uhh... breastfeeding an 8 year old??

[cherryglitter]

I remember reading on here before something about smacking/tapping because abuse, im sure that's what it was. Think the term abuse needs to be ridden from this site lol, as I don't think any of us on here would ever abuse our children!!

 

[cherryglitter]

I wouldnt label it abuse either. But i do worry about long term damage to the child. No one knows for sure its simply an opinion. I just dont think its in the best intrests of the little girl thats all

Hun, if it weren't in the best interests of the little girl im sure her Mum wouldn't force her to do it. As long as she's happy and confident in breastfeeding still then it's fine. I guess when she stops being happy doing it then it's time to move on, and her mother should let her do that

 

[lexi_is_ttc]

I'm not comfortable with it. 8 years old is too old for me. I don't see why the mother can't at least pump milk into a cup. An 8 year old should not still be on the boob.

 

[thedog]

Ugh do we have to do this again?? Seriously if the kids are happy and secure doing it and she is happy to continue what is the problem? There are benefits to breastfeeding even at 8years old

WSS. Breastmilk is for human babies/kids. Cows milk is for cow babies. Same with goats, etc etc.

My son isn't a cow thanks very much!

 

[ShanandBoc]

Noooooooo!!!!!! Not this thread again

 

[thedog]

Just having a gander at the good old debates section. I didn't bother reading past a few pages, going round in circles

 

[ShanandBoc]

Dont read too much it will make u dizzy!!

 

[Lightworker]

The sooner we have some widespread education on the benefits of full-term/extended breastfeeding the better.

 

[cherryglitter]

woooah there i am at the top

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

My son is 7, No way would I breast feed him, he is just getting to the age where he wants to be very independent and conscious of what his friends say :S

 

[thedog]

I'm all for breastfeeding but a line has been drawn when they sit down at the table drawing loads of pictures of breasts and giving their mothers breasts names.. and saying she never wants to stop.

 

[Lightworker]

I'm all for breastfeeding but a line has been drawn when they sit down at the table drawing loads of pictures of breasts and giving their mothers breasts names.. and saying she never wants to stop.

I don't get it. Whats wrong with BFing a child who is aware of breasts and names them? A 2-3 yr old could easily do that, so are they wrong to BF?

 

[KittyVentura]

I personally wouldn't do it - but I wouldn't think badly of anyone that did. xx

 

[thedog]

I'm all for breastfeeding but a line has been drawn when they sit down at the table drawing loads of pictures of breasts and giving their mothers breasts names.. and saying she never wants to stop.

I don't get it. Whats wrong with BFing a child who is aware of breasts and names them? A 2-3 yr old could easily do that, so are they wrong to BF?

Each to their own

 

[vaniilla]

I don't see the problem, I guess in the west anything over 1 year is "extended" feeding people get shocked by anything over this, globally the weaning age is disputed to be around 5 years old, like any kind of breastfeeding though if people are offended they can chose to look away.

 

[Lightworker]

^ I think for me the problem lies in the way extended BFing is received and how it impacts nursing moms and the nursing relationship as a whole. I have supported moms who were frightened of BFing in public as their children was over the age of 1, as they were victims of nasty comments etc.

Whilst I do appreciate everyone will have their own opinions etc, I just get saddened by the fact that the most natural thing in the world is jeopardized by people trying to make it seem unnatural, and the only victim in this is the poor child that still wants to nurse.

That is my general problem with threads like this. We keep going on about the differences in BFing in the West and in other communities, but those differences will remain as long as extended BFing is viewed as unnatural, gross etc. In fact, what is worse, in some communities where extended BFing was the norm, the figures are going lower because of their perception of the West being more superior and the media. So as a result, they are trying to be like the Western society they see on TV and in so doing, further "unnaturalize" the natural.

 

[Eve]

I find nothing wrong with a mother and child both willing to continue nursing until 2-4-6-8-etc... Breasts were made to feed our young. I personally wouldn't continue past 3-4 or so, but to each their own.

 

[Ashley8806]

What I think of when I think of an 8 year old breastfeeding, is how it is affecting her social life.... what do her friends think? Would her friends parents let them hang out with her if they knew this was going on in the home? I feel 8 is too old to be attached to the breast. I'm all for breast milk, and I find it amazing that she still has milk to produce after 8 years, however.... I feel the breast at this age is not appropriate, and she should try expressing into a cup if she still wants her daughter to have the milk.

 

[aliss]

In Mongolia, this woman would be celebrated as the best example of a mother, her children would be reputed to be the luckiest among all the children.

See how different cultures view this?

 

[LoraLoo]

What I think of when I think of an 8 year old breastfeeding, is how it is affecting her social life.... what do her friends think? Would her friends parents let them hang out with her if they knew this was going on in the home? I feel 8 is too old to be attached to the breast. I'm all for breast milk, and I find it amazing that she still has milk to produce after 8 years, however.... I feel the breast at this age is not appropriate, and she should try expressing into a cup if she still wants her daughter to have the milk.

Its unlikely that her friends are even aware, I have jus stopped breastfeeding my daughter (27 months) and she only had one feed in the Morning. If children grew up to know that Breastfeeding was normal, instead of Formula and Cows milk, her friends reactions wouldnt even be an issue

Why should she have to express her milk for others peoples views? Would YOU change the way you lived because somebody else didnt like it?