breastfeeding a four year old

[bundleone]

breastfeeding is for babies , toddlers can use a spoon and schoolkids a knife and fork, this mother is doing her child no favours,

[Big Jenny]

That's a rather narrow-minded attitude, bundleone. This mother is doing the very best for her child, without a doubt. I breastfed my youngest son until he was 15 months old, and have always regretted not continuing for longer.

BJ

[Gromit]

Ah, Bitty!

[Goodsoulette]

We are one of the only countries in Europe that doesnt recommend breastfeeding until 3. He'll stop wanting it soon. All this extreme breastfeeding issues has done no favours to us mums who want to breastfeed. I was told to breastfeed my 8 week old in the loos by another customer, thing is I had turned my seat to face the wall and had a shawl on my shoulder covering him.

Baby growth charts are still based on formula fed babies. This woman has done her baby far better than a woman who could breastfeed but sticks her kid on formula milk straight away.

It wouldnt be for me but at the moment its no harm.

[Ice.Maiden]

My mother breastfed my eldest brother until he was four! A finer figure of a man you couldn't wish to meet - and one who's scarcely suffered a day's illness (any connection?). If mum's can put up with it, then why not?

[lovejoy]

My grandson is 4 years old and his favourite dinner is steak ank kidney pie with chips and mushy peas.

Where are you people from??????

[ludwig]

Breastfeeding children until they're 4 is more about what the mother wants rather than what's good for the child.
They're basically in denial about the fact that their baby isn't a baby any more.

[daffy654]

I breastfed my son until he was 2 years old,he is a happy, healthy and very intelligent boy of 10 years old now.I do think 4 years old is a bit too long but I don't think its my place to judge this mum.

[Reverandfunk]

Sounds like Little Britain

[Pippa68]

I breastfed mine until they wanted to stop ~ they all decided they didn't want breastfeeding at one year old.

I see where ludwig is coming from. A four year old doesn't need breastmilk, and I think it is probably right to say that this is more about what the mother wants. I also think that Goodie is spot on when she mentions the attitudes towards breastfeeding...especially when so many mothers find it so hard, and are told that as long as they breastfeed for 3 weeks they are doing their baby a lot of good.

A year was fine for me and my children, but I couldn't imagine breastfeeding a four year old. My cousin did..based on the attitude of other cultures. I found it odd that her son would walk up to her, lift up her top and latch on!

[Goodsoulette]

Its more about what the mother wants. I wanted my two to breastfeed until they were 2 but THEY didnt want to. Children will stop when they are good and ready. Incidentally neither would drink cows milk because they thought it was disgusting. Yes, you're right though its much more natural to drink cows milk!

[helliebobs]

I know this often provokes a really heated debate but I must admit I find it really uncomfortable. Children don't need breastmilk at that age and I can't help but feel it's more to do with how the mother feels, as Pip said. I have 4 year old nephews and I can't imagine them taking a break from Spiderman for longer than 5 minutes to have a quick suck from the breast. I can't imagine my 2 year old nephews doing it either! I wish I had breastfed my son for longer than I did, but not for that long, they're not babies anymore!

[Pippa68]

Well I happen to think along the same lines...baby humans should drink human milk, and baby cows should drink cows milk ;o)

A four year old isn't a baby though, is it? cows milk is fine..or if allergies are an issue, soya milk.

However all this 'should' business is a bit unfair. I fully advocate breastfeeding and was surprised how upset and annoyed I felt when my sister announced she wouldn't be breastfeeding because her boyfriend said it was unnatural! I am not a 'militant' breastfeeder, though..I FULLY understand that not only do a lot of women find it extremely difficult (I did, but persevered) I also totally uphold a womans right to choose how she feeds her baby.

I also reckon it's ok if someone decides to breastfeed their older child ~ not my cup of tea, but hey-ho :o)

[paulos66]

Even sid the sexist got it right when he said "t1ts are for bairns"

[China Doll]

I find the idea of a 4 year old breast feeding disturbing but then I find the idea of breast feeding in general a 'bit icky.'

Personally if I ever do have kids I think I'd be more enclined to express it in to a bottle. I don't want to breast feed at all. But maybe that will change when my maternal instinct kicks in.

As long as breast feeding remains something I don't have to think about in the forseeable future I'll be happy. But I would imagine most mothers do what's best for their baby and I'm sure their judgement is better than mine.

[Goodsoulette]

The thing is by saying you find it disgusting at a certain age, it puts mothers of breastfeeding full stop. I had my first child in 2001, until he was on solids properly at 6 months I felt comfortable to breastfeed publicly. I had my second child in 2005, it was uncomfortable, people told me I was disgusting and all sorts of other things. The difference is between 2001 and 2005, there had been a dozen programmes making breastfeeding look unnatural. There had been a fall in new mums willing to breastfeed. Only 69% even attempt it.

What percentage of mums feed up to 3 weeks? 55%, past 9 months? 20% So lets hazzard a guess that its less than one percent that breastfeed their 3 year old and above.

Unicef and the world health organisation both say.....Optimal breastfeeding practices include exclusive breastfeeding (breastmilk with no other foods or liquids) for the first six months of life, followed by breastmilk and complementary foods (solid or semi-solid foods) from about six months of age on, and continued breastfeeding for up to AT LEAST 2 years of age.

It would make me uncomfortable to see it but thats my issue, not the child or the mothers.

[sp1814]

Breast-feeding someone who has a full set of teeth would be a big red flag if it were me.

[Goodsoulette]

You don't have a full set of teeth until your early 20s Splat! Im 28 and I still have a tooth coming through.

[Pippa68]

''It would make me uncomfortable to see it, but that's my issue not the child or the mothers''

Totally agree with you, Goodie. As I said before it isn't my cup of tea, and if a mother decides to carry on breastfeeding their child until they are beyond toddler years then that is their perogative :o)

My cousin did it ~ in fact I think she stopped once she was pregnant with her second baby, and that one didn't arrive until her son was 6. The only issue I had with her, funnily enough, was when she insisted on breastfeeding her son at 7 months old..no solids, and the baby was very hungry. She isn't the sort of mother who eats well at the best of times..in fact she has an eating disorder, so it was a worrying time for the family. I said nothing.

sp ~ teeth are a problem. My son had two teeth before he was 3 months old and I did suffer occasionally!

[China Doll]

Winces

Don't think that's helping me find my maternal instinct Pip.

[Pippa68]

Some women find preparing their nipples with an abrasive helps with feeding, CD.

Not that I was willing to try it...lol