Is there anyone else having issues with other people putting their two cents in your lifestyle? My little girl is 14 mths old and still breastfeeding and some people act like I'm bfeeding a 12 yr old.  "So, are you weaning her?", or "Oh, she's still bf?" She hasn't really caught on to the whole milk thing and I want her to get nutrients from some kind of milk- but I mean, do I really have to defend myself all of the time??  Do they REALLY care if I am bf my own child??

And since I'm on my soapbox, she sleeps with us too- which really get those opinions going..."Oh, my child has never slept in OUR bed' or "You know that habit is SO hard to break- she'll never sleep in her bed". But we love having her in our bed...

I feel like I have a chip on my shoulder or something- but why can't families just support eachother for the different choices that they each make??

I have an 18 month old and she still nurses and co-sleeps.

Other than my LLL friends the one that supports me 100% is my hubby. I don't want to force her to stop nursing and hurt her feelings and make her insecure just to satisfy the "American" way of thinking. Everyone I talk to from other countries don't look down on it it's just here that we look down and expect certain things from our shildren. It's sad really why do you think we have so many depressed people here because they feel like they could never live up to the way it's expected of them or never hear any praise.

My son went to his own bed at 2 he thought it was great to be able to get in and out of his own bed. Just brush it off maybe they are jelous of not having that closeness with their children.

you rock Mama!  Keep on doin' what you're doing, and rest assured you're being a wonderful Mommy!

I love JC's above post - awesome!  I agree 100%

we get a lot of static aboout the co-sleeping with our four month old.  I just tell people this is what works for our family and this is what we have chosen to do.  We are also not doing the full vacination schedule which has also caused much consternation.  I don't care, I am doing what I believe is right for our child and our family.  Since I have taken such a firm stance people tend to back off.

Yes, I am co-sleeping with my 27 month old daughter!

Breastfeeding and co-sleeping are wonderful if it works well for you and your nuclear family.  No one else's opinion matters.  As annoying as it can be to have to listen to outside opinions.  Keep your focus.  You know inside what is best for your child.

Some have suggested to me I am actually "harming" my daughter by not teaching her self-soothing techniques learned by sleeping alone.  What is interesting to me is that most adults prefer to sleep with someone they care about.  Why wouldn't I want to offer this same comfort and nourishment to the youngest and most vulnerable member of my family?

My daughter has her own twin bed in her room which she loves to read/rest on but she sleeps through the night happily with me and my husband.

Go girl!  Keep on breastfeeding and co-sleeping!  It's all good!

Best,

Becca

I really like Dr. Sears insight about co-sleeping (and breastfeeding as well).  Especially since he's a pediatrician with clinical AND practical experience with these issues, he goes into detail about how and why co-sleeping and BFing can be so good for baby.  So if you ever feel like you need "backup" for your family philosophy, you can always cite him to those well-meaning, but nosy people who think your family is their business.  :)

my almost 2 yr old still BF's.  It didn't feel right to force her to wean when I nurse her baby sister in front of her all the time!  She co-slept part time when she was a baby, but now she has her own room.  The little one is still in our room.

I know my mom nursed me when I was a baby, till 18 months of age.  I co-slept with her, and I was more independent at a much younger age than I think she would have liked!

When my daughter was only SIX months old people were shocked to find out I was still nursing her. How strange some people are. I just looked at them and said, 'Yeah I am and I'll be doing it till shes at least 2. Dont like it dont look!' LOL

And when people find out we co sleep...holy the poop flies then LMAO

Its what works for us, and thats all that matters. At first it seemed like I was almost apologetic for it when I would talk about it. Now I eaither dont because the fight that Im not really going to win isnt worth it or Im just very proud. I love snuggling up with her and falling asleep listening to her cute baby snoring and the smell of her hair <3 LOL