Mothers really can?t win when it comes to feeding their babies. Regardless of what, when, where or how they feed, they?re going to offend someone. And moms who nurse their children past the age of one are no exception.
It doesn?t matter that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until at least the age of two. Or that the benefits of breastmilk continue past infancy. Some people just can?t keep their unsolicited advice to themselves. Here are some of the judgmental, offensive and ignorant comments moms who practice extended breastfeeding hear on a daily basis (and examples of what you should never say to them):
“Wow, you?re still nursing"”
This is as good as any a place to start, because an overarching theme here is this: It?s not your business, and it doesn?t affect you. Unless someone?s parenting is explicitly and immediately putting a child in harm, I suggest just keeping mum on the whole subject. “Once they can ask for it, they should no longer get it.”
Logically, this makes no sense. Most kids start talking at around one, so many babies can sign or outright ask for milk at a very young age. Others don?t start talking until they are toddlers. Which means using language as a cutoff date for breastfeeding would be totally arbitrary (and unhealthy).
“If she?s got teeth, then she?s ready to be off the boob and on to solids.”
Having a couple chompers in her mouth doesn?t mean a baby is ready to ditch the boob and head ...