Time Cover - What do you think?

[Janepod]

The child is almost 4, it says inside.

When we moved in to our home, we noticed that our neighbor was breastfeeding her son ... who after nursing was riding a bike without training wheels. He was 5! Oddly enough she is a super uptight far right mom - would not have expected the late breastfeeding to be her thing. But hey, different strokes.

 

[Janepod]

And I'm more offended by the headline than the picture. I'm not "mom enough" because I didn't BF til my kid was almost 4? Seriously? Suck it, Time.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't get it. So a 3 year old is too old to get nurishment from their own mother but it's fine to get nuishment from milk meant to go to a calf

To be clear, i would be okay with a child using BREAST milk in place of a cow's, but not getting it FROm a breast directly. Mom can pump and stick it in the fridge if she insists on that particular form of nutrition. It's the delivery method that is the problem at that age.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

She herself was breastfed until the age of 6, so I guess it's all in how you were raised. She also breastfed her adopted son. The kid in the picture is 1 month shy of 4 so that coupled with the fact that he's "dressed older" and standing in a position to purposely fan the flames is pretty disgusting on the part of the magazine. But extremism is extreme I guess.

 

[mombrontrent]

Agree with all of this. IMO if a child is still nursing at that age it's because the mother doesn't want to stop. That child can have all his nutritional needs met without it, and can cuddle without needing a breast to latch onto.

But if both mother and child are happen and content to nurse at age 3 who's to say they should stop. I guarentee the breatmeilk is more appropriate for the 3 year old then milk meant for a baby cow. Children all over the world breastfeed well past infancy and I am sure none are scarred over the experience, in fact I bet it has many benefits.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Personally, I am rather happy that I do not have memories of breastfeeding as a baby. I mean, I love my mom and she is closer to me than any best friend, but I don't need memories of sucking on her lady parts.

 

[Jennasis]

Personally, I am rather happy that I do not have memories of breastfeeding as a baby. I mean, I love my mom and she is closer to me than any best friend, but I don't need memories of sucking on her lady parts.

FTW!

 

[davmill]

I'm for breast feeding, but not so publicly displayed.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't get it. So a 3 year old is too old to get nurishment from their own mother but it's fine to get nuishment from milk meant to go to a calf

A 3 year old is too old to be BFing, not sure what you don't get about that statement. Its pretty clear.

 

[luvmy3]

But if both mother and child are happen and content to nurse at age 3 who's to say they should stop. I guarentee the breatmeilk is more appropriate for the 3 year old then milk meant for a baby cow. Children all over the world breastfeed well past infancy and I am sure none are scarred over the experience, in fact I bet it has many benefits.

I don't know of any laws saying they shouldn't, just people here stating their opinion.

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, it *is* meant to be satirical; that much is obvious. One of things that bothers me most about that photo is that they dressed the kid in fatigues and boots; he is meant to look like a small soldier. The fact that the mom is really tall and thin and looks like a professional model makes the whole image look like some sort of short man's sexual fantasy.

The topic of the article is Dr. Bill Sears' attachment parenting philosophy. The thing is, I was a fan of Sears' from way back, though I'm not a slavish follower of any particular philosophy. (My liking for attachment parenting came from the convenience factor. When it stopping being convenient, then it lost value to me.) While Wm. Sears does advocate extended nursing, he isn't nearly as controversial as his son Jim is. It's the son that has pushed the limit on the uber-mom philosophy, and who is anti-vaccine. Based on what I know of the elder Sears, he probably is rather unhappy with the exhibitionist philosophy implied by that cover.

I'm fine with extended nursing, and my youngest didn't wean until she was close to three (she weaned by my choice, BTW, not hers; I have my limits.) However, every Western woman who I have ever known who practiced extended nursing began to set limits on it by the time the child was verbal, and made it very clear that it was a private-time thing that would be limited to certain circumstances only. Once a child is fully adapted to solid foods there is no need to nurse on demand, nor should you, because they need to learn limits on it just the way that they learn limits on everything else. No one I've ever known would have allowed a child over age 2 to nurse in the way depicted in that photo. (As to the benefit, it's primarily emotional for the child. In my case, the primary benefit I got out of it was weight control, which was a nice side benefit, but not a compelling reason to continue.)

PS: As to the age of the child in the photo, before I read a bit more about the people in the photo I would have pegged him as a kindergartener, not a three year old. I'm the cynical sort, but I suspect that effect was deliberate; they tried to make him look older for maximum shock value, because controversy sells magazines.

 

[SaraJayne]

As a mom who BFed all three of my babies, I find it disturbing. When a child, and yes a 3 year old is now officially a child, can get the nutrition they need from food there is no reason to be BFing them any more. That mom has issues.

 

[penn19]

I will probably get flamed for this, and I wouldn't typically think this way, but it looks sexual to me. I don't know why. And I breastfed 3 of my kids, so I know it's NOT a sexual thing. But in THAT picture, and presented THAT way there is something that makes it look all kinds of wrong.

 

[LisaR]

I went to ONE La Leche League meeting. The person that ran it had a 4 year old that was running around playing. At one point, he ran up, lifted his mom's shirt, slurped up some milk, and ran off to play again. It was totally natural for both mom and son. Me? I hightailed it out of there and never returned.

I do believe in BFing and did so with my DD but when a child is old enough to say, "Yo, mom? Hit me up with some milk," it is time to stop the BFing, IMO. Obviously, others feels very differently regarding this issue.

 

[luvmy3]

Anyone ever see the movie Grownups?

 

[JamesMom]

As a mom who breastfeed her babies until age 1, I find the cover disturbing. 1st - that kid is scared for life (Imaginge finding this posted in Facebook when he is a teen!) 2nd - I think this is simply an extention of helicopter parenting. Hoovering isn't enough - keep them physically attached as long as possible, lol The last is said in jest (sort of) as a mom who wore her 2nd baby (who is ASD and not past 20 pounds). 3rd - It's just weird. I agree that when the kid can go to the fridge and pour his own glass it's time to put away the nursing bras.

 

[NotUrsula]

I will probably get flamed for this, and I wouldn't typically think this way, but it looks sexual to me. I don't know why. And I breastfed 3 of my kids, so I know it's NOT a sexual thing. But in THAT picture, and presented THAT way there is something that makes it look all kinds of wrong.

I know why. It's the fatigues. When you see fatigues and a buzz cut, you think soldier, and soldiers are adults. If the kid had been photographed in a pr. of Lightning McQueen pjs the photo would be giving a very different vibe.

Also, the woman's posture has something to do with it, too, I think; it's that subliminal thing. Standing that way with her upstage leg turned outward reminds me of Shirley Maclaine as Irma la Douce -- who was a hooker.

 

[Coconut36]

I think it is meant to shock and make people talk about it. I breastfed both kids but a year was my limit. I feel there is a time when some things need to come to an end..bottles/breastfeeding, diapers..etc. There comes a time when I don't believe it is necessary for the child at all..like after the first year or so of life and it needs to end.

I did however grow up around someone who did extreme extended breastfeeding. It was the mother of my friend who was not remotely the norm for the 80s. I found it odd and uncomfortable then.

I also worry about the child in this image. For the rest of his life that picture/image will follow him. Nothing like being a teen and having someone whip out a picture of you at 3 nursing. Shame on the mother for doing that to her child.

 

[diznygirl]

I have no problem with mothers who want to BF for however long they want.

I do have a problem with Time exploiting this particular mother/child relationship. And I have a problem with the mother who would allow it.

 

[BearcatsFan]

First, the disclaimer: I am not a mother. That being said, I have no issues at all with public breastfeeding, those who choose to breastfeed or don't choose to. Whatever.

THIS, however, is disgusting. That child doesn't look like a "toddler" to me. And the way he is (how can I say this) attached to her breast DOES look sexual as mentioned by PP. Hope I don't get flamed by saying that, but I guess it's her pose and the way he is ... ahem ... latched on ... that makes it look unseemly and made ME look away. Frankly, I blushed when I looked at it. I'm no prude, but to me this is just too much.

I'm all for supporting breastfeeding if this is your choice, but getting the word out in this manner is pushing the envelope a little too far IMHO.