People Magazine Article about Breastfeeding after 12 Months

[mjkacmom]

Because they didn't like cows milk or any other type of drink except water. And since I am educated enough to know breastmilk changes to suit a toddlers nutritional needs, I continued to offer it to them whether it was for "comfort" or not. There were some days where all they wanted to eat was crackers, for pete's sake. Perhaps that counts as nutrition in America today as long as it fortified with fake vitamins?

Save your pseudo-concern about child porn. That's just offensive.

Kids don't need to drink milk or juice - water is fine! I had a toddler who wouldn't eat. Turns out he was drinking too much milk, and when I stopped giving him 32 ounces a day, he ate more. Many toddlers could go a day on crackers - they usually make it up on other days.

I doubt many toddlers are malnurished on their own accord in this country.

 

[leebee]

Because they didn't like cows milk or any other type of drink except water. And since I am educated enough to know breastmilk changes to suit a toddlers nutritional needs, I continued to offer it to them whether it was for "comfort" or not. There were some days where all they wanted to eat was crackers, for pete's sake. Perhaps that counts as nutrition in America today as long as it fortified with fake vitamins?

Save your pseudo-concern about child porn. That's just offensive.

Actually, I was asking because I wondered why you continued to breast feed if they were eating other food. My daughter stopped nursing at about 22 months, so I wasn't being critical... just wondering why you continued so long if they were eating a full diet (which, now that you explained, it seems you felt they were not).

And be as offended as you might like- it's not pseudo-concern about child porn. Whether you consider the pictures pornographic or not (and I DON"T think that's the intent of the pictures), there are creepers out there that DO and if it were my child, there's NO WAY they'd have been included in these pictures.

 

[Disneylover99]

In the article, when the one child unlatched and said, "I don't like this anymore." Did it just occur to that child at that moment? Or was that child thinking about this for a long time, but didn't say anything? That creeped me out. I really don't think this article is doing any favours to breastfeeding moms.

 

[mommysaurus]

I am iffy on this topic. I do fully support breast feeding and the rights of women to breast feed in public. I planned to breast feed my son for as long as possible, but unfortunately for me that ended up only being about 7 months. I gave him formula and didn't beat myself up or feel bad about it. In my opinion it doesn't matter how the baby is being fed as long as their needs are being met.

However, I think some people are in it more for themselves than for their child. I say child rather than baby because in my opinion these are the people who are doing things like publicly breast feeding a 5 year old. Some people I think just want to make as big of a splash as possible to make a point about their rights.

For example, when my son was an infant in daycare I first provided breast milk for him to have, then later formula. When my son was turning 1 and transitioning from the infant room to the toddler room the director had a meeting with me. She explained that the licensing requirements for our state dictated that no "outside food" was allowed past the infant room without a doctors note. She clearly explained that in the toddler room whole milk is served to the kids and that if I wanted to continue to provide breast milk or formula that would be considered "outside food" and I would need to provide a note from my child's doctor. She even went so far as to say this was very common and all peds in our area should be familiar with the rule and it would be no trouble to get a note. It was all just a licensing formality. I had no trouble with my kid being on whole milk at a year so there was no concern for me.

However, a few days after my transition meeting another mom with a kid the same age as my son cornered me in the parking lot at pick up. She was irate and asked me if I knew that my son had to be on whole milk as soon as he moved to the new room. I asked her if she'd met with the director because that wasn't what I had taken away at all. It was my understanding that it was still my choice what my son drinks, just I had to get a doctors note for my son to have formula or breast milk while at school. After a bunch more yelling from this woman turns out that she'd also had the same meeting, and heard the same information, but she was upset at having to provide a note for her daughter to continue having breast milk. She felt her rights as a breast feeding mother were being trampled on. The woman talked to me a few more times after that....she'd argued with the director (who had no control over the situation since it was a licensing issue), threatened a law suit, and eventually just pulled her daughter out and paid for private nanny care.

All that hoopla over something that could have been solved in 5 minutes. I'm sure if she'd called the doctors office they would have faxed permission right over, no questions asked.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Because they didn't like cows milk or any other type of drink except water. And since I am educated enough to know breastmilk changes to suit a toddlers nutritional needs, I continued to offer it to them whether it was for "comfort" or not. There were some days where all they wanted to eat was crackers, for pete's sake. Perhaps that counts as nutrition in America today as long as it fortified with fake vitamins?

Save your pseudo-concern about child porn. That's just offensive.

Toddlers will eat when they are hungry. If you continue to offer healthy foods, they will eat them. We've gone through phases with DD where she barely eats some days, and other days she eats like a linebacker. There is nothing wrong with that. Replacing nourishing food with breast milk is not doing the child any favors.

Repeatedly introducing young kids to healthy foods, tastes, textures, colors, we help them to develop a healthy palate in adult hood. And on the days when my 3 year old insists on crackers and nutella all day, I remind myself that I am the parent, and offer her healthy foods instead. Ifor she's hungry, that's her fault. She will eventually eat the healthy food, because she doesn't like to be hungry.

 

[tzolkin]

All over the world, like in very poor countries where sometimes the option is breastfeed or don't eat, yes it makes sense then. In a rich, first world nation with access to loads of nutritional options, it doesn't make as much sense. Then it starts bordering on the "look at me" vibe. These women get something weird from their preschoolers still using their breasts. It's creepy.

How is the purpose of breastfeeding beyond 12 months for "look at me" attention for mothers who only nurse in their own home and don't discuss it with anyone?

The other part of your statement is just complete conjecture based on what you want to think about other people. You have no idea what they actually think or feel or what they are getting out of breastfeeding.

In the article, when the one child unlatched and said, "I don't like this anymore." Did it just occur to that child at that moment? Or was that child thinking about this for a long time, but didn't say anything? That creeped me out. I really don't think this article is doing any favours to breastfeeding moms.

I assumed the "I don't like this anymore" comment meant that the child no longer liked the taste of the milk. The article states that the mother was pregnant and breastmilk changes during pregnancy. My middle DD just randomly decided to stop nursing one day when I was pregnant with my third (she was under 2, so she didn't talk about why).

Maybe I'm misreading, but you seem to be implying that the child was uncomfortable with breastfeeding and was being persuaded to continue, but I just honestly can't even imagine how that would work. I don't see how you could force a toddler to breastfeed and even if that was the case, why would someone that abusive/disturbed immediately stop once the child casually voiced "I don't like this"?

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Toddlers will eat when they are hungry. If you continue to offer healthy foods, they will eat them. We've gone through phases with DD where she barely eats some days, and other days she eats like a linebacker. There is nothing wrong with that. Replacing nourishing food with breast milk is not doing the child any favors.

Repeatedly introducing young kids to healthy foods, tastes, textures, colors, we help them to develop a healthy palate in adult hood. And on the days when my 3 year old insists on crackers and nutella all day, I remind myself that I am the parent, and offer her healthy foods instead. Ifor she's hungry, that's her fault. She will eventually eat the healthy food, because she doesn't like to be hungry.

Wow, you mean all I have to do is continually offer healthy foods? Breastmilk isn't doing them any favors? Have you any familiarity with a little thing called the World Health Organization? Let's read what they say about breastfeeding, shall we? "The World Health Organization recommends “exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and ... the timely introduction of adequate and safe complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond.”

Hmmmm. AND BEYOND. I wonder….what could those words….mean….

Thanks for the lecture on how to feed my child healthy. As my nine year old drinks his kombucha and dines on his poached eggs, avocado and strawberries for breakfast and my daughter eats her curry lentil soup and apple slices for lunch, I'll remember your sage advice. Woe to those who aren't doing their kids any favors by providing them breastmilk after age two! Nutritional eating just could never happen.

 

[Disneylover99]

Maybe I'm misreading, but you seem to be implying that the child was uncomfortable with breastfeeding and was being persuaded to continue, but I just honestly can't even imagine how that would work. I don't see how you could force a toddler to breastfeed and even if that was the case, why would someone that abusive/disturbed immediately stop once the child casually voiced "I don't like this"?

I don't know if the child was uncomfortable, but with a comment like that, the thought did cross my mind. I don't think the child was being persuaded, just that maybe because it was a routine, the child, maybe didn't even realize the option was there to stop and continued on breastfeeding long after they were actually ready to stop.

 

[Disneylover99]

AND BEYOND. I wonder….what could those words….mean….

I do wonder about.....and beyond. Is there an official stance when children should stop breastfeeding?

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I doubt many toddlers are malnurished on their own accord in this country.

Well, I doubt it too. With such fine examples of "nutrition" as Pediasure, and other fortified toddler foods, you are sure to load your child up on synthetic vitamins enough to make any pediatrician proud!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I do wonder about.....and beyond. Is there an official stance when children should stop breastfeeding?

No. Most of them will stop when they are ready or you are ready or both. Just because there is an occasional anomaly that people love to freak out about, doesn't mean there is or should be a rule.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Wow, you mean all I have to do is continually offer healthy foods? Breastmilk isn't doing them any favors? Have you any familiarity with a little thing called the World Health Organization? Let's read what they say about breastfeeding, shall we? "The World Health Organization recommends “exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and ... the timely introduction of adequate and safe complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond.”

Hmmmm. AND BEYOND. I wonder….what could those words….mean….

Thanks for the lecture on how to feed my child healthy. As my nine year old drinks his kombucha and dines on his poached eggs, avocado and strawberries for breakfast and my daughter eats her curry lentil soup and apple slices for lunch, I'll remember your sage advice. Woe to those who aren't doing their kids any favors by providing them breastmilk after age two! Nutritional eating just could never happen.

Again, in reference to the WORLD health organization, yes it makes sense in poorer countries to practice extended breastfeeding. They don't make their recommendactions based solely on rich first world countries where availability of nutrition is not an issue.

You can spout pretentious sounding names for foods all day long, essentially your kids are eating eggs and fruit, and soup and fruit. Not exactly breaking news. Probably could use a little more veggies in the meals, but that's just me. Why does everything these days have to be made out to sound like some extraordinary achievement? You made your kids eggs and soup. Somebody call Top Chef.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Well, I doubt it too. With such fine examples of "nutrition" as Pediasure, and other fortified toddler foods, you are sure to load your child up on synthetic vitamins enough to make any pediatrician proud!

The only person I recall mentioning pediasure on the thread is you. Why do you assume everyone is giving their kids pedia sure instead of nutritious foods?

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the...000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token

The American Academy of PEdiatrics recommends breastfeeding until AT LEAST 12 months, and then thereafter AS LONG AS DESIRED BY MOTHER AND CHILD.

I love the straw man of the World Health Organization only being for those third world countries that we in America don't have to worry about. I mean, gosh, it's not like there an childhood epidemics here, are there. Obesity, food allergies, psssh. We are super first world and healthy here!

From the link:

"Breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial source of nutrition and provides the healthiest start for an infant. In addition to the nutritional benefits, breastfeeding promotes a unique and emotional connection between mother and baby. In the policy statement, "Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk," published in the March 2012 issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 27), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.

This recommendation is supported by the health outcomes of exclusively breastfed infants and infants who never or only partially breastfed. Breastfeeding provides a protective effect against respiratory illnesses, ear infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and allergies including asthma, eczema and atopic dermatitis. The rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is reduced by over a third in breastfed babies, and there is a 15 percent to 30 percent reduction in adolescent and adult obesity in breastfed vs. non-breastfed infants. Approximately 75 percent of newborn infants initiate breastfeeding. Hospital routines more and more attempt to accommodate the breastfeeding mother. Pediatricians promote the advantages of breastfeeding to mothers and infants, as well as the health risks of not breastfeeding. As such, choosing to breastfeed should be considered an investment in the short- and long-term health of the infant, rather than a lifestyle choice."


STop trying to shame mothers who choose to breastfeed their toddlers. You are only making yourselves look ignorant and uninformed. PERIOD.

 

[Disneylover99]

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/AAP-Reaffirms-Breastfeeding-Guidelines.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token

The American Academy of PEdiatrics recommends breastfeeding until AT LEAST 12 months, and then thereafter AS LONG AS DESIRED BY MOTHER AND CHILD.

I love the straw man of the World Health Organization only being for those third world countries that we in America don't have to worry about. I mean, gosh, it's not like there an childhood epidemics here, are there. Obesity, food allergies, psssh. We are super first world and healthy here!

From the link:

"Breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial source of nutrition and provides the healthiest start for an infant. In addition to the nutritional benefits, breastfeeding promotes a unique and emotional connection between mother and baby. In the policy statement, "Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk," published in the March 2012 issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 27), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.

This recommendation is supported by the health outcomes of exclusively breastfed infants and infants who never or only partially breastfed. Breastfeeding provides a protective effect against respiratory illnesses, ear infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and allergies including asthma, eczema and atopic dermatitis. The rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is reduced by over a third in breastfed babies, and there is a 15 percent to 30 percent reduction in adolescent and adult obesity in breastfed vs. non-breastfed infants. Approximately 75 percent of newborn infants initiate breastfeeding. Hospital routines more and more attempt to accommodate the breastfeeding mother. Pediatricians promote the advantages of breastfeeding to mothers and infants, as well as the health risks of not breastfeeding. As such, choosing to breastfeed should be considered an investment in the short- and long-term health of the infant, rather than a lifestyle choice."


STop trying to shame mothers who choose to breastfeed their toddlers. You are only making yourselves look ignorant and uninformed. PERIOD.

If someone does want to breastfeed their toddler that's their choice and their business, but the link you provided mentions breastfeeding 12 months of age and beyond as mutually desired by mother and baby, not mother and toddler or mother and child.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Well now I feel like crap. I didn't breastfeed because I didn't want to. My kids hate both Curry and avacados...

Seriously. Some people here could stand to get over themselves.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

LOL, PRETENTIOUS? Where on earth do you shop?

They eat plenty of vegetables, thanks. I'm sure not as many as your special snowflake, but I assure you, we are just fine over here. You on the other hand, are ignorant and uninformed. So if you'll excuse me, I'm sure there's some other misinformation about extended breastfeeding you would wish to spout to mothers who are only doing the best thing for their children's health. Go sell your brand of crazy somewhere else.

eta: incidentally, it's wonDerland. You know, I'm sure there's some info about breastfeeding and IQ I could dig up somewhere….

I assure you as a medical professional who possesses 4 college degrees, I assure you, ignorant and uninformed is not something most people would use to describe me. But you are clearly superior with your Google degree and use of name calling and insinuations as to my level of IQ. I'll be sure to let my degrees know that a typo I made when signing up for an Internet message board is clear proof of my lack of intelligence. BTW, I noticed it long, long ago, just decided to keep it because ultimately, it's NBFD.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Well now I feel like crap. I didn't breastfeed because I didn't want to. My kids hate both Curry and avacados...

Seriously. Some people here could stand to get over themselves.

Your children are doomed to a life of pediasure, low IQ, and typos!

 

[cijay]

I breast fed my children. I am a strong supporter of breast feeding. But taking pictures of "school aged" children in their underwear while sucking on their mother's breast is just wrong to me.

I think People dropped the ball here.

http://www.people.com/article/moms-breastfeeding-after-12-months

Is there something wrong with me? The original post was about the photos of the children breastfeeding (and while it's the mother's right to offer the pictures, sign consent to have them printed etc, the child has no right as to where the pic. goes, not whether or not to breastfeed a child. It does sound like some people think the photos are going to end with People magazine though and that may not be right.

When my cousin's paedophile ex husband was arrested for kiddie porn (on her computer no less - yuk), she had to view and sign that she had no knowledge of this stuff being on there. She said you wouldn't believe what sickos consider to be exciting. Diaper ads, other peoples' semi naked-kids' pics lifted from facebook, naked-kids' pics from sick photofinishing clerks - pictures that we see as just...kids. Cousin said it's really really upsetting and she didn't take any non-fully clothed pics of their kids after that. Oh no, I don't believe those pictures began and ended in People magazine.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Your children are doomed to a life of pediasure, low IQ, and typos!

Now I'm all paranoid... Did I make a typo??? Lol!