at what age did your child stop breastfeeding?

[ChrisnSteph]

What's not right about breastfeeding past 2?

I said it was my OPINION, I don't expect everyone to agree with it. But to try to answer your question with a question, if the medical community and other parenting groups say that a child should be off a bottle by a certain age, why is it different for breast fed children? That's a question I'd like to see an answer to.

 

[chobie]

True. But what is the benefit to a 6 year old child? Comforting? We take their bottles and pacifiers away by then...

Yes, but we don't take away blankies, stuffed animals and other comforting things. My problem is with calling this abuse and painting the mother as selfish. Like I said before, many parenting decisions can be said to be for the parents' sake, not the child's. And if we took all kids away from their parents for things that get labeled abuse on this board; there would not be many children left in their parent's custody.

 

[puffkin]

I agree with the other posters 6 1/2 is way too old. I clearly remember things from about 4 years old on, and if I could remember something like that, WOW! Talk about potentially scarring someone for life.

By this age I don't see any health benefits either. I agree with other posters that if it is used as a "coping" mechanism, the child should have naturally developed other coping strategies by this point. I too think it is a case of the mother not being able to "let go".

I don't necessarily agree with the child abuse thought, but I do think it is a form of social abuse. Especially since the mother is adament about doing this in public and not done privately in the home at this age. Would it be socially acceptable to allow a 6 1/2 year old to walk around with a bottle? I doubt that there would be many supporters of that. I don't see much of a difference here.

 

[Marseeya]

I said it was my OPINION, I don't expect everyone to agree with it. But to try to answer your question with a question, if the medical community and other parenting groups say that a child should be off a bottle by a certain age, why is it different for breast fed children? That's a question I'd like to see an answer to.

As far as I can remember from my own baby days, it's because of the way a bottle can impair the growth of the teeth and jaw (someone correct me if I'm wrong). When a baby nurses, he uses his jaw in a completely different way which isn't detrimental to the formation.

 

[Mermaid02]

Yes, but we don't take away blankies, stuffed animals and other comforting things. My problem is with calling this abuse and painting the mother as selfish. Like I said before, many parenting decisions can be said to be for the parents' sake, not the child's. And if we took all kids away from their parents for things that get labeled abuse on this board; there would not be many children left in their parent's custody.

I wouldn't label it "abuse" and I'm not sure "selfish" is really the right word- but I think many women do it for themselves, not for their children.

If I gave my 6 year old a bottle every night it would be weird. I think it's just as weird to nurse a 6 year old.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

True. But what is the benefit to a 6 year old child? Comforting? We take their bottles and pacifiers away by then...

I will say that I personally wouldn't go that long--but the nature of the discussion is lending to the general consensus that much younger ages are barely tolerable. It is less about if we find a problem with nursing a 6yo and more of a "how can anyone nurse their child longer than x years or y months--that's child abuse".

Unless you know the specifics of the relationship between the two--can't really judge if there is lack of benefit.

My 3yo--I had planned on stopping by age 2--but once she burned her toes--it was impossible. It was all about comfort--we reached a certain age that I had to wait until she could understand. Her 3rd birthday became the magical milestone for us and it was easy for her to understand and ween successfully.

However--I didn't go explain that to every Jane, Jill, and Sherry that came along--b/c it was my child, my breasts, my business and the law supports that.

In many other cultures they do wacky things we won't even consider. Co-sleeping for many years is one of them.

This mother obvoiusly practices attachment parenting and that is okay. Now--would I nurse until age 6--heck NO! The fact that my child could pull up my shirt--could articulate her request...was borderline for me--but I chose to continue nursing. Would I have loved to continue--sure. Would she--absolutely--did we? No. Why? B/c "I" felt it was time--noone else told me, noone else forced me--I just decided it was best for us.

Having a dissenting opinion to say it is the mother's choice--isn't being supportive directly about what she chose--just that it is her decision as a mom to make between her and her child.

As for me--I have seen 6, 7, and yes even 8yo--still holding onto binky. Chances are--the 6yo in question isn't walking around with mom's "bottle" in the mouth while he's playing his sony playstation.

 

[Mermaid02]

As far as I can remember from my own baby days, it's because of the way a bottle can impair the growth of the teeth and jaw (someone correct me if I'm wrong). When a baby nurses, he uses his jaw in a completely different way which isn't detrimental to the formation.

Thumb sucking pushes the teeth out because of the pressure a child puts on his teeth, never heard of a bottle doing that. After a child eats an adequate varied diet and can drink from a cup, they don't need a bottle or a breast.

 

[CathrynRose]

It's not my child or my "bottles" either. It was just my opinion. I wouldn't get in this mother's face and tell her I thought she was wrong. It's just my opinion on the subject. Is that ok with you? No need to be huffy about it.

Im not huffy - at all. Relax.

Havent you read through the thread about *not* being able to tell someones -tone- via a text??

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I'm quite calm, thanks.

 

[BuckNaked]

Yes, but we don't take away blankies, stuffed animals and other comforting things. My problem is with calling this abuse and painting the mother as selfish. Like I said before, many parenting decisions can be said to be for the parents' sake, not the child's. And if we took all kids away from their parents for things that get labeled abuse on this board; there would not be many children left in their parent's custody.

There is a huge difference between handing a 6 year old a blankie and handing a 6 year old a nipple with a Mama's breast attached to it. I don't agree that it's abuse, but I most definitely think it a mom satisfying her own need to be needed rather than doing what is best for the child.

 

[staci]

After a child eats an adequate varied diet and can drink from a cup, they don't need a bottle or a breast.

DS took a sippy cup well at 8 months, and so he may not have needed a bottle or a breast, but he sure needed the milk that was IN either. MOST kids can drink out of a cup WAY earlier than recommended to give up formula OR breastmilk. Milk is still a huge part of their diet at that point and the bottle or breast is much more practical than waiting for a baby to sip away at a cup.

 

[Planogirl]

I personally think it's wrong. This is not a baby or toddler. This is a school-age child that should be developing coping skills and a certain amount of independence. Besides breast milk is likely not nutritionally sound for a child of that age.

By the way, I never breastfed but I'd say the same about a bottle fed child. I've never heard that the bottle affects teeth either.

 

[CathrynRose]

I will say that I personally wouldn't go that long--but the nature of the discussion is lending to the general consensus that much younger ages are barely tolerable. It is less about if we find a problem with nursing a 6yo and more of a "how can anyone nurse their child longer than x years or y months--that's child abuse".

Unless you know the specifics of the relationship between the two--can't really judge if there is lack of benefit.


Having a dissenting opinion to say it is the mother's choice--isn't being supportive directly about what she chose--just that it is her decision as a mom to make between her and her child.

As for me--I have seen 6, 7, and yes even 8yo--still holding onto binky. Chances are--the 6yo in question isn't walking around with mom's "bottle" in the mouth while he's playing his sony playstation.

I agree with Lisa....

Now Im just gonna stand behind her, looking all huffy.

 

[chobie]

I personally think it's wrong. This is not a baby or toddler. This is a school-age child that should be developing coping skills and a certain amount of independence. Besides breast milk is likely not nutritionally sound for a child of that age.

By the way, I never breastfed but I'd say the same about a bottle fed child. I've never heard that the bottle affects teeth either.

Never heard of bottle rot?

 

[LadyBears]

I breast feed until 8 or 9 months. Between her & pumping (I HAD to go back to work), I was in soo much pain I couldn't take it anymore!

Even the nurses could see she had NO problem latching on! My DH didn't believe me when I said it hurt - until one summer day he was laying on the couch with no shirt on - - I put her on him & she latched on TIGHT That was the last time DH made any comments.

Personnally - I think a 4 or 5 or 6 year old should be too independent to be BF. I agree - when they start developing modesty it is definitely way past the cut off point. If they have teeth & can chew food - they should be getting the proper nourishment. If they are old enough to be potty trained, they are old enough to be "table trained".

I am sorry - I just can't see going to a 1st grade party - while the other kids are having cake & ice cream, this one is getting breast fed!! Poor kid must be the laughing stock of the entire town!! Kids this age are learning to fend for themselves & make their own decisions. They call each other names for any reason -no reason to purposely humiliate your own child for your own detachment issues.

If the child had some unfortunate disability that would hinder eating properly then yes I can see some exceptions to my opinion....

 

[In a hurry]

There is no purpose for BFing a child of that age. If there are comfort issues that are that strong, the kid needs counseling. And a parent that "attached" to the process is getting something odd from the relationship. It may or may not be sexual, but there is a time to let your kids grow up and away.

 

[mommystieg]

I want to finish reading this thread but it's time to go pump....

DD#1 - weaned at 6 mos so I could go back to school (was also working full-time) But if I had known as much about BFing then as I do now, I would have gone longer.
DD#2 - self weaned at 1 year
DD#3 - 14 mos and still nursing

I will check back later if this thread doesn't get locked before then

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

A six-year old is too old to breast or bottle feed. If the mom wants to pump breast milk for a six-year old, fine, but to have the child "coping" by latching on at the breast is not right. I can only imagine the torture DD5 would be subjected to if I was BFing her before school.

I breastfed DD and DS for 3 months each. DD5 was weaned from her night bottle at 22 months. I'm already weaning DS 13 months from his bottle.

 

[Mom2be]

Exactly. Which is why I believe this mother and others like her do it for their own comfort and feelings of being needed rather than for their children.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! I won't say that the act on a 6.5 year old his child abuse but you definately after to wonder about the mother's personal attachment.

I'm currently pregnant I plan on breastfeeding for about 6 months tops.

~Amanda

 

[chobie]

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! I won't say that the act on a 6.5 year old his child abuse but you definately after to wonder about the mother's personal attachment.

I'm currently pregnant I plan on breastfeeding for about 6 months tops.

~Amanda

I only planned on 6 months too. However, my baby had a different plan. You never know until you've been there. This mother in question is an extreme example, but I won't judge her becuase many people think my BFing a 2.5 year old is extreme.