Breast feeding mothers...

Question

Breast feeding is wonderful and I cannot wait!!

But what is your opinion on women who breast feed their children until they are 5 or even 10?

The kind of women who just let their child whip it out anywhere and start nursing?

I'm not insulting anyone, I'm just curious as to what other women think.

Answer 1

I nursed my first born until she weaned herself a week before her 3rd birthday, She breastfed exclusively for the first year (sampling solids started around 10 months). When she turned a year old she only nursed before naps and at bed time until a little older than 2. The last few months it was only at bed time. This was all based on her, not me.

And those who say "I want my child to be independent" my first born is now one of the most independent 7 year olds I know. She has been ever since weaning herself. She is also in advanced classes in school and is very loving and understanding.

Extended nursing isn't for everyone... it's all about you and your childs comfort level.

Some cultures believe that nursing until the ages or 8 or 10 is natural. Who are we to say what is right or wrong for them?

Answer 2

The AAP, WHO, UNICEF, etc. all state that there is no upper age limit to breastfeeding. They also state that it is healthy, beneficial, and natural to breastfeed for 3 years and beyond.

Here is an interesting article on the natural age of weaning:

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.ht...

Placing an arbitrary age limit on breastfeeding is terribly unfair, as each individual child will reach their age of weaning at a different age. And placing judgment on a mother for doing the absolute best for her child is equally ridiculous.

Answer 3

i support breast feeding fully, but i tried to feed for 5 days after i delivered and my milk didnt fully come in as i was an emergency section, due to rapidly falling blood sugar levels, i had to formula feed. when my milk did come in 10days post partum, my daughter could not latch on and gagged when i tried to feed her. i was given no help or support from midwives, drs or health visitors. it upset me greatly that i could not feed as i had my heart set on it.

to answer your question, i think 5yrs old is too long, and it serves no real purpose at that age, it is just for comfort, i cant say when i would have stopped feeding, but i know it would be a lot sooner than that.

however you need to remember in 3rd world countries, the children who still feed at that age have virtually no other source of nutrition.

you are correct, breast feeding is wonderful, but to some it is easy, to some it is not. i wish you the best of luck

Nxxx

Answer 4

I nursed my second baby until he was 2 1/2 years old and I'm now pregnant AND nursing my 22 month old.  These two will be allowed to self-wean, whether it's at age three, four, or beyond.  It's up to them.  It's perfectly normal and natural.

And for the record, my second baby started asking to nurse when he was 5 months old.  He said "boobah" which is how he pronounced our "nursing" term "booby."  That was his second word ever spoken.  It was so sweet!  There's nothing wrong with nursing a baby or child just because they can ask for it.  

Answer 5

Nursing for that long is very rare, although it does happen. And like someone else pointed out, most mothers only nurse at home at that point. A child that age would also likely only be nursing once or twice a day.

My daughter is 15 months and still nursing. I plan to let her self-wean. If she's nursing beyond 2 years old, that's no one's business but hers and mine!

ETA: My daughter can tell me she wants "to suck on my boob" in "clear plain English." She can also tell me in sign language. That doesn't make it wrong, it makes it much easier for me to know what she wants and needs!

The AAP recommends nursing so long as both mom and child are willing - and I think that so long as both are happy with the relationship, it should continue as long as possible, even that is into the school-age years!

Answer 6

I would probably assume that they were from another country/culture, or they simply had different parenting beliefs than me . . . and maybe not noticing their childrens natural cues to be ready for weaning.  I know that a 10 year old breastfeeding is quite questionable, but a 5 yr old isn't really that big of a deal and is common worldwide.

Answer 7

My opinion is that those mothers are extremely rare.  Of those who breastfeed at least 6 months, very very few are breastfeeding when their child turns 3, much less beyond that.

BTW, I nursed my 4 children until 16, 17, 15, and 13 months.  All chose to wean themselves.  I had hoped to nurse at least 18 months, but I've given up on that by now!  But, I did want them weaned by their 2nd birthday, though I'm not saying I see a problem with going somewhat past that.  I've never been huge on comfort nursing at any distress, so that takes away a big motivating factor for nursing for many years.  

Answer 8

Usually that is not the case.  Self weaning a child is recommended and I plan on doing so with my daughter who is now 4.5 months old.  Generally they self wean around 3 years or so.

If my daughter seems like she wants to keep going after 3 years or so I will gently try to help her self wean but not rush anything.  5 or 10 years old is a bit ridiculous in my eyes but to each his own...

Answer 9

i think that is disgusting and the mothers have issues.  

Answer 10

I think its unhealthy for both mother and child  I breast feed my son but  he has just started to want to gab my b***s  if he sees them so he gets  firm no its not feed time !! I want my son to be independent and I think it needs to start early not saying I don't love and adore him being affectionate towards me or his dad and family .

I couldn't wait to start breast feeding either just a piece of advice the first 6 weeks can be h**l  but keep it up it becomes alot easier !!!

Answer 11

I think its wrong. I have an 2 1/2 year old and a 10 month old. I am currently nursing my 10 month old. I know a woman who nursed her youngest until she was 2 1/2 years, and I cant imagine letting my oldest nurse on me! She obviosly sees me nurse my youngest, which I have no problem with... I see nothing wrong with letting a child see something natural (a mother nursing a baby) but I couldnt imagine letting her do it! and I have a niece and nephew, ages 8 and almost 11, and I couldnt imagine seeing them nurse or having kids there age and letting them nurse. Its just uncalled for. I am understaning up to age 2, depending on situation, but I personally couldnt do it past, I think, 18 months TOPS. I plan to have my 10 month old weaned by about 12 months, maybe 13 months. Much older than 2 years, especially those moms who do it until age 5, 8, 10 years I think is incest. Once a child can tell their mom they want to suck on her boob in plain clear english I think is wrong

Answer 12

i personally wouldn't BF that long. to put it nicely....you gotta cut the apron strings at some point!

Answer 13

The number of women who breastfeed until age 10 is SO small as to be not worth dicussing.  There are usually other issues involved that we don't know about.

Nursing until 5 isn't all that unusual, though most women who BF that long only do so at home -- so nobody is 'whipping' anything out anywhere.

Child-led weaning is a perfectly natural and normal way to proceed. Most children who self-wean do so between 2 and 4, but if a child opts to nurse longer, and mom is fine with it, it's none of my business. Or yours.