uhh... breastfeeding an 8 year old??

[Dopeyjopey]

That's awful.

I don't think it's awful at all it's good for both mum and daughter, it works for them and is actually considered normal in some countries.

I suggest everyone reads this article - it's amazing

https://www.naturalchild.org/guest/ruth_kamnitzer.html

 

[amygwen]

That's awful.

I don't think it's awful at all it's good for both mum and daughter, it works for them and is actually considered normal in some countries.

I suggest everyone reads this article - it's amazing

https://www.naturalchild.org/guest/ruth_kamnitzer.html

Thanks for the article, but as 'healthy' as it may be, I don't think it's psychologically healthy for her daughter, which is what she should be thinking about.

 

[ShanandBoc]

I agree amygwen, but i cant see why she cant feed her from a cup if she still wants to feed her breastmilk. An 8 year old should be drinking from a cup imo

 

[Dopeyjopey]

Why is it not psychologically good for the daughter? Because breasts have been made into a sexual object? That's the only reason i can think of

 

[ShanandBoc]

No i dont think its just that, breasts are a sexual object as well of course......i just think its not age appropriate.

I would bet the majority of people would find BF an 8 year old inappropriate.

That little girl could would cop teasing and must be confusing as how many other 8 year olds she knows would still be getting BF?

Give her breast milk by all means if thats what they both really want, but suckling on a mothers breast at that age is abnormal imo

 

[Dragonfly]

That's awful.

I don't think it's awful at all it's good for both mum and daughter, it works for them and is actually considered normal in some countries.

I suggest everyone reads this article - it's amazing

https://www.naturalchild.org/guest/ruth_kamnitzer.html

Thanks for the article, but as 'healthy' as it may be, I don't think it's psychologically healthy for her daughter, which is what she should be thinking about.

Did I miss some article where breastfeeding is at that age psychologically unhealthy?

And I dont see why anyone things they have the right to say she should feed from a cup either when its just a matter of opinion everyone has. Dont think some would like others saying they shouldnt do this and that with their child when theres no harm being done.

 

[ShanandBoc]

Its just a personal opinion DF. We all have the right to that.

It is unusual so people are bound to have opinions on it.

Out of interest DF and Dopeyjoey when do you think its too old? 10? 12? older?

 

[Dragonfly]

I have beebn asked this several times in this thread about age thing. And again even though I wouldnt do it she has chosen to like many woman choose to breastfeed or not and when to stop and think its her decision. Its not considered abnormal in some countries and in the past. And her opinion would be to carry on and think she should be left to do that. Its only unusual as poeple see breasts for sex its normal in places.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

I think each mother and child are different so don't believe there can be a set age where it becomes inappropriate. To me, when either mum or baby feel uncomfortable with it then it is time to stop. Until then, if it makes both happy (for the right reasons) i don't see why they should stop in order to comply with what society in general deems 'normal'

 

[ShanandBoc]

But she does have a responsibility towards her little girl.

I see where u are coming from Dopeyjoey.....but where is the line drawn?

You cant say its just cause breasts are seen as a sexual object. BF at 8 is not necessary. You agree u wouldnt do it, but why?

Because breasts are sexual? as you have pointed out thats apparently the only reason others find it unusual.

Breastfeeding is for infants / toddlers. Not grown children who are a few years off puberty.

The issue is the age. If the child was 12 would you still agreee it was her choice? When would it become psychologically damaging? Or inapprpriate?

From the reasoning above she should have the right to go on breastfeeding her child endlessly, i dont agree with that.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

I have no experience with extended breastfeeding so can't comment on it being psychologically damaging for any individual. From reading that article it doesn't seem any of the Mongolian people were damaged from it - as an adult they look back at their BFing time with fondness, as i'm sure this girl will too!

 

[Blah11]

i dont ever think BF is/would be psychologically damaging :\ My mum BF me, I KNOW I fed from her breasts and I don't feel damaged at all LOL

 

[amygwen]

That's my personal opinion. It's no where near psychologically healthy for the child at all. If you were 8 years old and you went over to your friends house and she was being breastfed by her mother, what would you think? Sure, we're mothers now and we can get around the idea of breastfeeding and the benefits. But at eight years old? It's completely different.

She says that she wants to continue doing it until her daughter doesn't want to anymore, but that's all her daughter knows, so what if she doesn't want to stop? And she's still breastfeeding at 20 years old? That's a bit extreme I know, but her mother needs to stop, it's not normal hence where there is a debate on this because a good amount of people don't find this normal.

And Blah11 were you breastfed until you were 8 years old? Probably not. That's why you're not 'psychologically damaged'.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

I'd like to see some evidence of it being psychologically damaging. I've been researching and haven't found even one research paper that says it in fact, i've found one that says the opposite

It isn't about her friends seeing anyway, she does drink other things too and i'm pretty sure she would have something else while they were there. But even if she fed from the breast i wouldn't care if Albert saw it.

Your point is that it isn't normal - that doesn't mean it's wrong!

 

[amygwen]

We all have our opinions.

I just feel very very very sorry for her daughter, that's all!

 

[ShanandBoc]

I'd like to see some evidence of it being psychologically damaging. I've been researching and haven't found even one research paper that says it in fact, i've found one that says the opposite

It isn't about her friends seeing anyway, she does drink other things too and i'm pretty sure she would have something else while they were there. But even if she fed from the breast i wouldn't care if Albert saw it.

Your point is that it isn't normal - that doesn't mean it's wrong!

You said she would probarly have something else to drink while her friends were there, why would that be? Why would they feel the need to hide it?

Im pretty sure any 8 year old who seen their friend still suckling on their mums breast would be slightly disturbed.

And just cause there is no 'study' on it doesnt mean its not potentially damaging.

And no one will answer the question of age, as thats the issue here, not the BF itself.

When does it become age inappropriate? I find it very hard to believe that any of you wouldnt find it abnormal if she was still BF a 12 year old boy or girl and that it wouldnt be damaging to the child.

So it not just a matter of stopping when the mother or child feels they should be weaned, what if they never do? A child still feeding at 8 is very aware of whats going on, and has been made to think its perfectly normal behaviour, its really up to the mum to say 'hey ur a big girl now' and wean her off. Should have been done years ago imo.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

Why do you feel sorry for her? She obviously loves it and is a happy child. I'm sure the only thing that would ever make her feel bad about it is hearing other people saying it's wrong.

Of course we're all entitled to a view - that's why it is a debate. It would be so boring if we all had the same opinion!

 

[Dopeyjopey]

Why do you feel sorry for her? She obviously loves it and is a happy child. I'm sure the only thing that would ever make her feel bad about it is hearing other people saying it's wrong.

Of course we're all entitled to a view - that's why it is a debate. It would be so boring if we all had the same opinion!

 

[amygwen]

I just feel sorry for her because that's all she knows and she doesn't think it's wrong. But like ShanAndBoc said, when would it become age inappropriate? In my personal opinion, I believe she should've stopped BFing a long time ago.. what if her daughter never wants to stop because she loves it that much and she doesn't realize that she's too old to be BFing?

 

[Dopeyjopey]

I'd like to see some evidence of it being psychologically damaging. I've been researching and haven't found even one research paper that says it in fact, i've found one that says the opposite

It isn't about her friends seeing anyway, she does drink other things too and i'm pretty sure she would have something else while they were there. But even if she fed from the breast i wouldn't care if Albert saw it.

Your point is that it isn't normal - that doesn't mean it's wrong!

You said she would probarly have something else to drink while her friends were there, why would that be? Why would they feel the need to hide it?

Im pretty sure any 8 year old who seen their friend still suckling on their mums breast would be slightly disturbed.

And just cause there is no 'study' on it doesnt mean its not potentially damaging.

And no one will answer the question of age, as thats the issue here, not the BF itself.

When does it become age inappropriate? I find it very hard to believe that any of you wouldnt find it abnormal if she was still BF a 12 year old boy or girl and that it wouldnt be damaging to the child.

So it not just a matter of stopping when the mother or child feels they should be weaned, what if they never do? A child still feeding at 8 is very aware of whats going on, and has been made to think its perfectly normal behaviour, its really up to the mum to say 'hey ur a big girl now' and wean her off. Should have been done years ago imo.

I've actually seen the entire programme and she only has 1 or 2 feeds a day from what i recall. It's her 'quiet time' to bond with mum and get some comfort, not something she'd do when there are visitors iyswim.

I'm sure no child would want to be feeding at 16, and a mum would probably put a stop to it before then anyway. It's just about what feels comfortable for each individual.

The reason i want to see evidence is because the statement about it being psychologically damaging was presented as fact. If it's an opinion, that's fine but i disagree. If it is fact i'd like to see evidence. Does that make sense?