https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 23:17:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public/page/2#post-2549907 Mon, 16 May 2016 17:23:37 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2549907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we stopped nursing in public around 18 months. I don't think there's anything wrong with nursing a 2/3/4 year old in private or public, but it started making me feel self conscious. If I lived somewhere where breastfeeding toddlers was more common I would have done it longer.</p> <p>I just started asking him to wait until we got home, and he pretty quickly understood. I offered him a straw cup of cow milk or a pouch instead. </p> <p>We're finally down to nursing twice a day at 32 months. I'm ready to be done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public/page/2#post-2549903 Mon, 16 May 2016 17:16:17 +0000 Mama Bird 2549903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me personally, when it's no longer essential to being able to go places. Which was like six months for my kids - they were both doing well with solids by then and could wait until we were not in public. And they'd also get distracted so I was constantly afraid I'll end up flashing people. But that's just me, I don't care what others do :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549799 Mon, 16 May 2016 14:24:27 +0000 psw27 2549799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: hahahaah spot on with the GoT reference. </p> <p>I guess my answer to this is "whenever you are comfortable with" and for me, that was probably around a year? My LO just started being too distracted, large and wild for me to nurse in public. I had a larger chest when I was nursing and him popping off made me uncomfortable and then he could run away.... so it would be a disaster! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549783 Mon, 16 May 2016 14:09:31 +0000 Adira 2549783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: @runnerd: @snowjewelz: haha, that kid is only like 4 in the book, so not as bad, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549773 Mon, 16 May 2016 14:01:46 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2549773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only nursed my 3+yo once or twice in public, I felt very uncomfortable, and she could understand limits. But I had no problem nursing her in public under 3. I don't mind seeing any child bf in public, it was my own hang up about being judged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549717 Mon, 16 May 2016 12:55:05 +0000 skipra 2549717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't nurse in public much past the tiny baby phase just because I wasn't comfortable with it. I think once the kid gets easily distracted it is difficult to do - but that was just my own personal experience. I don't care what other women do! I would find it a little weird to see like a preschooler or older nursing in public but mostly just because I'd think it's more of a soothing thing at that point and not something that usually happens in public. (Unless they got hurt or whatever) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549709 Mon, 16 May 2016 12:34:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2549709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: Hahahah, love that you reference GoT</p> <p>I don't know, since I had to wean DD by 9 months not by choice. I didn't NIP much though b/c she was very fidgety and we both get super hot under a cover, etc. </p> <p>If all the stars aligned, I probably still won't do it past 1-1.5 years, since that means I always have to wear something nursing friendly, or make sure to have my nursing cover, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549708 Mon, 16 May 2016 12:30:27 +0000 runnerd 2549708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: LOL - I was thinking about that kid when I saw this thread</p> <p>ETA - I guess I'll answer the question too even though I am hesitant since I don't have a foot in the race. I chose not to breastfed at all, so I am overall a little uncomfortable with the process. That said, I find the idea of public breastfeeding over age 2 odd, since I have an almost 2 year old, and would feel very uncomfortable with him coming to me in public and asking for my breast around people at say the playground or whatever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549705 Mon, 16 May 2016 12:26:03 +0000 littlejoy 2549705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After weaning ... If a kid breastfeeds, who cares? It's food/nourishment/comfort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549704 Mon, 16 May 2016 12:22:29 +0000 catlady 2549704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>However old that kid from Game of Thrones was, so like, 10?</p> <p>Seriously though, for me personally, I was still BFing until she was past 2 but I felt semi-uncomfortable doing it in public after she turned 1. That was just me though and it was mostly because we couldn't really do it discreetly after that age (she was too easily distracted and also wouldn't let me use a cover). I have no problem seeing other women BFing older babies/toddlers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549702 Mon, 16 May 2016 12:16:03 +0000 PawPrints 2549702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am nursing in public a lot less often these days simply because DD a) doesn't need/want to nurse nearly as many times per day as she used to, and b) she's developed a habit of wanting to switch from side to side a million times, like a little pendulum, so that makes it hard in public anyway. </p> <p>To answer the question in general though, I don't think there's any age that's too old. My DD is 13 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549570 Mon, 16 May 2016 10:10:47 +0000 lamariniere 2549570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped nursing my two at 13 and 14 months. My youngest is almost 2.5 now and I could still imagine nursing in public at this age, but probably not after 3? I really don't care what other people do though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549562 Mon, 16 May 2016 10:03:04 +0000 yoursilverlining 2549562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really care, but I guess if I'm being honest I think like a 4 or 5 year old BF seems a little "old" for it - - but like I said, I also really don't care. Whatever works for mom/baby-kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549554 Mon, 16 May 2016 09:52:46 +0000 hellobeeboston 2549554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really care, but I guess I might think it was a little strange over the age of 3/4... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549526 Mon, 16 May 2016 09:19:42 +0000 mamabolt 2549526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped after around 20 months although she continued to nurse until she was 3. But I guess it wasn't out of weirdness but more just opportunity/frequency. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549515 Mon, 16 May 2016 09:10:13 +0000 petitenoisette 2549515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely no particular age, just reading these responses it's obvious what works for one person doesn't work for another. There is basically zero way I could get my almost 15 mo to nurse in public right now because she'd be too distracted (even if we try to go to a quieter place she still knows that there's more fun stuff going on elsewhere!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549428 Mon, 16 May 2016 06:46:02 +0000 Cole 2549428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: we are definitely no where close to morning and night- and I'm completely fine with that right now. We have done just sleep times only a handful of times and they have either been because I wasn't with her most of the time or we have been out all day and she's been too busy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549394 Sun, 15 May 2016 23:42:53 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2549394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I feel better reading that another kiddo similar age nurses more than once-twice a day. If we make it till nap and then bedtime with only 3 nursing times I am shocked! Or I would be, don't think it's ever happened. Not counting the near constant nursing from 5am till we get up in the morning (that's my cutoff for our "night weaning") </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549393 Sun, 15 May 2016 23:30:27 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2549393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to put it off these days at 16 months (and he's big so probably looks older) but it definitely depends on location. Like when he was younger I would do it discreetly basically anywhere. Now, I try to put him off or go find a quiet place. Interestingly, my husband who is very supportive of my son continuing to breastfeed while oblivious of any breastfeeding controversy commented recently (later just to me) that our friend's two year old looked a little strange nursing in public when we were at a casual outdoor winery. Weird to me that he even noticed since this kid is probably 10 lbs lighter and barely taller than our son! I ask him from time to time what he thinks about when I should wean (less for advice and more for curiosity sake) and he never had 2 cents to add. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549385 Sun, 15 May 2016 23:02:07 +0000 QBbride 2549385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never 😉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549379 Sun, 15 May 2016 22:47:31 +0000 autumnlove 2549379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around 1.5 for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549374 Sun, 15 May 2016 22:14:36 +0000 Foodnerd81 2549374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: oh HB is definitely more pro BFing than the general public I've encountered. I heard the same "if they can ask for it they're too old" or once they have teeth you should stop comments. Family members asked when I was planning to stop starting at like 6 months- though no one was rude about it to me. And I live in a very pro breastfeeding area. Just, pro until one and then isn't she a little old for that? I think the HB answers will be a lot more pro extending BF than what many people are really thinking in public. </p> <p>But again, who cares what they think? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549371 Sun, 15 May 2016 22:06:43 +0000 youboots 2549371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only time it was out of place to me was at a restaurant with the mom on a bar stool with a very large child with a full head of hair. That's the only time I've noticed because the kid looked huge and awkward on a stool. They could have been 2 or 4. But the kid was well over 2ft tall.</p> <p>Personally I would have been ok for myself until 2ish, but DD weaned by 13 mo. I'm glad I don't have to worry about it.</p> <p>In answer to your question I think 3ish? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549370 Sun, 15 May 2016 22:00:30 +0000 simplyfelicity 2549370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: By your relatives' logic, I should have stopped breastfeeding DS at 3 months. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549362 Sun, 15 May 2016 21:39:14 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2549362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ETA I would get a bit frustrated with my 18 month old when we would go fun places and then she would hust want to sit and nurse. That's when we put it to at home only or if she was injured or tired or something extreme. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549361 Sun, 15 May 2016 21:39:10 +0000 Truth Bombs 2549361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me personally I'm not comfortable with nursing in public after 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549358 Sun, 15 May 2016 21:37:01 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2549358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Age 2/3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549357 Sun, 15 May 2016 21:36:53 +0000 stargal 2549357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still nurse my 21 month old in public and was just curious to see what other thought. I'm on the camp of who cares, none of my business what others do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549351 Sun, 15 May 2016 21:16:22 +0000 NavyRN2012 2549351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I, personally, think as long as a child breastfeeds, it's okay to do it in public. Even if that's well past the age most of society deems appropriate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-is-to-old-to-nurse-in-public#post-2549348 Sun, 15 May 2016 21:00:18 +0000 pastemoo 2549348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stargal: When you don't want to anymore. </p>