The Time Magazine’s cover showing a woman breastfeeding a 4 year old has sparked a flurry of controversial debates. While we all agree that it is a mothers choice to decide how she raises and indeed feeds her child is 4 years old too old in your own opinion?
I have to say that I do find it “disturbing” in some way, I have a 4 year old and there is no way I would ever want to breastfeed her at this age.
Take away the argument that breastfeeding has so many health benefits, I would rather my kids ate food than sucked from my boobs at this age.
What makes a mother want to continue breastfeeding for so long? Is it damaging to a child? To be the only child at school who has to feed from its mother?
(source)
What are your views on this?
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I personally find it disturbing.I breast fed my son for 9months but that was more than long enough for both of us and I’m glad he took himself off me.
Average worldwide weaning age is 4. So it is not uncommon to nurse a 4 or even 5 years old. In China they nursed emperors until age 8. Nursing is more than food. It is a way to deliver antibodies. Nursing a walking talking toddler is not gross. Its why breasts evolved and why women have them. American culture is messed up to think boobs are for sex and not babies and children. Many studies show the length a child nurses is directly related to how big their brain develops. I could go on and on but I won’t. It’s. Natural and healthy for a 4 year old to nurse.
I think it’s an issue with the mum not wanting to let go and accept that her child doesn’t depend on her for food. It’s also a comfort thing for the child. But 4 is old enough for a child to stand on their own two feet. X
I don’t think it’s weird in general but I wouldn’t want to do it myself. It’s up to the parent and if the child doesn’t want to stop, and food is the main source of nutrition, then I don’t think a mother should feel pressured to stop breastfeeding just because it’s ‘not normal’.
It’s the photo that makes it seem odd to me – should have made it seem a bit more comfortable.
i couldnt do it and to be fair i wouldnt want to see it in the street and the photo makes it 10000000x worse made my skin crawl. fair does if you want to do it go ahead just not for me. i have nothing against b/f i did it but i think there is a limit to where it “normal” this is MY view
It’s all very debatable and I think 4 is ok if that’s what the mum and child want. (I do agree about the picture though, I couldn’t imagine breastfeeding like this, it’s been done like that for more response!)
I breastfed all my children for different times, my first three it was for 6-12 months, but then I had a daughter who refused to move on to a bottle or cup and needing more from me so we continued until she was 2. This was only at bedtime though, and sometimes before we got up in the morning. Then there came a time when she didn’t need me so much and was getting all her nutrition without me.
I think this picture has been done to create an impact and cause an emotional response! I wouldn’t personally breastfeed my child this long but I totally get why people do and think that’s fair enough, it is about passing on immunity to the child, esp important in 3rd world countries etc.
Erm no… I find it disturbing.
Congratulations she can breastfeed. That image is going to haunt that child for the rest of his life. Her attention seeking, is going to cause her child untold amount of pain and anguish in his later years. She didnt bother to think of her child when she was doing that just how much attention she was going to get, and here we are feeding her attention seeking ways even more.
I dont think its right to be breastfeeding at that age what would people think if she did this in a cafe or McDonalds,other mums with little babies get frowned upon outside their homes occasionaly i can only imagine what wud be said if she did that in say McDonalds i wudnt be doing it at that age she made a rod for her own back the kid going to kick off big time when she tries to stop it i think anyway x
i find it odd and think there needs to be some degree of separation but hey each to their own and all that x
honestly i find it slightly odd.. why??? does a 4 year old need breast feeding umm no so why do it~??? odd very very odd!
I don’t find it disturbing or wrong as it is the mothers choice how long she breastfeeds for, if both her and the child are happy then I don’t see the problem, although I personally wouldn’t bf that long. X
In my opinion it’s wrong I don’t agree with it x
I personally wouldn’t do it but each to their own x
this is discusting, he is 4 years old! i have a 2 year old and wouldnt even think of breast feeding him at that age x
I personally wouldnt. Im going to attempt breastfeeding my 2nd son when he is born in february .. but i wouldnt wish to continue it up to the age of 4 definitely. X
I think 4 is a bit too old and to do it on the front of a magazine I think is wrong too! What will is school friends say everyone knows how nasty some of them can be :-/ x
i breast fed my 2nd daughter…but…i do think theres a time to stop and hopefully before they turn 4…just my opinion tho
think it is too old
I find it abit disturbing,
I think 4 is to old to still be breastfed.
My daughter is 3 and I would never breastfeed her at that age! Bit odd, but everyone to there own xx
I wouldn’t cos of the teeth