Breastfeeding an 8 year old?!?!?

Question

i saw a video of a mother breastfeeding her 8 year old. im sorry, but i think thats wierd. i was just wondering what other moms thought of this and would you do it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxv6R9fUO74

Answer 1

It's not for me, that's for sure. I don't think, for MY kids, it would be emotionally healthy.

That said, kudos to her for doing what she thinks is best for HER kids.

With a few exceptions, I've long given up caring how other people raise their kids, as long as it's not overtly risky.

Answer 2

ewwwww!!!!

what is wrong with that woman!! that girl is 8 years old, she has to learn independence..  

Answer 3

She's been making milk for eight years?

This reminds me of an episode on Scrubs.

Answer 4

I think that is discustingg! breast feeding a 5 year old or 8 year old! they r WAAY to old for that...and those girls even named the moms b*****s! that is not natural and not right. (Even tho im not a mom i still have an opinion about this) lol

Answer 5

Gah.

Search in the yahoo answers search box for "8 year old breastfeeding" - and you'll find a whole lot of questions just like this one - but a lot leaning towards the more childish side of "ewww gross" and "that's sexual abuse!".

I think it's a little unusual - but not necessarily wrong.

Answer 6

that is the most disturbing thing i have ever seen. Im totally grossed out now.  

Answer 7

thats weird and gross

Answer 8

Oh that is just WEIRD and wrong!! I would Never!

Answer 9

OMG That is sick. I'm sorry I don't care what culture, religion, society you come from, no 8yr old should be messing with their mothers b***s. You want your kid that old to have the nutrients from it still...pump it in a cup. Want to bond? play games, read books, rub their feet for heaven's sake, don't let them suck on your boob!!!! Your child should be able to find other ways to recieve comfort from you then sucking on your ****, thats for babies not big kids. I wonder what a therapist would say the long term damage of such activity could be.  

Answer 10

I saw that video last week and couldn't finish it because I was so disgusted by it. It is gross to let a child that old be still sucking on your breast. I am all for breastfeeding but I think 2 years old should be the cut off point.  

Answer 11

I wouldn't personally do it, but to each their own :-)

(I think most children would self ween, long before that).

Answer 12

Anyone who breastfeeds an 8 year old has issues. No one should be breastfed that long! Ever.  

Answer 13

i have seen this before. i think doing breasfeeding that long just makes the child confused. cause at 8, they are learning about their bodies, and when she gets a 'mate' whether it be male or female, she will think it is ok to do to them as well. I think up to 2 yrs old is fine. Actually 1 yrs they loose interest. my son did at 7months and i loved it, but he had teeth then, ouch.

its lack of discipline on the mothers part. and she is going to have seperation anxiety  cause she can't tell them NO.  

Answer 14

i actually think its quite perverted. especially how the kids draw pictures of the boob and call them boobior and milkior or something like that.

I think her child is going to be quite effed up to be honest...its gonna be like the "bitty" sketch off little britain. Walking down the aisle for her wedding....stomach grumbles.."MAM...WANT BITTY!"

lmfao.

yeah, shes got problems for still wanting her mams breast, her mams wrong for giving it to her...i mean at 8 i was in dance shows, having sleepovers, putting on glitter and lipgloss and curling my hair etc...not breastfeeding!

Answer 15

sounds like incest

Answer 16

IOM thats wrong. but you are right, its totally that family's business.  

Answer 17

I've seen it, but couldn't watch it till the end. I got too grossed out. It's disturbing. Someone should get social services involved. The mum obviously has a few screws loose.

Poor kids. I hope no one from their school saw this.

And another thing; There's lots of perverts out on the net that would totally get off on this kinda stuff. Would you ever subject your child to something like that?

Answer 18

That is just disturbing.  She goes on about the big bad world.  Well it's going to get really bad when other kids find out about it and tease the h**l out of them.

Answer 19

In all honesty who really cares? It's not you so you shouldn't be worried about it, Everyone has there own parenting skills and you all should just leave it alone.

Answer 20

thats wierd  

Answer 21

oh.. wow.. a bit disturbing.  but you have to remember that for these kids, it's just normal life, since they've been doing it forever.  i don't think it's incest or anything, like some of the comments on the video said, but i don't necessarily think it's a healthy thing.  the reason for breastfeeding is a) the nutritional value of the mother's milk and b) the bonding experience.  Obviously, at 8 years old, the milk is no longer a necessity in terms of nutritional value.  Perhaps its a bonding thing for them, but there are many, MANY other ways for children to bond with their mothers.  I don't think it's right, honestly, but I'm not going to judge them.  I just wonder how long they can go on like that.

Answer 22

thats just disgusting nooo i would never do that. breastfeeding is the best thing ever..but there comes a time when you gotta stop.  

Answer 23

I guess I find it a bit odd, but I don't know that I'm repulsed by it as some of the other people are.

I think my biggest issue with breastfeeding at that age is the psychological effects it could have on a child. Does that child also drink from a glass? Does he or she eat other meals? Breast milk is very nutritionally heavy and contains a lot of calories. If that child continues to breastfeed and also eat like an 8 year old, it won't be long before weight issues begin developing. If that child does NOT eat like an 8 year old, he or she could have some serious developmental issues down the road.

I guess that would be my biggest concern!

Answer 24

I don't know if it's gross, didn't watch it, don't need to. But I do not think breastfeeding over 3 or 4 years of age isn't necessary or beneficial. The only way I'd do it is if we were stranded somewhere and there was no food.

I don't think it's proper for the 8 year old, as it has gone beyond feeding to something else completely.

Answer 25

I've seen it before and a lot of people have posted the same exact thing several times. At first, it was strange to me, because it isn't something I've ever seen before. I've grown to respect the family's decision. I don't think it's gross or unnatural, which is often a reaction, but it isn't typical.

Answer 26

the first time i saw this video i couldn't believe it.  However, even though i would never nurse that long, I also don't see anything wrong with it.  

Answer 27

thats disgusting !

Answer 28

it's beyond my personal comfort level, but i've heard of moms nursing older kids who had developmental delays or digestive problems or who had a traumatic experience.  

the AAP says:

"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."

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi...

as long as mom and baby are happy, they should keep doing it as long as they want.  i was ready to gently wean my son at 26 months, but it's not that unusual for a 3 or 4 year old to breastfeed.  i know one mom who had an 11 year old with a severe disability.  she pumped breastmilk for him because it was easy for him to digest and it was very nutritious.  it would have been healthier for him to get the live antibodies from directly nursing, but his disability prevented it.  i had nothing but respect for her.