HELP...should a notify the police of possible child abuse?

Question

It disturbs ME to see it once the child is past a certain age. I do think it borders on incest or abuse after awhile. At a past job, I walked into the bathroom where my co-worker was breastfeeding her son. I was horrified, but I covered my reaction and asked gently, "How old is your son?" The boy stopped sucking, looked at me and said, "I'm six!", and went back to it. If they can walk up to their "meal" and just stand their to receive it, something's wrong. Especially if they already have all of their childhood teeth and are in school.
NOTE : IF YOU LIVE IN 3RD WORLD COUNTRY THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE YOU.......................MOTHERS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BREASTFEED CASE THERE IS NO OTHER FOOD.

Answer 1

Just to be safe call the police.

Answer 2

What is it about having teeth and being able to stand up that makes it so inappropriate? Or being in school? Breastfeeding is still an appropriate relationship between mother and child. There no understanding of inpropriety with the child. There is no intenion of inpropriety on the part of the mother. The milk the child recieves is still species specific and very nutritional.

It's pretty insane to think that milk from a cow would be more appropriate at any age than milk from a human.

The time that it becomes too old for the child to be nursing is when the child no longer wants to continue. For most kids that's before age 6. But for a few it might still be perfectly appropriate past age 6

Now having to eat in a bathroom - now that is disgusting.

Answer 3

It does seem strange for a mother to still be breastfeeding her child of six, but how does that come under the heading of abuse?
If the woman was getting some kind of sexual pleasure out of it, then maybe there would be cause for alarm. As she was doing it in a semi-public place I don't think anything sexual was going on.
Breastfeeding is more natural than either bottled or powdered "baby" milk. Mother's milk has anti-bodies that help a child's defences. I could go on.
The question here is not that a mother breast feeds her baby/child, but up to what age is it socially acceptable. Most people would argue that when a child is on solids, the need for its mother's milk is no longer necessary, but that does not make it wrong or abusive if the mother decides to continue after that.
Maybe the mother needs to be advised that breast feeding is no longer important for her son. Maybe she doesn't know. There are lots of maybes, but to call it abuse at this stage is, in my opinion, going too far.

Answer 4

Some parents have their own way of doing this, and it disturbs others because it's WAY over the top. Like you said, in a 3rd world country, maybe this is the norm, but here....it's disturbing. I still don't think Child Protective Services would see this as abusive. Weird yes, but abusive...I'm not so sure. There has to be some age though, when it becomes too much. I mean, if she were breast feeding her 15 year old, I'd think someone could draw a legal line.

Answer 5

When my brother first starting dating his fiance her son was still breastfeeding at times and he was about six which made no sense to me or my brother. At six children can eat the same foods we do and drink from a cup. Her explanation was that he still wanted it and she didnt want to take that comfort away from him. I told my brother that it seems borderline incest and he said he wasnt comfortable with it either and talked to her about it. She did stop and she is a good mother, I just think she let it go on too long and her son got used to it, its kind of like when you see a four year old still carrying a bottle or a pacifier. I dont think you should call the police if you dont see any other abusive behavior,(if she is otherwise a good mother you might be doing more harm than good) but you should talk to her or have someone talk to her nicely to find out where her head is at, and at least have her stop feeding him in the office restroom

Answer 6

I wouldn't consider that child abuse. Child endangerment, yes. Unfortunately, unless you have names of the people involved and/or documentation of the event, nothing you say or report will make any difference. It is frustrating, I know. If you have the names of the offender/offended, I advise contacting the local county Family Services center and leaving an anonymous tip. This event in itself may be nothing bit it could also lead the case workers to find that there is other abuse going on- even sexual abuse. Since it was a co-worker, definately do it anonymously because if there are other circumstances you are unaware of and it turns out not to be abuse, she could turn around and slap you with a law suit.

Answer 7

First off... Bobby, what were you doing in the women's bathroom? You said you walked into the bathroom to find your co-worker breastfeeding HER son.

Breastfeeding is a very delicate bond between a mother and her child. When you become a Medical Doctor or a Psychologist, then maybe you can decide when a woman is suppose to wean her child from nursing. Until then I would suggest minding your own buisness and staying out of the women's bathroom.

Answer 8

Your standards say that six is too old for breastfeeding. (Personally, mine do too). However, there is nothing wrong with it and if you are concerned, you might speak with your co-worker and find out if there is a medical reason the child is still on breast milk or otherwise. Express your concern for the child's well-being. Start there instead of turning in your coworker to CPS.

Answer 9

I wouldn`t breastfeed my child after about 6 weeks never mind 6 years,but everybody has different views and to some it`s the most natural thing in the world afterall thats what breasts are for!!

I dont think you should notify the police as i dont think it would count as child abuse.

Answer 10

Yeah I'd agree it's disturbing, I've seen programmes on that before and it's just weird - usually mothers thinking they're doing the best for their kids or that's what they claim. Hopefully the kids will turn out OK but I reckon it must greatly increase the chances of psychological disorders when they reach their teenage years. Imagine remembering that kind of thing? Yeah I think we'd all rather not!

Answer 11

To my mind there is something seriously wrong with a mother who continues to breast feed a child that is walking, talking, out of nappies and perfectly able to feed themselves. You do not have to report this matter to the police, they probably wouldn't react to this report in any case, but you can and should report it to your local social services department. if you live in the UK call your local council and ask for the social services department. Once through to them ask for the duty social worker who you can then report the matter to. Alternatively you can telephone the NSPCC who will also be able to advise you about this incident and whether or not it is considered abuse. Either way and where ever you reside please report it. I for one would consider it abusive behaviour.