As many of you know..I have a 2.5 month old daughter and twin boys who are 14.5months old. The boys are fully switch over to whole milk. Hannah is breastfed. I do pump since I produce extra milk. I take bottles for Hannah with me when we go out in public or over the grandparents houses (I'm a bit shy about public bfing). If Hannah doesn't finish her bottle I let one of the twins finish it off for her (whoever is hungry at the time or who ever gets to the bottle first) I've had people (dh's family mostly) make comments that it's "gross/yicky" that my boys are drinking my bm. I just don't see it. What's so gross about it? Most babies are breastfed way past a year old. My sons are only 14.5 months. No one would think otherwise if I didn't have a younger child. I just don't see the big deal. It's better for them and I don't see the point in wasting perfectly good milk. It would be different if they were 4, but come on they are still babies themselves. It's not like they are still bf along with Hannah. They are just getting leftovers from her bottle. Am I wrong? Maybe I am, but it wasn't long ago that they were drinking bm and no one thought twice about it.
As many of you know..I have a 2.5 month old daughter and twin boys who are 14.5months old. The boys are fully switch over to whole milk. Hannah is breastfed. I do pump since I produce extra milk. I take bottles for Hannah with me when we go out in public or over the grandparents houses (I'm a bit shy about public bfing). If Hannah doesn't finish her bottle I let one of the twins finish it off for her (whoever is hungry at the time or who ever gets to the bottle first) I've had people (dh's family mostly) make comments that it's "gross/yicky" that my boys are drinking my bm. I just don't see it. What's so gross about it? Most babies are breastfed way past a year old. My sons are only 14.5 months. No one would think otherwise if I didn't have a younger child. I just don't see the big deal. It's better for them and I don't see the point in wasting perfectly good milk. It would be different if they were 4, but come on they are still babies themselves. It's not like they are still bf along with Hannah. They are just getting leftovers from her bottle. Am I wrong? Maybe I am, but it wasn't long ago that they were drinking bm and no one thought twice about it.
No way are you wrong! BM can still benefit the boys for years to come if you want to give it to them. There is nothing wrong with letting them have it. Some people are just uncomfortable with anything and everything, don't pay any attention to them. Your boys still reap such huge benefits from your milk. Keep doing what you are doing Amber!
I see nothing wrong with it. I know how hard it is to make all that precious breastmilk and I'd sure hate to see it go to waste!
I BF my singleton son over 14 months. I know some of my family members thought it was too long but, it worked for us. My son was walking, saying a few words and keeping up with his big brothers and he still got nursed so that is not gross, it is natural. I would only see a problem with having kids share a sippy after the other has drank from it but we all know kids sometimes do it anyway so again, not a huge deal.
quote: Originally posted by EquestrianMom: I would only see a problem with having kids share a sippy after the other has drank from it but we all know kids sometimes do it anyway so again, not a huge deal. Do you mean siblings? My girls share sippy's/bottles all of the time. That would be way too complicated to make sure they always had their "own" cup/bottle!
quote: No way are you wrong! BM can still benefit the boys for years to come if you want to give it to them. There is nothing wrong with letting them have it. Some people are just uncomfortable with anything and everything, don't pay any attention to them. Your boys still reap such huge benefits from your milk. Keep doing what you are doing Amber! Ditto!
Our kids are alomst the same age and I am still BF'ing them. THe only difference is that your kids are getting it from a bottle and mine directly from the spring. They are the ones who are off base on this one!
quote: They are just getting leftovers from her bottle. Am I wrong? Maybe I am, but it wasn't long ago that they were drinking bm and no one thought twice about it. At first I thought the issue was them finishing her bottle when she was finished - sharing germs, etc. I know I don't like to share my drink with anyone. But it's not like mothers who BF twins wash their nipples between feedings either. My feeling is they think sharing leftover bottles is icky, not the act of breastfeeding multiple kiddos. You do what you think is best. You're the mommy and we mommies are the smartest people on earth
People think that's weird? I think it's great! No waste, and it's also a "free" snack for your bigger kids...
That's ridiculous that someone would criticize you for that. Your milk is WAY more nutritious for your boys than cow's milk. They are getting milk that is perfectly designed for their nutritional needs PLUS antibodies to help fight illness. Why waste that EBM when your boys can put it to such good use? Any amount is great for them. A lot of people have negative ideas about breastfeeding. Some people think only the tiniest infants should be drinking their mother's milk. It's just a lot of pre-conceived ideas about women's breasts and misinformation about the vast benefits of breastfeeding. Don't worry, you are doing a good thing! Michelle
What do they call BM? Liquid gold? Well I think it is great that you give them the rest and dont waste it. I nursed my oldest son until he was 2 1/2 and the benefits that I see now are amazing and he is 13! There is nothing wrong with it. I wish that I had nursed all the kiddoes now.
I'm confused. What do they say is gross about it? They think it's fine for your 2.5 year old, but not your boys?! That doesn't make any sense to me! i don't think there's anything wrong with it!
I personally don't think its yicky at all and that its no big deal. BM is a good resource. I have often wished that I still produced BM for my two.
I think there will always be people who have hangups about stuff like that. Just think of the women who used to be wet nurses, breast feeding someone else's child. Can you imagine how that would be treated here in this day and age. I agree with why waste it. The only thing that came to my mind when I was reading your post was that I remembered my doctor and books saying you should take your children off a bottle at one year. Now, I'll admit I didn't do that with my son, but I did with the girls. If you were trying to take the boys off the bottle, you could always transfer the milk to a sippy cup, but it just depends on whether that's your goal or not.
Not at all. I am still breast feeding my 18 month old. And my girls sometimes play and will breast feed..they are 3. I dont see it as gross at all. Brandy
quote: Originally posted by greymom: That's ridiculous that someone would criticize you for that. Your milk is WAY more nutritious for your boys than cow's milk. They are getting milk that is perfectly designed for their nutritional needs PLUS antibodies to help fight illness. Why waste that EBM when your boys can put it to such good use? Any amount is great for them. A lot of people have negative ideas about breastfeeding. Some people think only the tiniest infants should be drinking their mother's milk. It's just a lot of pre-conceived ideas about women's breasts and misinformation about the vast benefits of breastfeeding. Don't worry, you are doing a good thing! Michelle This is what I was going to say. Your boys shouldn't miss such a golden opportunity because of some people's ignorance. My girls still nurse and are older than your boys, so the only difference I see is they are drinking after her. I would be more concerned about that part than any other, but I would let them have it too since bm has antibacterial/antiviral properties anyway. You are a smart cookie
I would not listen to anyone who said that. They obviously are not educated on the matter. Good for you!
Absolutely not!! I think it's wonderful!! And good for them. If they will drink it, more power to them and to you!! And you're right, it'd be like wasting liquid gold, imo.
It is not yicky to bf at 14.5 months so why would it be wrong to give them bm? Tell them the World Health Organization suggests bfing until 2 years. People just don't get it when it comes to bm.
I just don't understand people. It's not icky to drink cow's milk, but it's icky to drink your milk? That's so weird. I think it's great that they still love it and will 'snack' on it. You just gave me a good reason to have another baby when I'm done BF'ing.. so my twins can continue to get BM snacks! Stacy
I think it's awesome what you're doing!! Like you said, your boys are still babies themselves. My boys are still BFing and we have no plans of stopping anytime soon. Don't let anyone's comments get to you...you know what's best for your babies!
I think it is perfectly fine! You are right! Don't waste the precious GOLD of bmilk! Michael is still bfing (we are almost weaned tho) and he is 14 months! Your twins are still little and they can benefit from every drop ...STILL!! Bridget Do what you feel is right, and what is in your heart!
Icky would be pouring it over breakfast cereal, or offering it to your guests to cream their coffee! What you're talking about is no big deal.
I'm not entirely sure what they think is icky, that they're getting bm or that they're drinking after your dd. It doesn't really matter, though. My answer is the same. You're right. If its the bm that bothers them, they just don't know what they are talking about. If its the sharing the cup/bottle, then I'm sure that they are very clean people who made sure that their kids never drank after anyone else. Yeah, right! They live together, they're going to share some germs.
