I came across this video on You Tube:
Now after watching this video.. I want to say I am really for extended breastfeeding. I breastfed my girls till they were 18 months and I felt that was the right time for me and them to wean. This is just my own personal opinion. There are several moms that even go to age say 3.5 years old. Which I still see fine if that is best for the mom and child.
This video really got me though seeing a 7 year old and how she is viewing breastfeeding. Getting mad at her mom for putting a bra on? Or drawing photos of her mom’s boobs? This bothers me as I think she is viewing this as her own and wants to soley have them as her own. I’m thinking at this point it is doing more harm to the child than the good. I know kids need to grow some independence and I would say an 7 year old needs to start learning this. Believe me I am a big attachment mom and really attached to my girls. I am JUST now leaving for a hour at a time in the evenings away from my girls to go the gym. I have always been with them 24/7 and we still co-sleep too ;). But I do know they have to grow an independence away from mom and not always depend on me even though I will always want to be there for them 🙂
I’m just afraid this little girl has such a strong attachment that the mom is really hurting her. What are your opinons on this?
Jen,
You got to be kidding me! What I would like to know is, would this mom be doing this if she had boys instead? I do agree very much with you on this one!
Wowwee Jen! I don’t really know what I am thinking about it. I would not want my seven year old on a bottle – well actually I wouldn’t want a two year old on a bottle – so in either case I can’t imagine letting them breast feed that long.
Our family physician said it is not normal or correct for a child that old to be nursing. He said he knew of a mother and 5 year old who were doing this and said it was not normal so I can’t even imagine a 7 year old doing this. I am all for breastfeeding but it’s normal for kids to wean themselves when they are ready and that’s anywhere from a year to maybe 2.
Nan, just a quick question..have you breastfed your children? I noticed that you said that it’s normal for kids to wean themselves when they are ready and that’s anywhere from a yr to maybe 2. Is this info from your doctor (male or female?) or your own personal experience. Just curious.
Thanks…I do agree, though that 7 might be too old to still be nursing…although in primitive cultures, where breastfeeing is something natural, a 5 or 6 yr old who might have already weaned from the breast, might come take a “swig” of milk from his/her mother if a stranger comes into the village, but then doesn’t continue.