embarassment. More because it's a time suck, so to speak! So we only do it when she really needs it.