Women breastfeeding 7yr old children?

Question

I saw a really gross thing on Dr. Phil the other day. THis woman has two 7 yr olds and she's still breastfeeding them! Sorry but that's disgusting to me, I don't mean to be judgemental. I'm NOT JUDGING!

Anyway wouldn't that cause some problems in the future if you continue to breastfeed your kid through the age of 7 or 10? like mental or emotional or psychological?

Answer 1

that is gross

Answer 2

I am judging - and that would cause lots of damage to themselves - because by age 6 they remember stuff! That's gross.

Answer 3

gross i think that could cause some mental problems later on the kids life

Answer 4

It's not right.

Answer 5

On you tube there is a lady breast feeding an 8 year old... it was kinda weird and that is becuz i am a breast feeding mom...

Answer 6

Aparently you ARE judging.  "Gross" you said.  Not only that but you are asking the rest of to judge.

What did Dr. Phil say?

I am a big advocate of breastfeeding but once they begin Kindergarten they should have been enabled with some independence from mother's breast - past that age it might  not be about nutrition, allergies, or healthy bonding but dependancy and insecurities.  I can only make guess because I did not see the show or hear the circumstances.

If it was on a national television talk show the intent must have been to make a freak show out of it for ratings.

Answer 7

1. i can't believe she still has milk coming in.

2. she says it is special time for the children to bond.

3. you would think that the kids would say no

Answer 8

OK...this is only my opinion and is therefore not meant to offend anyone by any means.  

The mother obviously uses the breast-feeding as a way to maintain a bond between her and her children.  However, the unnatural connection established in the children's regard will create a certain unhealthy dependence.  A woman in England was breast feeding her children until they were 8, when the eldest became incapable of properly latching on and therefore, unable to get milk.  The child, unable of attaining the said milk, proceeded to throw a huge temper tantrum.  At 8, a child should not be having such a break down over something that can easily be substituted with store bought milk.  This only demonstrates the psychological problems the child has do to the prolonged breast feeding.  The mother of the children proceeded to talk about how the children, in school, would draw pictures of her b*****s constantly.  She addressed this fact as though it were a natural occurrence.  Therefore, to answer your question, the children have psychological problems due to unnatural attachment to their mothers b*****s.  However, the mother most likely needs them to feel dependent in order to feel important, or like a good mother.  She is bound to their dependence just as much as they are bound to her b*****s.

Answer 9

I can't even imagine what it would be like to have an eight year old child hanging off of my t*t. Some people don't grasp the concept of CUTTING THE CORD. Yowza!

Answer 10

her kids will be addicted to b***s as they age

Answer 11

I went to school with a boy where his whole family (mom dad, him and his sister) drank the mother's breastmilk. He was 17!!!!!!!!!! She would pump and they would eat it on cereal etc. I think that's ******* gross.

Answer 12

breast feeding should last as long as the mother and child need to do it. For the rest of you ..grow up doesnt sound like any of you (cringers) are emotionally mature enough to be mothers . Certainly not constructive ones who teach children tolerance . Youre all more "lets go to the mall moms" Not really big on thought.

Answer 13

I would think so, not to mention it would ruin their teeth! Altho', it's England and most people there have bad teeth anyway! LOL Sorry, bad joke! My mom was a social worker in a predominantly black city and there was a woman who was still breastfeeding her 8 yr old child. Now, in her case, my mom understood why she was doing that and that was b/c the woman couldn't afford to buy proper food for the child, so she just continued breastfeeding. I wonder what kind of ridicule those English girls must be going thru now that their story has been aired internationally? Poor things! I lasted a whopping 3 days when it came to breastfeeding my daughter b/c it hurt so bad!

Answer 14

Not only is is not necessary, it's totally insane. WTF.

Answer 15

You know, I can't judge. I really think how we raise our kids is up to us as individuals (except for abuse of course), but if it was me, if I was that kid, I would feel weird about it. I wouldn't want to tell people about it. On the other hand, I can't judge someone who is trying to do the best for their kid. Am I the only one who feels conflicted?

Answer 16

What exactly would cause the emotional damage?  What exactly makes it disgusting?

There's no upper limit on the recommendation for breastfeeding.  Most children are forcibly weaned before they are 6 months if they are breasfed at all.  If children were allowed to wean when children would naturally wean, they'd all be nursing until age 3-5.  And if MOST weaned between age 3-5, it would be completely normal and healthy for some to wean sooner and some to wean later.

A child who is seven and still nursing IS weaning.  Weaning is a process, not an event and I'm sure you'd find that this child nurses less and less as time goes on.  It's not disgusting just because her mother chooses to let the child decide when it's time to stop.  It's quite healthy and it inspires a healthy decision making process.

What would be healthier nutritionally?   7 year olds who breastfeed DO actually eat other solid food just like other children.  The difference may be in the amount of cows milk they have.  Do you really think cows milk is healthier than human milk for human babies?

What would be healthier emotionally?  Telling your child that the thing that they have known all their lives and associated with love and nurturing is disgusting and they'd have to stop?  Personally I don't think so.  Let them give it up when they are ready, and when they do, it's something they are totally happy with.  And they DO make that decision eventually.  Most make the decision long before age seven, but that doesn't mean that there's something inappropriate with the few who take a little longer.  My daughter is turning eight this week, and she wouldn't have any clue as to why anyone would think it's disgusting.  She doesn't GET yet that b*****s are also sexual, because she has no clue what sexual is.  She understands that b*****s are for feeding and comfort.  What EXACTLY would be disgusting about that?  Not to mention that she has learned FIRST that b*****s are not sexual and to be exploited.  She'll have a much better self-image later in life.

And I hate to tell you, if you didn't mean to sound judgemental, you failed.      That was totally and complete judgemental.  I get that you don't understand it and that it's outside your experience, but those two things do not make it wrong or disgusting.

Answer 17

eww...people are phucked in the head.  I AM judging, I have a 7 year old son and I'd NEVER even dream of doing that c**p....they should commit the nut bag.

Answer 18

No, many women in other parts of the world breast feed past toddler hood.  Just becuase YOU think it's disghusting doesn't  mean that it is.  You obviously have an archaic and prudish view about the human body...not everyone else does.

Answer 19

It's just gross.  I'm all for breast feeding a BABY, but jeez--at some point it just becomes plain ol' weird.  If you want your kids to have your milk that bad, then at least pump it into a friggin cup--ew.

Answer 20

By definition, you are being judgmental.   In fact usually when people say they aren't, they are.  I am judging you by saying you are being judgmental.  Any time an opinion is formed about someone or something, judging is going on.

I would worry more about the nutrition values of breast milk for a 7 yr old.   And of course the emotional stability of the mom.

(and yes, I am being judgmental on both of those opinions.)

Answer 21

I AM judging....  that is DISGUSTING!!!

Answer 22

At that age, yeah, she should at least pump into a cup.

Answer 23

ouch...

once they get teeth...no more b*****s.

Answer 24

Go ahead and Judge Baby-that is just wierd!

This woman has some dependency issues of her own.

Answer 25

its ridiculous, i can see maybe over in africa and places where kids are starving if mom can hold her milk  long enough to feed that long go for it, but this isnt  one of those places, we have plenty

of resources to feed our kids and there is absolutely NO reason to be  breastfeeding a child even close to that long.

Answer 26

gross

Answer 27

I don't get the "can't afford to feed them" argument - what is the mum eating to make the milk?

I think it's not at all a good idea. It's bad enough when people make their two and three year olds totally dependent on them and unable to function when mum isn't there, I think it's appalling to inflict it on a seven year old.

Answer 28

That's nasty my friends ma breast fed till they was 10 and I thought that was crazy I don't think that it's normal

Answer 29

I'd be way to embarassed to do something like that at 7 years old. If word got out you'd be the most picked on kid in school.

Answer 30

i actually saw this thing on youtube that an 8 year old girl was really dosobedient and got bad grades when her mother decided to brestfeed her just for the fun of it. at first the little girl thought it was gross but she finally just did it and now she is tolerant and gets all As!!

Answer 31

It's different for sure.

If the mother is pumping then I don't really see how this should be anyone's business. Having said that, if the kids attached to the breast, I think that is wrong.