Extraordinary breastfeeding

[Mr D Black]

Absolutely disgusting. Being breastfed to the age of 8. Its no wonder that kid was home-schooled and didnt have a tv in the house. Also, force-feeding your adopted tearful child. More or less child abuse in my opinion.What is wrong with these people?

[Coobeastie]

What worried me more was that one of the women thought it was perfectly normal to breast feed her husband too.

A few more thoughts.....

The kids seemed to be spoilt , they could have the milk on demand whenever they wanted it which surely isn't right for their development. (most of them showed signs of being unable to self comfort)

The lady from Bath doesn't understand the meaning of weaning. Your not supposed to stop abruptly as this can be traumatic to the child, and but also uncomfortable for the mother.

[Mr D Black]

Absolutely agree. It is extreme. What i find abusive is the kids dont seem to have a choice. The chineese kid would probably be beaten or given rewards just so she could be breastfed.

[Minxie]

I found the programme disturbing too. Feeding a child of 8! I read in a magazine that she gave the girl a feed as a treat for her 9th birthday.

What I wondered was, if she had no tv in her house. Then why was she so keen to get herself filmed for tv, breastfeeding her 8 year old. And the numerous film clips we saw of her breastfeeding.

Creepy, and very disturbing.

[Coobeastie]

Yeah that bugged me too. Seemed a bit more obsessive than just normal family videos.

[joko]

it is a bit weird, but i can see that the mothers are keen to give their kids every possible nutritional benefit possible, which is natural and to be applauded - however, why don't they express the milk into bottles and give it to their kids in cups? then there would be no issue for anyone - and no need for this programme.

I personally don't have a problem with people wanting to live any way they please and i think terming this 'child abuse' is a bit extreme.

Just because most people do something one way doesn't mean its the best way

People are entitled to their own beliefs - there is no right and wrong in this situation - it is just our social beliefs and upbringing that make this kind of thing upset some people - live and let live!

(some of these families do seem a bit over the top with controlling their kids lives though)

[Mr D Black]

I agree with the last poster why didnt they decant it into bottles. That makes me believe that extreme breastfeeding isnt about the nutrition, its about creating a dependcy, and more about the mothers' self-grativication and selfishness.

No wonder those kids dont go to school, because social services would be called in.

I dont think child abuse is extreme viewpoint on this, as the child gets older the breast area is sexualised and is not a surrogate meal. Similar to a father bathing with his baby, and doing the same thing as an 8 year old.

These people are weirdos. Believe.

[sheffwed39]

bitty,,bitty,,bitty..lol.little britain springs to mind

[gedk]

What annoyed me were the saddos in the shopping centre in Blackburn tut tutting because the women were breastfeeding. If they don't like it they shouldn't look, it's as simple as that.

[Minxie]

The breast feeding in the shopping centre at Blackburn was exaggerated. You dont normally go down the isles breast feeding, or sit on a stool in the supermarket breast feeding at the checkout do you?

The women sitting outside all lined up breast feeding was stupid. I breast fed all four of my children and never felt the need to breast feed in a supermarket or anywhere else so public.

Breast is best I agree. But do it discreetly if you have to in public.

The programe tonight, showed the estreem. And breast feeding a child of 8. Or trying to force feed an adopted child, who was well over weaning age. Was totally wrong. And as I said before disturbing.

[4getmenot]

Well I posted something on here earlier and said I would decide once I'd seen the programme. But it didnt sway me one bit especially the 7 year old. And that poor adopted baby being forced something she obviously didnt want just because it would please the mum. I agree that babies sometimes need there mothers milk but what is wrong with feeding in a baby changing room nowadays. The young mother that runs little angels hardly got hers out to stand ground and she looked more embarrased about it

[chilliwitch]

I'm a mum of 3 and the programme made me very uncomfy at times.I agree that breastfeeding your child is a very natural thing to do but I think these women were making it harder for themselves by going to extremes to make their point.If I see a women breastfeeding her baby in a open place I feel embarassed myself and for her.This may sound harsh but having a pee or a pooh is a very natural thing to do also but would they object if I sat and squatted in the middle of a crowded place and relieved myself?!

[libertie]

Yep, pretty controversial as I'm sure it was intended to be! Having said that, it does'nt bother me in the least to see a mum breastfeeding in public as mostly it's done very disceetly and the baby is usually that....a baby!! Thought it was ridiculous to still be feeding an 8yr old and was very uncomfortable about the lady trying to breastfeed her newly adopted daughter! Also I'm sure I read somewhere that after a certain age breast milk does'nt really add much nutritional value as the child is eating other things..fruit, vegetables etc!

[KittyGlitter]

I got the impression that the 4 year old boy (with the adopted chinese sister) had a creepy attachment to his mother's breasts which I found disturbing. She admitted he was obsessed with her breasts.

I understand the point the Blackburn women were making but I don't agree that they should use their children in the process. Surely it should just be about the needs of the child? Are they actually all wanting to be fed when the mother is standing in a supermarket queue or does the mother think "Ok, here is a really public spot, let's feed here to make a point".

[mata hari]

I didn' tsee the programme but just wanted to say that when we lived in Aberystwyth a few years back, there was a special room near the station where mothers could go, in the warm (or shade), feed baby, change baby and make themselves a cup of tea and coffee, have a chat with other mothers. Napkins, tea, coffee, sugar all supplied, but donations were gratefully excepted. I used this facility quite a lot. I think that was a brilliant idea, don't you?

[libertie]

Yes I do.....it must be quite frustrating for mums who are breastfeeding to have nowhere suitable to feed their children...imagine having to do it in a public toilet, I for one, certainly would'nt like to eat my dinner in the loo!!

[Englishbird]

I didn't see all of it, but caught the woman with the 8 year old, that was disturbing! The childrens reactions were what worried me most, the eldest being very jealous that she could no longer do it, and the youngest being quite happy to suck away without getting milk. It's not about the milk for them, and I think they risk being psychologically damaged as a result. May sound an extreem reaction, but I didn't like it one bit.

[karen3110]

A very bizarre documentary, which I just couldn't understand in parts. I am not a mother, so to an extent dont understand fully the reasonings behind breastfeeding children to a certain age. However I do think it's very disturbing (to say the very least) than a mother still breast feds her child at 8yrs old, and for the elder child to be jealous. Not only that there was also a part where ther grandmother mentioned she assisted in suckling (!!) Not only that at the very end when the two girls were playing with 'mummys bras' the younger one said she couldnt wait to get her own breasts so she could breastfeed herself! A truly disturbed child who will no doubt end up in therapy!!

The 4yr old had a massive obsession with his mothers boobs. When feeding on one he was groping the other, with a very selfish mother who was only breasfeeding him that long in the hope of feeding the adoptive child. In some respects I felt that half of those mothers shown were doing this for purely selfish reasons rather than for the good of the child.

[Englishbird]

Also, where were the fathers in all this... or don't their opinions count as they're men?

[claireybear]

The dad of the 8 year old was joining in, did you not catch the comment he made about enjoying some too but he had to watch his weight as it is very fattening! This is clearly wrong, but I really, really hope that this does not happen at the same time as the 8 year old breast feeds! The implications for this poor girl later in life is massive!

[libertie]

The father of the 4yr old boy, said that he never imagined that one day he would be sitting watching his wife still breastfeeding their son at 4yrs old, although he said he was used to it I thought he seemed a bit uncomfortable with it!!