 |
|
|
|
|
May 10th, 2012
04:37 PM ET
Breast-feeding: Too much of a good thing?It's hard to avoid staring at the cover of Time Magazine this week. If you're on social media like Twitter and Facebook, the widely shared image may have arrived on your screen before you ever saw it in the supermarket. The provocative cover shows Jamie Lynne Grumet, a 26-year-old mother from Los Angeles, breast-feeding her son. This isn't your typical mom-and-baby shot: Grumet's son is 3. In case you were wondering, Grumet told CNN's Erin Burnett that her son is actually breast-feeding in that now-iconic image. Grumet said her own mother breast-fed her until age 6, and Grumet still remembers it. "I'm proud of her," Grumet said. The picture promotes an article about the growing popularity of "attachment parenting", a theory first advocated by Dr. Bill Sears and his wife, Martha, in their 1992 best-selling guide “The Baby Book.” The Searses argue that co-sleeping, “baby wearing” (where the baby is attached to the parent with a sling) and extended breast-feeding will help parents respond better to the individual needs of their babies. Celebrities such as Mayim Bialik of "The Big Bang Theory" are also promoting ideas about attachment parenting. Bialik said on Friday that she still breast-feeds her 3-year-old son. "He's not done breast-feeding, and I'm not ready to tell him not to," she said. Many moms and dads have strong opinions about these practices, especially the breast-feeding advice. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies be breast-fed exclusively for the first six months of their lives. "We don't all nurse older kids," Bialik said of mothers who subscribe to attachment parenting ideas. "But the notion that a child's voice matters, that every child is different, that's the basis of attachment parenting." Heather Curtis, wife of Fark.com founder Drew Curtis, told CNN's Geek Out that she practiced breast-feeding for an extended period, carried her babies in slings and practiced co-sleeping, as Bialik did. So did Caryn Rogers, a science writer for the Preeclampsia Foundation. "I didn't really choose to eschew conventional care so much as chose to get what I believed was the most evidence-based care," Rogers said. Grumet said that sleeping with her baby does not affect intimacy with her husband. Watch: Breast-feeding cover-mom defends pose "I think intimacy is extremely important in a marriage and I think a strong marriage is going to be a great foundation to show your children how to be raised confident and happy and I had that with my family, too," she said. Time: Extended breast-feeding is more common than we think CNN.com readers expressed mixed views on the subjects of the best age to stop breast-feeding and the appropriateness of the Time cover in general. See what they said. We want to know what you think. Is it OK to breast-feed well past toddler-hood, or is it too much of a good thing? soundoff (3,790 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Next »Leave a Reply to Husband of woman on cover
Next entry »Choosing your first triathlon race
« Previous entryThese parties go way beyond Tupperware
|
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
 |
|
|
|
I don't see what the big deal is. Only in America do people get their panties in a knot over these trivial matters. It's a little different, yes... does that make it wrong? No. Her life, her child. The issue is just as silly as Alicia Silverstone regurgitating food into her child's mouth. Who cares? I'm sure both are very loving parents. There are a LOT of kids who would be incredibly fortunate to grow up in such a loving household.
The 'big deal' is the caption that Time put with the picture. ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH
That is meant to demean and insult every mother that does not breast feed their kid until the preschool years.
The picture and caption were carefully selected to create this controversy where there really is none.
No Syd, it's meant to get you to buy the magazine.
Colostrum is an incredibly required headstart for any infant, gorilla, chimp, bonobo or human. The female breast is a modified sweat gland that due to puritanical madness has been made into a thing associated with everything but the beauty of humanity. What a shame America.
Totally agree, Alex. And I'm bemused that CNN is asking for opinions–other people don't get to have an opinion on how I raise my child. And I don't care how other parents raise theirs.
Looks to me like a wardrobe malfunction
Too much breast feeding can NEVER be a bad thing....especially from a hot blonde.....mmmmm
Paul Revere, that comment is disgusting. Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed babies, as if I should have to even say that. If you want to sexualize it, you should know its inappropriate and keep it to your own little world. Just like the cover of Time.
Breast feeding may be 'natural' but really, how many 'babies' can climb up a stool and reach their moms breast while she is dressed in a skin tight black ninja outfit. And momma has hand on hip daring anyone to say a word. The picture on the cover was intentionally provocative.
The tranny above me comes from a broken home and hates its father.
Sex is a natural thing...and me wanting to knock that kid off the teet and plow that blonde is perfectly natural. In fact...I see a cover in the making.
Personally, I approve of the judgmental approach being displayed here. Of all the mothers that could be pictured breastfeeding their toddlers, I judge that this one is worth displaying the picture on the cover of time. I saw a couple moms earlier today that I am thankful that they are not pictured on the cover of time breastfeeding their toddlers.
I must admit, I'd like some of it. Way to go dude!
Funny how they didn't do a picture of an average mother, not so model looking.
I don't know if the New Jersey "tanning mom" breastfeeding would have sold magazines
Look, this is not for everybody. Ms. Bialik clearly states this. I this she did a wonderful job of explaining her point of view and I respect her for that. Clearly, if this offends you or you are uncomfortable with it don't do it. Children are adaptable and flexable. Loving your child is the most important thing.
He kinda has that look though, my mom is hot. Way too old.
Agreed, Victoria. It's nice to have some sensible posts here.
So it is okay to love your child that way. What do you say about the father that has little girl love him when she is 14.
At some point you need to say breast feeding is fine, but it's time to get your milk from a cow.
Will she send him to pre-school with breast milk in his luch bag?
What if he shares it, do the parents get to sue beacuse thier child drank her breast milk?
I'm sure someone will.
Neil,
It's painfully obvious that you simply don't get it. As a man with two teenage daughters and a 2.5 year old as well, I am frustrated (not offended) by your comment. Where is the connection between nursing your three year old and molesting your fourteen year old? You have your mind all twisted up in a knot if you think that is what this type of love leads to. Abuse of children is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from parents who are willing to sacrifice enough to co-sleep, breast feed and everything else that goes with attachment parenting. My 2.5 year old self weened around 15 months and she sleeps in her own bed but I respect everything about attachment parenting. What I can't respect is short sighted idiots who assume that their way is the only way that makes sense and everyone else is somehow a pervert or stupid.
It is especially telling that you said "it is time to get your milk from a cow." I suppose that you believe that the stuff they call milk in stores is actually good for a baby? You probably think that formula is a great replacement for mother's milk as well. Get educated and open your mind and learn to respect other people's choices on parenthood.
Breast is Best...You ask that Neil respect your choices, yet you belittle his opinions.
23 is too young to be having kids. Some people might be able to pull it off, but most people are still too damn dumb at that age.
I nursed my youngest until age 3. More like snacking at that age but it was great security for her. Doctor said that is why she is so healthy. We have had a very close bond all these years. It saddens me that some think sexual ideas yet they think nothing of seeing a child drinking from a bottle or sippie cup at that age.
IQ wise she is unbelievably smart and talented! The picture on the magazine doesn't thrill me and wish it would have shown the mom holding her son on her lap instead. People who have nursed for years understand the bond spoken of in this report but other will not and can not understand.
To all you moms out there that nurse, I applaud you! Wish I had nursed all my kids!
PS They wean themselves easier from the breast then the bottle!!
Ughh you don't say anything about a child drinking from a sippy cup because that is normal. Try as you might breastfeeding at 3 years old is not normal. Not wrong, but not normal
DisneyNut – I agree that there are situations where breastfeeding is the best option and to those who want to and can, I say do it for as long as it works. However, I take umbrage to your insinuation that your breastfed child is the smartest and healthiest of your children. Yes, breastfeeding can provide a child with wonderful immune system advantages and may help brain development, but breastfeeding alone does not determine these things. However, today's formulas come very close to mimicking breast milk in many ways and can be a very good option. Furthermore, not all mothers can, or feel, comfortable feeding their children in that manner. In my own experience, my multiples could not be breastfed despite my very diligent efforts. I could not produce enough milk early enough to feed them and they began to lose too much weight. I also had to decide between spending all my time attached to a pump attempting to bring in enough milk or taking those precious first few weeks to actually bond with them by holding them during bottle feeding. I chose the latter. My formula fed children are extraordinarily intelligent and at the tops of their classes. We have an unbelievably strong bond that I never could have imagined, even had I breastfed. They are, thankfully, very healthy – which by the way is not the case for my friend's daughter, who was breastfed for an extended period. I hope for the sake of your bottle fed child(ren) that s(he)/they do not perceive your preference for breastfeeding in a manner that creates insecurity in them. For that would be a shame in the irony of its self-fulfilling prophecy.
79transam,
It is completely "normal" in so many societies other than our own. Drinking from a sippy cup is normal? HAHAHAHAH I don't need to make you sound foolish, you did an excellent job on your own.
NM, Whoa there, relax, she never said her other kids were idiots. As a mother yourself I would hope to realize that you know that her other kids will get equal love and nurturing. All she said was that her experience with breastfeeding was her favorite. It sounds like you haven't come to grips with your decisions and still feel some level of guilt or something. Otherwise I can't see how you could take such offense to this simple post.
When we breast feed it was meant to nourish our infant when they can't nourish themselves, if that doesn't work, theres formula in a baby bottle. We start to wean them from liquid nutrition to more solid foods by the first birthday, and start teaching how to drink from a cup, then slowly introduce utensils, while using their hands is also okay. A child of one year old does not need a baby bottle anymore, he should be eating well by this time. Having a child hanging from your breast at that age is disgusting. Almost looks like mommy needs it more. There is nothing beautiful about that sight. It looks incestuous, and it will embarrass that child someday, if its not already screwed up by this.
What you describe, jordan, is what worked for your child. It sounds like you are a good parent. Be a bit flexible, though, and recognize that every child is different. Some children and start moving to solid foods at four months, but some show not interest in solid foods until over 1 year old. Regardless, interest in solid food does not always signal immediate end to interest in nursing.
While I don't believe I will be breast feeding my own baby that far into the future, it is quite interesting to know that the INTERNATIONAL average of how long babies are breast fed is 2.5 years. Lots to consider there.
I agree with you, Jordan. It is perverted.
Only a pervert could see this as perverted. This is called love, not perversion. Good heavens, your judgements are ridiculous and arcane. It is disturbing to me that you consider this perverse. Is it also perverse for a father to bathe with his toddler? Is it perverse to hold and kiss a teenager when they have had a hard day? When does parenting stop and perversion begin, please tell us, since you obviously have all of this figured out.
Ok, here is my problem:
You have a woman with a 3 month old baby sucking her breasts: That's breastfeeding, thats ok
You have a woman with a 17 year old boy socking her breasts: That's rape and she goes to the big house
Where do we draw a line where natural behavior becomes illegal?
FH – fair point, except for one caveat: where in the article or interview are Grumet or Bialik advocating for nursing to age 17? Both note that their 3 year olds have been self-weaning for over a year, that they are slowly putting limits on the frequency and location of nursing, and that they expect for their children to self-wean by 4 years old. The "where do you draw the line?" argument is less persuasive when you compare two ages so far apart as to be absurd.
OK SH that is true, but a 6 year old sucking on a breast would probably be considered sexual assault and that's 2 years difference. I can't for the life of me know why you would want to remember breastfeeding from your mother, but thats the thing, the child knows nothing different and will not understand until they are older that their extended breastfeeding is borderline criminal.
I was robbed !!
popeye1128 – see "Oedipus complex" under Freud in your local library. Also – seek counseling. And – take your medication as directed.
SH, he is just joking. You take yourself way too seriously.
Enjoy him now....he'll prob. kill himself at the age of 12. Bullying ammo provided by mom. Great job.
Congratulations, Deftoll! You have taken the prize for the most extreme post in the comment section so far! All that's left is to blame the downfall of western civilization on breastfeeding. Anyone? Pwned? Truth? popeye1128?
Yes SH the comment is extreme, but not untrue. Most likely this child will be picked on for breastfeeding until he is 4
Not if they homeschool
I've been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is beautiful worth sufficient for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the internet will likely be much more helpful than ever before.
You start building memories at that age. Not sure how I would handle remembering nursing on my 70+ year old mother.
Your mother gave birth to you when she was in her 60s?
You know exactly what I meant SH, you are too confrontational and not helping your side of the argument.
It's hard to know what you mean when you give the example "nursing on my 70+ year old mother" because it is highly unlikely. Even so, if you were nursing at 3 and your mother was 70+, you memories would be of your mother nursing you not just some 70+ year old woman.
The kid is almost 4, too old.
This is sexual, abuse and deviant.
The kid is going to be messed up.
I think it should be left up to the mom to decide when to stop breast feeding their children.
He looks like he's ready to go hunt deer in his camos and boots. He found something better. Can't blame him.
LOL. Is this the Popeye from Orion?
I bought that issue of TIME just to FAP to it.
This is entirely a private matter between a mother and her children. If she's pulling out on a crowded subway and feeding her 7-year-old and the kid is making all kinds of sucking noises and disturbing people, there might be an issue . . .
Game of Thrones beat Time on this one.
Was never one to turn down a bit of breast action myself. Also Mayin Bayik is not a celebrity.
I want bitty!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuPBbFOiygo
i don't care what parents decide to do with their kids, but this picture freaks me out so bad! that is all i can say..
Breastfeeding is the biological norm, as is what we call "extended" nursing. If our ancestors hadn't nursed their children until around age 4, they probably wouldn't have survived. This picture would not create such a reaction in most of the world, where moms nurse for years SO THEIR OFFSPRING LIVE. If you think it's sexual or disgusting, you have forgotten why breasts exist in the first place...and you're a victim of our media. I KNOW my children will be healthier long-term because I nursed them for four years. It's the perfect snack for a growing toddler, it's comforting for them, it's normal. Get over it.
As long as you are aware that your kids will be destroyed in school by other students for it.
Well said, only in the western world are peoples minds so narrow in regards to this subject. I too nursed all 3 of my boys well beyond what is deemed "normal". It is incredibly sad that people sexualize this and turn it in to something gross. What does that say about our society? Many of my friends in Europe nursed their children beyond 4, and this was perfectly normal.
My boobs were made for booby juice! ( Thats what my boys called it)
@79- Yeah, cause it's worth trading a lifetime of health benefits that extended nursing offers just to avoid a few taunts and teases at school. That makes sense.
Having sex is a biological norm...do you do it in public?
I have three adult children. The first one quit breast after 3 months because she was ill, but the other two were breast-fed regularly until 1 year and at gradually decreasing frequency until they were ...4. (they were born 8 years apart so no, they did not learn from each other).
They are both healthy and robust and the firstborn is sickly.
It seems to me that if the society didn't try to ridicule the mother who breast-feeds so long fewer children would have cancers, allergies, etc.
In animal world (i.e. natural, where there is no society pressure) offspring drinks mother's milk into equivalent of young teens, and the same applies to primitive cultures – children are breastfed long past what the western society considers reasonable.
We have artificial sweeteners, margarine, baby formulas, and all these are promoted so the drug companies can just reap the profits from it...
My children chose health. (and no, I did not encourage them to hang on my boobs for so long... we had battles where they wanted and I did not, In fact I had to shame them into quitting because I imagined them begging for breast in preschool...
and I wanted to quit!
When can I take my turn?
For those who may be wondering...with extended breast feeding, breast milk consumption may not be very much past a "snack", for comforting a child, or for helping the child go to sleep, when that child is older. By that time, the child is probably consuming regular food along with the family, and breast milk is not the only source of nutrition. When the child decides to give it up, that demonstrates a degree of maturity. Breast milk can also be helpful in an older child during times of illness, when it can prevent dehydration. For those of you who are not acquainted with breast feeding, at least restrain yourselves from making fun of it! Breast feeding should be encouraged, not laughed at!
Mr. Sears should be banned from Earth. If he stays he should be charged with crimes against humanity. I know so many children that are irreparably damaged by the attachment parenting concept. These children will grow into adults whom will have no ability to stand on their own, an inability to function without reward in the workplace, and extreme difficulty in maintaining relationships. All he has done is steal ideas from third world nations and poorly implement them here.
Really? How so?
Really! A child breast feeding after 18 months is rediculous! My wife and I have raise 10 children and non of them continued breast feed after 18 months. Come on, who is it benefiting at that point? Is it the child or is it a way for the mother to continue having larger breasts without having breast implants. Grant it, breast milk is definately better for an infant because it is all natural and contains no lactos but, if one decides to continues giving a child breast milk for the health benefit then pump it and put it in a bottle!
Here's just a few benefits to help you understand.
"Nursing toddlers between the ages
of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers"
"Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child… Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother… There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.” (AAP 2005)
"The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness (AAFP 2001)."
But hey, if you don't mind watching your children sick and suffering than more power too us. Some of us actually love our kids though.
Seriously Doug. Read a book sometime. Learn how to spell lactose. Give us something to make us feel like you have more than a third grade education, please?
I've been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It's pretty value enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the web might be much more helpful than ever before.
Using her child in this publicity stunt is very, very unfortunate and misguided.
As a mom, I worry that it sets him (his image) up to be used illicitly by Internet photo predators.
Breastfeeding itself is a wonderful thing - free, convenient and above all, healthy! And breastfeeding mothers should be respected when they pursue this in an understated way, even in public.
The Time cover displaced things in the wrong way – the cover was meant to incite reaction, which is the poorest form of journalism. I have breastfed my two children until they were both 4. During their last year of breastfeeding it was usually only at night before they went to sleep and we cuddled in bed like this for a few minutes. I have 3 degrees, one being a MBA and another a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience and know how beneficial long-term breastfeeding is to a child's brain. I think it is an individual choice if you breastfed and for long long, and I really don't understand why people believe they have the right to tell someone else what they are doing is wrong if it is not hurting anyone else. I believe people should concentrate on being content with their choices, and not worry about or judge others choices. Showing tolerance and respect goes a long way toward creating a better world for all of our children to live in.
I congratulate you for breastfeeding for so long. I breastfed my son until age 2. But I disagree with your last statement about showing tolerance and respect...a mother who willingly formula feeds is showing a complete lasck of tolerance respect for her child. If a parent isn't willing to go through hell to do what's best for their child, then they don't deserve to have kids. Every child deserves the best start in life, and they can't get that through formula. A huge percentage of women make no attempt at breastfeeding, which is just pathetic. Women like that doesn't deserve respect since they show so little of it for their innocent baby's health.
Judgmental much? It's none of your business how a mother feeds her child.
S...wow. Way to promote breastfeeding.
I would like to point out, I breastfed my children beyond 3 years old, My Doctors always praised my efforts and pointed out what a wonderful thing I was doing or my children. How good it was for them, and how they wished it was more common in our society. Not all women can and should not be judged, but should I be???
Breastfeeding is a choice, plain and simple. In defense of breastfeeding I would like to say that my daughter suffers from Systemic Lupus Erythematosis and she was one of the lucky 1/3 who improves during pregnancy. She has also successfully breastfed her daughter for 20 months and it seems to have kept some of her lupus symptoms at bay. That being said whether or not to breast feed and how long a mother should brest feed are intensely personal decisions and no one's business except for the parents involved.
Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to buy infant formula and pay the medical bills of formula fed babies. Until we do away with handouts to lazy mom's who refuse to breastfeed, then I say it is everyone's business if a mom breastfeeds or not, especially if that mom is being provided free infant formula and health insurance for her baby by taxpayers.
And even without the above, it is everyone's business. Just as it is everyone's business to see that child abuse is prevented. When someone is harming the health of a child, which formula feeding does, then they should be ridiculed.
Hmmm, I thought about this, and....still not your business.
This is a good idea only if this three year old is wearing diapers, sucking a binky, still dreaking from a bottle and still traveling in an "infant" carrier. I can see it now, a temper tantrum in pre-K class, because he wants mommy's beast milk. Yikes!
It is comments like this that make me realize how sheltered, ignorant, and self-rightous our society is. Most of the comments against the actual article and point of the story are ridiculous. People are so misled by commericialism and what is "normal" in this country. Our normal is fairly detrimental to ourselves and our children. It is normal to eat fast food regularly, serve prepacked mostly corn based meals regularly, watch hours of television daily, talk or text while driving, choose to bottle feed w/o attempting to breastfeed, or choose wean early from the breast (before 1 yr). I'm not saying that bottlefeeding is the same as choosing to eat at McDonalds or calling a corndogs with fries a meal a regular basis; however, we often don't make the BEST choices within our means due to convenience. In our society convenience is the key, and if we don't mold ourselves into our society's "normal", then surely our kids will be doomed and - gasp - weird.
The picture used to sell the magazine is extreme and obnoxious - even, I'd venture to say, for most attachment parents. Even in this case, I seriously doubt her child would have a fit at preschool because he wants to breastfeed. You all do realize he's not exclusively breastfed, right?
Why are so many people hung up on this? The kid will stop when it is ready. If the mom insists when the child does not want to be breastfeed then there may be a problem. It is not the business of others to decide in this very personal matter which may be bad for the child when others try to control. Yes, even if you pay their rent or others make inappropriate suggestions you all need to back off. Ask yourself, what does it hurt?
It's really a great and useful piece of information. I'm happy that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
My mom breast fed my younger brother until he was 3 and 1/2 years old. We had a loving, caring family, and my brother is an engineer, happily married for 34 years, a great recognized professional and very stable financially. I came to this wonderful Country 21 years ago, I am proud to say I am an American Citizen. I came in with 2 children, 40 years old. I have succeeded! I have a home paid in full, I have reserves and I consider myself a winner. I have fulfilled my American Dream!
Nothing wrong with breast feeding toddlers that's all I can say. The picture in the magazine did not represent the beauty of motherhood, that's my comment.
Moms should NOT stay home with the kids, no matter how young. Now, I do nurse beyond a year but never to 2, though I bet the kids who do have a much healthier life. To say formula is OK is silly b/c we already know those are the kids dying young of heart disease and other ailments. And shouldn't give our kids the chance to reach 100? That being said, no kids are ever allowed in my bed. I would never wear a baby. I pay to have my kids in daycare part of the time and I stay at home! Moms were not meant to stay at home. It's NOT GOOD FOR THE KIDS! Maybe if you are Mary Poppins and every utterance is full of love and patience, but real kids needs daycare and people who are paid (for a limited amount of time) to be cheerful educators. I don't think that moms need work...but they should not be the primary caregiver 100 or even 75% of the time.
A) your english is atrocious, which hints that you're uneducated
B) you sound like a kook and I feel bad for your kids
C) I bet you're divorced
Hmmm...okay. Whatever lets you sleep at night! Children need to be in the care of sane, loving, responsible adults for 100 percent of the time...even if it's not their own mom. If a mom can't offer that, any of the time, she shouldn't raise them for any of the time.
Watch the pedophiles j e r k off to this picture.
Mom is a perv. She is using to her kid to make herself feel good.
Only pervs think this is sexual.
Can some of you clowns who support this tell me what the limit is? If the child is 10 and isnt yet ready to stop do you continue to allow the kid to breasfeed?breastfeeding an infant is fine but this is utterly ridiculous and shows how fookin stupid some libtards are.
The limit is individual...mutual to each. I can't imagine too many instances of both parent and child wanting to nurse until 10. I think the highest I've heard of (and it is completely the exception was 6 or possibly 7). That to me is too old, I'm not sure I could've done it until 3 or 4, but I have respect those who do. There is no sexual point to it all, nor is the child breastfeeding exclusively...usually only when upset or at nap or bedtime. There are other ways to effectively nurture a child, however. If you nurture your child in other ways, breastfeeding past 3 or 4 does seem like passive parenting...though not abusive.
Those who draw sexual things from this don't understand breastfeeding at all. If you can only see breasts as sexual objects, that is a shame.
However, putting your breasts and a 3 yr old on the cover of a magazine in that stance..really doesn't seem the best way to promote breastfeeding, or give a real portrayal of those who do choose extended breastfeeding. The only thing better would be doing that at the school cafeteria or while preschoolers in a classroom have their goldfish snack. Thanks, mom. She is probably a clown.
And to the person who made the comment about "infant carrier," that's serious stuff. Kids should be rear-facing to age 4 or more. Ask any parent who ever lost a kid. Why would you not do everything to protect her? No boosters until age 6 or more. It would break your heart to know what happens to kids too young to be in boosters. And keep them boostered once they are old enough, to age 11 or 12. Adult seatbelts can cut their middles in half in an accident. I know any parent whose child died in a car accident never thought it would happen to them, and they can't go back and say what IF I had given my child maximum protection?
Can some of you fools who support this tell me what the limit is? If the child is 10 and isnt yet ready to stop do you continue to allow the kid to breasfeed?breastfeeding an infant is fine but this is utterly ridiculous and shows how fookin stupid some libtards are.
We heard you the first time, Pwned.
Glad to see you've returned to your own screen name.
SH
Socialmoron,
I told you youre a clown under this name so I have no need to imitate you. I went to sleep last night amd have been doing stuff today hence my prolonged absence. I will say that I saw all your replies claiming it was me and i got a laugh out if that, as im sure the person actually posing as you sonce you were placing false blame.
My statement that youre a fool and your incorrect assumption onlu proves that to me further. Very convenient for you to also avoid my question which shows the absurdity of your position. Carry on now im aure you or ur fugly wife have a 15big year old to breast feed.
Grammar errors due to being on phone.
Your question was asked and answered by homeschool.
When can we look forward to your next scatalogical analysis?
Breatfeeding your child is a beautiful experience and most importantly healthy for them. I feel it is an individual choice on the duration and no one should JUDGE.
What if the kid (age 4) goes out with a neighborhood buddy and that mother offers lunch?? Or what if he is invited to a birthday party and wants milk with his cake??
Cannot imagine a 4 year old who wears camouflage outfit to be "one of the regular boys" coming in and wanting his mom's milk! You can do what you want with your children as far as breast feeding BUT... isn't this a bit much to advertise!!!! ??for what purpose??
"What if the kid (age 4) goes out with a neighborhood buddy and that mother offers lunch?? "
- Eating solid foods and breastfeeding are not mutually exclusive. As the first increases, the second decreases.
"Or what if he is invited to a birthday party and wants milk with his cake??"
- Drinking cows milk and breastfeeding are not mutually exclusive, either. Older children who are slower to wean generally want to nurse in private and only a couple of times a day.
"Cannot imagine a 4 year old who wears camouflage outfit to be "one of the regular boys" coming in and wanting his mom's milk!"
- Agreed. But again, children his age who still breastfeed generally do so only 1-2x per day, and in private.
"You can do what you want with your children as far as breast feeding BUT... isn't this a bit much to advertise!!!! ??for what purpose??"
- Agreed. Most posters have an issue with the cover story and image. The comment section, though, is generally divided between those who are trying to give a more nuanced (and accurate) picture of attachment parenting and self-weaning and those who just want to hate.
My mom breast fed every single one of us, on trains and in cars and nothing was ever thought about it. But then that was in the 1940's and 1950's. People these days make mountain out of mole hill about everything you can imagine. No wonder the nation is sliding into the toilet.
My wife was totally grossed out by the idea of breastfeeding when she had our kids – me, I figured it was up to her whichever way she wanted to go. But both of us support people who do, as it is more healthy.
But I think that women should make an effort to keep it more private. Even though it is feeding a baby, it is still exposure, and if streaking and "flashing" are not allowed in public, then that stuff shouldn't be either.
I I worked in OB for 15 years. Breastfeeding is without question the best way to nourish your child. That being said- IF the mother is a substance abuser, IF the mother is on medications that would also be in her breast milk- then the health of the child has to be weighed with the danger of exposure, and/or the damage done in utero from the mom's health issues, or her behavior. Ithink that being close to your children is fine. Breast feeding when they are old enough to take solid food in, and then become more independent, such as self feeding, toilet trained etc.- that's to soothe the mother , not nourish the child. Lots of cultures the children are breast fed because nourishment is at a premium, and options are limited. Wanting your child to remain and infant and to continue infantile behavior is not such a positive thing. Co-sleeping, carrying your child attached to you..there can be positive and negatives to those acts. Some children go on to become secure and independent, some have difficulty with that, and need attachment all their lives; from parents, then friends, etc. Being secure enough to be independent and able to function is not a bad thing. Fostering dependence can be. There is a time for that intense closeness, but it should not continue for an extended period of time. There were many patients I took care of that wouldn't breast feed because of objections by their partners. There is the issue that in America, nursing women who are working are not afforded the opportunity to pump their milk and save it for their child.
As a mother of two, with one of my children only a few months old, I do take issue with the cover.
It isn't the photo or the idea that breastfeeding for however long the mother chooses that are offensive.
It is the caption: "Are you Mom enough?"
Really?
How ignorant!
Many mothers, myself included, simply cannot produce enough milk to satisfy the needs of our babies. And, for that reason, we use formula to feed our children.
It doesn't feel great to be told that if we don't breastfeed, or if we don't breastfeed into toddlerhood, that somehow we aren't as much of a mom as someone who does.
Give me a break.
I'll read to my child nightly and we'll bond just fine, thank you.