i had to wait at dd's doctor's office yesterday and picked up a parenting magazine to read. there was an article about a woman who has been continuously breast feeding for 17 years. her youngest is now 6 1/2 and she has had the practice with all 3 of her children to not stop breastfeeding until the child no longer wanted to (said the other 2 stopped around 6). she felt that it was a comforting mechanism for her child and did it on demand-any time, any place (she was vocal that she refused to stop doing so in public venus such as the mall and that she was very angry when at age 4 her dd's school demanded she stop doing so in view of other students/parents-felt it was natural and did not need to "hidden away").
she said she gave the kids all the appropriate foods at the appropriate ages, but allowed them free access to her breast milk so long as they wanted.
the m.d.'s who were consulted said that as long as the child was getting appropriate nutrition there was no medical problem-but they hesitated to comment on it furrther.
so at what age was your child when they stopped breastfeeding? did you initiate it? did the child? do you think this woman's behaviour is appropriate?
my opinion is that a 6 1/2 year old should have developed self comforting mechanisms that do not include breastfeeding. i would have serious concerns about this child's emotional development when she is encouraged to utlize what is generaly an infanitle manner to de-stress/cope (the mom's words not mine). i would also wonder what effect the mom's public doing of this/making others aware of it (apparantly she is very vocal about the practice and it is common knowledge among the child's teachers/classmates) would have socialy on the child (i tend to think the child has to "cope" allot with the teasing she has to be experiencing).
interested in hearing everyone's opinions.
she said she gave the kids all the appropriate foods at the appropriate ages, but allowed them free access to her breast milk so long as they wanted.
the m.d.'s who were consulted said that as long as the child was getting appropriate nutrition there was no medical problem-but they hesitated to comment on it furrther.
so at what age was your child when they stopped breastfeeding? did you initiate it? did the child? do you think this woman's behaviour is appropriate?
my opinion is that a 6 1/2 year old should have developed self comforting mechanisms that do not include breastfeeding. i would have serious concerns about this child's emotional development when she is encouraged to utlize what is generaly an infanitle manner to de-stress/cope (the mom's words not mine). i would also wonder what effect the mom's public doing of this/making others aware of it (apparantly she is very vocal about the practice and it is common knowledge among the child's teachers/classmates) would have socialy on the child (i tend to think the child has to "cope" allot with the teasing she has to be experiencing).
interested in hearing everyone's opinions.
