Comments on: ABC’s 20/20 Features “Extreme Breastfeeding: When to Stop?”

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:40:32 +0000

So long as the mother is not trying to force continued bfeeding I see no problem with extended nursing. Most kids will wean by 4-5 at the latest. A few may continue after this point. Unfortunately there have been cases where mothers fostered dependency from their children by forcing a continued bfed relationship, twisting it into something it shouldn’t be. But in the few cases where this happens, the mothers are quite obviously suffering some form of extreme depression and attachment to their children. This is not a very common happening though, so unfortunately those of us who choose to allow our children to self wean are viewed through lenses colored by these few unfortunate happenings. So I agree wholeheatedly with extended bfeeding, so long as mother is not stopping the child from self weaning, a child will wean when ready. Mothers let your babies wean when ready, I know sometimes it’s hard, but mothers don’t need to start the weaning process, but neither should they prevent it from happening when their child deems it to be time.

By: erika

erika — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:30:15 +0000

>Heather says:However, to keep on after the child >can talk, walk, use the potty alone, eat solid food >and chew it with their teeth, and ask for your >breast is just plain wrong.

Who is this woman t say that? Why doesn’t she say it’s also wrong to have a pacifier or a blanket at that point? What about being rode around in a stroller past two? How stupidly judgemental can you be? I happily nurse my 3 year old at night before she sleeps (we co-sleep, is that “wrong” too?) when she wakes up and any time during the day she asks, which is becoming less and less. SHe is the cutest, most well adjusted smartest and healthiest girl one could ask for. And she’s my last of three so YES of course I as the mother have “ulterior motives,” continuing the beautiful bond of mother and child. Of course I can say no and give her something else like apple juice, but why? … I’m glad I know what’s best for my kids and hope you can figure out what’s best for yours.

By: Jennifer L.

Jennifer L. — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:19:57 +0000

Wow, this is quite a topic. One thing no one mentioned is that frequently parents wean their children from human milk and then give them cow milk because it’s high in protein, calcium and other vitamins. No one is saying how odd and bizarre that is–as if human milk is devoid of protein, vitamins and calcium after x number of years. While it’s still tough for me to wrap my brain around it (my daughter is only 15-months-old), it seems that milk from our own species might be better for us in the long run (from the cup or a breast) than drinking milk intended for calves. Breastfeeding has certainly made me more empathic to female cows. I am definitely not giving my daughter cow milk ever. It’s a fine drink designed for growing cows.

I think that whenever one weans from human milk, the need for milk is probably passed. You don’t see humans naturally out in the pasture sucking on cows because they need the nutrition. People just drink it from a cup. Why would a woman pumping her own milk and serving it to her own child be weird? Now if a calf were sucking her breast, I think I’d find that weird. Or if she was giving her pet rabbit human milk, perhaps I’d raise an eyebrow, but species-specific milk is pretty species specific.

Another perk of breast milk is that it doesn’t need to be pasteurized, homogenized or shipped all around the country. You don’t need to run to the store to get it.

Why isn’t it kind of perverted and weird to drink milk from a cow–even if the cow is in another state? I mean, it’s something that came from a female part of a cow. I think it’s indecent that cows walk around letting it all hang out. Bras for cows. No milk drinking in public. I don’t want to see it. It’s offensive and weird.

I’ve had my fair share of cow milk; it’s just that after breast-feeding I am not so into the idea. Breast-feeding should be promoted for as long as mutually desired without women having to worry about negativity. What’s it to all of you who disagree how long a mom breastfeeds? It really does no harm, and might even do some good in the long run. As if there aren’t already formula fed adult perverts out there in the world. You can’t blame the warts of the world on kids who were breast fed too long.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:54:35 +0000

‘i can bet kids like that…’
do some research and bring me the evidence you dig up but good luck finding any that can actually support your opinion.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:51:59 +0000

this is not alright. This is like sexual child abuse. having a 6yr old suck on his mothers nipple, is just not right, and i can bet kids like that are gonna have tons of issues when it comes to women later in his life. this is disgusting and the lady and ladies that nurse old enough kids, that can ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND BE INTERVIEWED, should be locked up.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:20:38 +0000

I would also like to add that I do think nursing older children 6+ is odd, but I am not going to pronounce it devient without some kind of further knowledge. Studies should be done to see if the children do suffer harm from this “extreme” nursing…and if they do, then something should be done. But from what I heard on the show and what I’ve read online, there is no evidence that older children suffer harm from it. So I think it would benefit everyone to know more about it before pronouncing harsh judgements on anyone.

By: heather

heather — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:06:36 +0000

since when does polling your friends and/or family pass for actual research?

yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion and you are entitled to yours and that’s exactly what this is–your opinion. it’s not based on fact or any sort of real research it’s merely a gut reaction to something you don’t know anything about.

do i plan on nursing that far into childhood? no. but i also didn’t plan on nursing to the point where we are now, which is almost 3 years.

furthermore, i don’t think my mom planned on nursing me for 5 1/2 years, either, it just happened that way.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:08:13 +0000

Eileen, I never disagreed with you that nursing a 9 year old is odd. I agree with you that if you must give your 9 year old breastmilk, put it in a cup. But your comments about when to stop breastfeeding were just not based on facts and I pointed that out. You seem to think it’s odd to nurse 3 to 4 year olds and I’m defending it. It’s attitudes like yours that cause so much public disaproval for those of us who have nursing toddlers and it is an “opinion” that is misinformed and wrong and it needs to be changed. My point is that these shows highlighting a very small number of women who nurse way too long only serves to paint those of us who nurse properly in a bad light. There is no comparison between nursing a 3 year old and nursing a 9 year old!

By: eileen

eileen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:51:24 +0000

Of course everyone is entitled their own opinion, but let’s at least acknowledge what that is… an OPINION does not necessarily reflect what is known to be true. You think I’m igorant and ridiculous, I think nursing a NINE YEAR OLD is borderline deviant and none of us will change the others’ minds. It is a FACT that there is a HUGE developmental difference in a 28 month-old and a nine year-old. And I have asked no less than 50 people their opinion on this topic since 20/20 aired, old people, young people, men, women, all of them parents and many of them have infants now and not a single one agreed with your (very odd) stance. Again, you keep acting as if I am bashing breastfeeding. I am only bashing it for kids that are past the toddler phase. All I keep hearing is “don’t be judgmental”. Not one valid reason for nursing a school age (non-toddler) child past the age of 4. Peace out, I’m done with this blog…

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:23:04 +0000

I am in agreement with Heather and I hav to say, using milestones like walking talking or chewing food as indicators of when to quit nursing is absurd (and ignorant). My child walked and talked at 9 months. Was it “time”? No it wasn’t. And who are any of you to judge me and my parenting? Do I judge you and your parenting? I don’t even know you, why would I do that? And a 4 year old is still a toddler, btw. I have actual studies I could post regarding the benefits of extended nursing (just google it for God’s sake). Where is your proof that it’s harmful or wrong? I did the best thing for my child by allowing her to wean herself when she was ready. I tried to wean her before that and it made her miserable, clingy and heartbroken. When I let nature do it’s thing, it was much easier and natural of a process. I never intended to nurse for 28 months, but that’s what my child needed and I am a sensitive enough mother to respect my child’s needs above my own. If you’re so against nursing toddlers, simply don’t nurse yours but leave the rest of us alone. Or should I start to berate you for formula feeding your kids? (something I would never do because I don’t judge other mothers.)