uhh... breastfeeding an 8 year old??

[freckleonear]

It is the norm... in other cultures. Sadly the norm in our culture is that breasts are sexual objects rather than for feeding. That doesn't mean that our normal is the right normal. So just because it is unusual in our society does not mean it is wrong.

All of those things you mentioned are harmful to an 8 year old. Bottles cause tooth decay, dummies cause dental and speech problems and not allowing a child to toilet-train prevents a natural developmental stage and can cause bowel problems later in life. But breastfeeding is not harmful!

 

[ShanandBoc]

nou

 

[ShanandBoc]

I never said its wrong or harmful, i dont think anyone has have they?......theres alot worse a parent could be doing

But i believe having a 8 year still suckling from their mums breast is hindering natural development also

 

[Eve]

I never said its wrong or harmful, i dont think anyone has have they?......theres alot worse a parent could be doing

But i believe having a 8 year still suckling from their mums breast is hindering natural development also

Have you breastfed before? I don't think you have since you are expecting your first... but once you do, most times if you actually stick to it your opinion will change... I didn't think I would go past 6 months and here I am at 9!! How old do you think is too old?

 

[Blah11]

Agree. I said 6 months was my limit when amelie was born, then it was 12, now it's self weaning LOL 21 months and counting >.>

 

[Serene123]

Yeah, I think only mum and child knows when they're ready.

 

[Blue_bumpkin]

Agree. I said 6 months was my limit when amelie was born, then it was 12, now it's self weaning LOL 21 months and counting >.>

your ticker needs updating!

i said 6 months too and still going at 7+

 

[Dragonfly]

As said earlier I said originally 3 then 6, was only thinking a few days in my head as I was so sore when starting, 20 months now. And I had chosen to formula feed I had all the bottles and formula stocked up.

 

[ShanandBoc]

I never said its wrong or harmful, i dont think anyone has have they?......theres alot worse a parent could be doing

But i believe having a 8 year still suckling from their mums breast is hindering natural development also

Have you breastfed before? I don't think you have since you are expecting your first... but once you do, most times if you actually stick to it your opinion will change... I didn't think I would go past 6 months and here I am at 9!! How old do you think is too old?

I personally think around 2ish, or as old as you go can get without the child actually remembering it.

I cant say well 2 years old and thats it a child should be weaned, but 8 years old is a bit extreme.

I remember what i was like at 8, and to go home from school and suckle off my mother at that age is in no way normal to me......feeding breast milk at that age from a cup if thats what a mother chooses to do would be hard work but at least the child would be drinking from a cup, like all other 8 year olds.

Can i ask would anyone here, honestly feed their child at 8 years old?

 

[Dragonfly]

I did say earlier i wouldnt not an 8 year old. But its her choice and i may go past 2 which isnt even acceptable to some. If a child remembers is it going to traumatise them or something?

 

[ShanandBoc]

No. But i dont think anyone as an adult would like to sit there and say ' yeah i remember sucking off my mums boobies'

Its for babies and small children imo, not school age + children.

And i dont think there is anything wrong with still feeding at 2, but i dont like the idea myself......where the lines drawn i dont know.....but weaning off the breast should be something thats done at the same time as toilet training etc.....part of growing up and having that independence from mum. Just as its her choice to feed at 8, its my choice to disagree with it.

You say you wouldnt do it? Can i ask why?

 

[Dragonfly]

Because I think 8 is to old, I always did say that here. I would want my boobs back by then and before william starts school he would be self weaned. I dont think 2 or 3 is to old or even up to 5 which is recooemnded. though but everyone is different as i do believe mum and baby stop when they want.

 

[ShanandBoc]

But 8 is not a baby.

See thats all im saying as well, i believe 8 is way too old. Its her choice of course, but i dont think its the best thing for the 8 year old.

 

[ShanandBoc]

I would be interested to hear who else would B feed their children at 8?

And if not, why not?

 

[Dragonfly]

I think we are for her making her own choice thats what the defence is here not really about the age of the child which is further than most of us would go but should any one want to carry on in here the term weird is offensive. I think people call breastfeeding weird a lot from the beginning and it does get to me. Some mothers choose to formula feed and get defensive because its their choice , same goes here.

 

[ShanandBoc]

But it is about the age, cause obviously i dont think 'breastfeeding is weird' and no one said she shouldnt have a choice, we are all giving our opinion on whether 8 is too old? Thats the whole point of the original post in the first place, not that the mother was BF but that she was feeding an 8 year old!

Im sorry if the word 'weird' is now offensive but i dont think its normal.....and i think the majority of people would agree, but not think that the woman shouldnt have a choice, its her child......but where do u draw the line?

Eg if she was still feeding this child at say 12 or older, would you still think its the womans choice or would you be thinking more about what is best for that child?

If its ok at 8, then you cant say it not ok at 12 can you?

Thats why i think around toddler age a child should be weaned....

 

[Dragonfly]

I didnt say 8 was ok . Toddlers yes, up to they start primary school which is 4 where I am. But I wouldnt even say it was wrong to go beyond that up to 7 which used to be the norm just wouldnt do it myself. I think i have done well with william and seems to be weaning anyway so when he wants to thats great as I feel he has had a good enough go at it. I think the original thread has went off a bit into a lower age discussion.

 

[ShanandBoc]

I meant the Q If its ok at 8, then you cant say it not ok at 12 can you? as a general question, not aimed at you DF

I cant see how its off topic at all? I think its a valid question.

 

[Dragonfly]

No I wouldnt go to 12 same as I wouldnt go to 8. I just dont like sitting there saying this and that is wrong i feel judgemental then.

 

[freckleonear]

I meant the Q If its ok at 8, then you cant say it not ok at 12 can you? as a general question, not aimed at you DF

I cant see how its off topic at all? I think its a valid question.

Cultures which practice natural full-term breastfeeding tend to stop breastfeeding once the child starts to lose their milk teeth, which would normally be at about 7 years old. So by that standard, weaning anywhere between the ages of 2-7 would be perfectly normal, 8 might be pushing it a little and 12 would be out of the question.

The human body biologically expects to breastfed/be breastfed for up to 7 years of age, as shown by anthropological and scientific evidence. So the milk teeth rule answers your question pretty well I think.

Just a couple more points on extended breastfeeding. The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 2 years and the worldwide average weaning age is 4 years and 2 months (that figure will be lower than the natural age of weaning due to the unnaturally short duration of breastfeeding here in the Western world).