Breastfeeding?

Question

I was going over some other questions from other people and came across one. It was about long-term breastfeeding. I'm not going to name any names, but there was a woman who said her daughter is almost 4 and still breastfeeding. What do you think about that? Breastfeeding a child who's old enough to attend school? Does anyone else find that a bit wrong?

Okay "momma2mingbu" you go with that..I'm sure your daughter will love remembering back to when she was in kindergarten and was still be breastfed like an infant.

I'm so glad my kids can feel loved and safe without me treating them like infants.

Answer 1

That is ridicoulous, I would never breast feed a child at that age. I would breastfeed the longest would be a 1yr old and I still feel that it's a bit much.. Maybe I will do it until 6 mth's...

Answer 2

I once thought it weird to breastfeed past a year, too until I actually breastfed my son. At 12 months old neither of us were ready to give it up. As time went by it became more and more natural. People forget that we don't just pick up a toddler and start breastfeeding him. This child was an infant when we started this together and it has become a very comfortable part of our day. My son is 2.5 years old now and I really do not know when he will self-wean. Sometimes I wish it will be soon but most of the time I am dreading it.
I just wish people would just stop and accept the decisions of others and not be so judgemental about things that they know nothing about. Your opinion is just that and you have a right to it but don't make someone feel horrid for making a choice that you wouldn't make for yourself or your child.

Answer 3

To each their own. I think most women don't breastfeed nearly long enough (since most stop by six months). For me four would be a little long but I think kids give it up when they're ready. My daughter gave it up at 2 1/2, but it was just because I was 5 months pregnant and lost my milk. Otherwise I don't think she would have. But trust me, once a child is ready to stop she is ready to stop. It's not like you can force a child to breastfeed- a child who is still breastfeeding at four is one who still WANTS to be breastfeeding.

Almost four is not really old enough to go to school. It's old enough for preschool, but some 2-year-olds go to preschool as well. When my daughter is almost four she will still have a year and a half before she would start kindergarten. In the Phillipines they used to have (or still have?) a break in the middle of kindergarten for kids to go home and breastfeed.

I get tired of moms who bottle feed saying "Don't judge me for bottle feeding- we should all do whatever we think is best." and then turn around and criticize women for breastfeeding "too long". It's really just a cultural thing- worldwide the average age of weaning is just over 4 years.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with it as long as both the mother and the child want to continue to nurse. I never thought I would nurse my children past a year. But my son nursed till he was 3.5 years old and my daughter nursed till she was 4.5. It's not something I strived for. I believe in child lead weaning and that is what I have done.
My children are healthy, happy and secure people. We have a tight bond and my children remember what it was like to nurse. After a certian age, nursing isn't about food. It's about comfort, security and closeness. Some people give their child a blanket to get that. Some believe as I do.
It's not sexual. God gave women breasts to feed and nurture their children. Not to touch or look at for sexual pleasure. I think once people get past the sexual aspect of breasts, then nursing a child past 6 months would be encouraged and acceptable.

Answer 5

The original poster obviously is not aware how it feels to be a mother and what is best for children. Our children need the best nutrition, as you all know, and breastmilk is the best nutrition for our children. If a mother wants to nurse her child until 4, 5 or whatever then she is giving her child a mother's nutrition. Who said that breastfeeding is only for infants? Our dumb society has made breastfeeding only for infants which is why so many poor babies end up getting nasty formula when they deserve the best. I'm so glad my children have only gotten the best and I don't have any hangups or issues.

A word of advise: If you can't provide the best for your child, please ask your man to wear a condom or shoot somewhere else..don't bring children to this world so they could be fed artificial crap. Our rapidly deteriorating society doesn't need anymore people with low IQs

Answer 6

Doctors recommend to nurse until the age of 2. I don't know anyone that has gone past the age of 1, including me. I don't know if it's wrong, breast milk is made for humans. Is it socially acceptable? No. I would likely raise an eyebrow if I saw a 4 year old nursing.

Answer 7

Breastmilk is nutritious and good for the budget. I think it's okay to feed a child breastmilk up to age 4. From birth to age 2, the baby can feed directly from the mom (or from a bottle if they have a breastpump). But past that age, the mom should start weaning the child -- extract the milk using a breastpump and feed it to the child using a glass or training cup. Me, I would not like to directly breastfeed a child at that point. The kid already has teeth and could unknowingly bite and chew. Ouch!

Answer 8

I am 100% for breastfeeding. However, I do believe there should be a braket for age limitation on when it becomes uneccessary.

I personally will fully stop breast feeding around the age of 1. I will wean my child starting around 7 to 8 months with sippy cups as I rather not use babybottles (limit the usage to only traveling or places that I will not be able to breastfeed). However, by 1 year, he/she should be mostly drinking out of sippy's as they can hold it on their own.

During this time until 2 years, I will introduce cow milk or soy milk adjusted to my baby's indivisual needs based on their body.

I will stop giving breastmilk around the age of 2 years old. I won't be breastfeeding my 2 year old, but giving breast milk from pumping. Even though I heard those are a pain, oh well.

I can still easily bond with my children with or with out breastfeeding. The excuse of it allowing bonding is true, but a person can give the same amount of bonding with out breastfeeding passed infancy/toddlerhood.

I don't judge a parent's right on breastfeeding until that child is well passed toddler hood into childhood. I seriously question the motive when I hear children being breast feed at age 6.

Answer 9

Yes a bit, but each to their own I guess. Personally if it was me, I would be royally sick of doing it by then.

Answer 10

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer." (AAP 2005)

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that "Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2001)

A US Surgeon General has stated that it is a lucky baby who continues to nurse until age two. (Novello 1990)

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond (WHO 1992, WHO 2002).

Scientific research by Katherine A. Dettwyler, PhD shows that 2.5 to 7.0 years of nursing is what our children have been designed to expect (Dettwyler 1995).

The world-wide average age of weaning is about 4.2 years.

And did you know that Michael Jordan was nursed until he was three years old?

ETA:
Yes, I'm sure she *WILL* love looking back and remembering what it was like to snuggle up with momma, warm, safe and loved. It's something that's still very important to her and I'm sure she'll have fond memories of our special cuddle time when she nursed. It's usually our special time to cuddle and connect to help her relax and go to sleep. (A lot of people don't get that nursing toddlers or older children don't nurse the way a baby does. It's not as often as a newborn and they do eat other foods!) My kids all know that breastfeeding isn't just for "infants" but something that is done until the child outgrows the need.

By the way.....where do you live that 4 year olds attend KG? KG here doesn't start until they are 5 years old.