Time Magazine's cover of a woman breastfeeding a three-year-old

[LoveMyLilPeople]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/time-breastfeeding-cover-sparks-immediate-controversy-151539970.html

 

So, I get that breastfeeding is natural and I believe it is a personal choice.  I did not breastfeed any of my children because I wasn't comfortable and because it wasn't somethin I was able to do with my first two.  My first was born four weeks early and she wasn't able to latch on so she had to have a bottle.  I pumped for her for two months, but never actually breastfed.  My second was born with pneumonia and couldn't eat for his first two days of life.  He was on an IV instead.  I pumped while he wasn't eating and saved those bottles and then continued pumping but my supply was gone after two weeks because I couldn't keep up with him.  He was eating 8 oz halfway through his first week of life!  My newest baby had no interest in it and I just didn't have much of an interest either.  It's just not a comfortable thing for me and my other children were never sick and are very bright.  I buy only organic formula (without the brown rice syrup) and baby foods so as to avoid pesticides and antibiotics and growth hormones, but do not breastfeed.  However, I do not have issues with mothers who do.  Why would I?  I will admit that sometimes I feel uncomfortable when I encounter a mother doing it in public, but not too bad if they are covered up.  This Time cover is creepy, though.  At what age should you STOP breastfeeding?  I would think that when the baby has teeth and is eating solids you should stop.  Reading about true crimes I have found that statistics show that canibalism in murderers is more common when the child was breastfed for an extended amount of time.  Crazy!  I, also, just think it's creepy and I don't think I'm alone.  But, also, what about the video of Salma Hayek breastfeeding the baby in Sierra Leone?  That is bizarre in my opinion.  What are your thoughts on this article, photo, and video? 

[Citygirlk]

Yes thats exactly how I feel, I just couldnt imagine my cousin breast feeding her 5 year old daughter at 3 by then she was so independent and the things that would come out of her mouth lol. She got all the love and cuddling she needed at that age and just because her mom wasnt breastfeeding her doesnt mean she didnt get all the love an attention she wanted. I see the benfits and what not but in my imo those benfits are for when they are babies and when they're immune systems are weak.

Quoting LoveMyLilPeople:

Quoting kailu1835:

 People who think breastfeeding toddlers is wrong are being very ethnocentric.  They believe that the way THEY do it is the only right way.  Babies should be weaned when mother and child are BOTH ready, whenever that happens to be.  I know people whose children did not wean completely until 4 years old.  In many cultures this is the case.

I get that many people cannot breastfeed for whatever reason, or purposefully set out not to.  That's fine, but they don't have the right to complain about those who do, for however long they do.  Breastfeeding a toddler most definitely does not cause them psychological problems, and has a lot of benefits.    All babies/toddlers wean themselves when they're ready.  Those moms that are still feeding their 7 year olds are doing so because they (mom) didn't want it to end and kept it going even though the child showed signs of stopping.  It is about pro-choice.  It is about choosing what you're going to do with your breasts AND your child.

I agree with you... it does seem wrong to me for a mother to breastfeed a seven-year-old.  At that age they are going to school and making friendships and becoming a person independant of their family.  It just seems highly inappropriate.  However, breastfeeding is a choice and what someone does with that choice is up to them. 

What do you make of the mother in this article, though?  Breastfeeding a child that she adopted that had already been weaned.  To this child she was a virtual stranger and the child probably wasn't ever breastfed.  Then she brings him into her home and stuffs her breast in his mouth?  She adopted him two years ago... which means he was three when she adopted him.  Colostrum is the most important part of breast milk and a baby gets that in the first couple of months... this child didn't get that.  I used to help teach a pre-school class with three and four-year-olds.  I know what personalities they already had.  It seems strange to me to start breastfeeding a child that is already capable of being shy with strangers and has already formed some ideas about the world....

[Citygirlk]

And apperently the only species that still breastfeed when their childern can be independent. Not being judgemental just want to know why. I know about the benfits but they can get those nurtients from other things.

Quoting areid1023:

first of all, your facts are a little off. secondly, we're also the only species to give our kids formula at all. if nature is what you're concerned with, you should've done the natural thing and bfed your kids in the first place. 

i am constantly mystified by individuals like yourself that claim they dont judge (and then give an obviously judgemental qualifier) and in the same breath say they feel others are the overbearing judgemental bunch, despite the fact that YOU made this post telling bfing moms how they're doing it wrong.

Quoting LoveMyLilPeople:

Quoting cemcnair:

A woman should breastfeed her child as long as it is a mutually wanted relationship. That can be never or well into school age. Most children would naturally wean bt 3-7 years of age.
I am excited that this made the cover. I did not watch the video.
I'll try not to judge you for "not being comfortable with breastfeeding" if you'll try not to judge moms who choose to breastfeed as long as they are comfortable.

I don't judge a mother for breastfeeding.  However, I do think that the time to stop is well before the age of three.  We're the only species that continues to nurse their children past the point where the child is able to get sustenance on its own.  We're also the only species who drinks the milk of another species and does it well into adulthood.  I don't judge you or anyone, but those are my opinions.  Some bf mothers are very judgemental of women who do not bf.  I don't care what anyone has to say about the fact that I didn't.  I've heard it enough at this point. 

[Citygirlk]

I said it reminds me. Which is why I think its weird and I also look at my own family and see how the younger ones are and cant imagine them being breastfed at that age.

Quoting mommychelle01:

Actual research would educate you more on the issue than an Adam Sandler movie.

Quoting Citygirlk:

I understand giving breastmilk in a bottle at age 3+ but actually putting the child to the breast I mean come on that child is way to old for that. Reminds me of that grown ups movie, if he/she can walk, talk, and ask for it by name then he/she is to old for it straight from the source.

[mommychelle01]

Well, it's a good thing most moms do their own research and look at actual studies rather than making their decision on what you think looks weird. Again, facts contradict your opinion.

Quoting Citygirlk:

I said it reminds me. Which is why I think its weird and I also look at my own family and see how the younger ones are and cant imagine them being breastfed at that age.

Quoting mommychelle01:

Actual research would educate you more on the issue than an Adam Sandler movie.

Quoting Citygirlk:

I understand giving breastmilk in a bottle at age 3+ but actually putting the child to the breast I mean come on that child is way to old for that. Reminds me of that grown ups movie, if he/she can walk, talk, and ask for it by name then he/she is to old for it straight from the source.

[areid1023]

no, apparently not. what on earth leads you to that conclusion?? and what the heck is your definition of 'independent'?

Quoting Citygirlk:

And apperently the only species that still breastfeed when their childern can be independent. Not being judgemental just want to know why. I know about the benfits but they can get those nurtients from other things.

Quoting areid1023:

first of all, your facts are a little off. secondly, we're also the only species to give our kids formula at all. if nature is what you're concerned with, you should've done the natural thing and bfed your kids in the first place. 

i am constantly mystified by individuals like yourself that claim they dont judge (and then give an obviously judgemental qualifier) and in the same breath say they feel others are the overbearing judgemental bunch, despite the fact that YOU made this post telling bfing moms how they're doing it wrong.

Quoting LoveMyLilPeople:

Quoting cemcnair:

A woman should breastfeed her child as long as it is a mutually wanted relationship. That can be never or well into school age. Most children would naturally wean bt 3-7 years of age.
I am excited that this made the cover. I did not watch the video.
I'll try not to judge you for "not being comfortable with breastfeeding" if you'll try not to judge moms who choose to breastfeed as long as they are comfortable.

I don't judge a mother for breastfeeding.  However, I do think that the time to stop is well before the age of three.  We're the only species that continues to nurse their children past the point where the child is able to get sustenance on its own.  We're also the only species who drinks the milk of another species and does it well into adulthood.  I don't judge you or anyone, but those are my opinions.  Some bf mothers are very judgemental of women who do not bf.  I don't care what anyone has to say about the fact that I didn't.  I've heard it enough at this point. 

[Citygirlk]

So I guess I should go find my mom and start beastfeeding again so I could drop the viatmins (which come from nature but are put into pill form to make taking them easier).

I said that bonding meaning that type you can still bond with your child without having to breastfeed them at the same time.

There is research saying that abortion leads to breast cancer should I believe that too?

just so you know im not against it I just finf it werid is all I couldnt imagine my boys at 3 still breastfeeding walking up to me asking for milk and sucking at my breast to me they are just to old for that its like putting a 3 year old in an infanint swing and expecting them to fall asleep kwim.

[Citygirlk]

But its my opionion so...

Quoting mommychelle01:

Well, it's a good thing most moms do their own research and look at actual studies rather than making their decision on what you think looks weird. Again, facts contradict your opinion.

Quoting Citygirlk:

I said it reminds me. Which is why I think its weird and I also look at my own family and see how the younger ones are and cant imagine them being breastfed at that age.

Quoting mommychelle01:

Actual research would educate you more on the issue than an Adam Sandler movie.

Quoting Citygirlk:

I understand giving breastmilk in a bottle at age 3+ but actually putting the child to the breast I mean come on that child is way to old for that. Reminds me of that grown ups movie, if he/she can walk, talk, and ask for it by name then he/she is to old for it straight from the source.

[mommychelle01]

All of these examples are irrelevant and irrational.

Please spend time on google and educate yourself about breastfeeding a little more, then come back for a more logical debate. :)

Quoting Citygirlk:

So I guess I should go find my mom and start beastfeeding again so I could drop the viatmins (which come from nature but are put into pill form to make taking them easier).



I said that bonding meaning that type you can still bond with your child without having to breastfeed them at the same time.



There is research saying that abortion leads to breast cancer should I believe that too?



just so you know im not against it I just finf it werid is all I couldnt imagine my boys at 3 still breastfeeding walking up to me asking for milk and sucking at my breast to me they are just to old for that its like putting a 3 year old in an infanint swing and expecting them to fall asleep kwim.

[Citygirlk]

Not being a helpless baby

Quoting areid1023:

no, apparently not. what on earth leads you to that conclusion?? and what the heck is your definition of 'independent'?

Quoting Citygirlk:

And apperently the only species that still breastfeed when their childern can be independent. Not being judgemental just want to know why. I know about the benfits but they can get those nurtients from other things.

Quoting areid1023:

first of all, your facts are a little off. secondly, we're also the only species to give our kids formula at all. if nature is what you're concerned with, you should've done the natural thing and bfed your kids in the first place. 

i am constantly mystified by individuals like yourself that claim they dont judge (and then give an obviously judgemental qualifier) and in the same breath say they feel others are the overbearing judgemental bunch, despite the fact that YOU made this post telling bfing moms how they're doing it wrong.

Quoting LoveMyLilPeople:

Quoting cemcnair:

A woman should breastfeed her child as long as it is a mutually wanted relationship. That can be never or well into school age. Most children would naturally wean bt 3-7 years of age.
I am excited that this made the cover. I did not watch the video.
I'll try not to judge you for "not being comfortable with breastfeeding" if you'll try not to judge moms who choose to breastfeed as long as they are comfortable.

I don't judge a mother for breastfeeding.  However, I do think that the time to stop is well before the age of three.  We're the only species that continues to nurse their children past the point where the child is able to get sustenance on its own.  We're also the only species who drinks the milk of another species and does it well into adulthood.  I don't judge you or anyone, but those are my opinions.  Some bf mothers are very judgemental of women who do not bf.  I don't care what anyone has to say about the fact that I didn't.  I've heard it enough at this point. 

[Momniscient]

Don't care.

Just another pawn in the mommy wars. For either end of the spectrum.