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I would normally feel that public breast feeding is appropriate up until the mother and child decide to stop, BUT;
When my son was playing t-ball (age 5) the coach's son took his turn at bat, then instead of sitting on the bench with the other kids went to his mother's lap and lifted her shirt to nurse. I don't think anybody who was there will ever forget it. The mother was braless, and her breasts sagged down to her waist. We referred to her as "Earthmother" from then on.
I would normally feel that public breast feeding is appropriate up until the mother and child decide to stop, BUT;
When my son was playing t-ball (age 5) the coach's son took his turn at bat, then instead of sitting on the bench with the other kids went to his mother's lap and lifted her shirt to nurse. I don't think anybody who was there will ever forget it. The mother was braless, and her breasts sagged down to her waist. We referred to her as "Earthmother" from then on.
Oh, my. I guess when my daughter becomes more involved with society I may see this.
Interesting Side note: I asked my mother why she never breastfed. She said it was because she wanted me father to have a part in the feedings and a chance to bond. I think this is a VERY good point to bring up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ADVentive
So, through all of human history before the last 70 years or so, fathers never bonded with their children? That's weak. There are tons of other ways for fathers to bond with their children that don't include feeding them bottles. Bathing, changing, dressing, rocking, singing, playing, cuddling to name a few.
Looks like I was raised by a terrible mother. Shame. I really love her and my father.
I don't see how you can get that from what I said. You said that your mother chose not to breastfeed so that your father could bond with you, and proposed that that is a "VERY good point". I said that there are plenty of ways to bond besides feeding, and that your statement was a weak argument for not breastfeeding (ie - *not* a very good point). I am refuting your argument, not calling anyone a bad mother. If your mother made a decision based on a fallacy, that does not make her a bad mother, it means she did the best she could with the information she had. There is no reason to propagate the misconception to other parents making their feeding decisions though.
Oh, my. I guess when my daughter becomes more involved with society I may see this.
As someone who personally knows multiple children who nursed to age 4 or 5 or beyond, I can tell you that I have never personally *seen* a child that age nursing, besides my own, and that includes personal spaces such as homes and LLL meetings. I think it is really quite uncommon for them to nurse in front of others.
As someone who personally knows multiple children who nursed to age 4 or 5 or beyond, I can tell you that I have never personally *seen* a child that age nursing, besides my own, and that includes personal spaces such as homes and LLL meetings. I think it is really quite uncommon for them to nurse in front of others.
4 or 5 or beyond? Just curious and I am asking sincerely not snarkily, is there a cutoff age for you? I mean, are you ok with a 12 year old still nursing if that is what mom and the kid wants?
4 or 5 or beyond? Just curious and I am asking sincerely not snarkily, is there a cutoff age for you? I mean, are you ok with a 12 year old still nursing if that is what mom and the kid wants?
I would say that I feel comfortable with it up to about 7, maybe 8, but I wouldn't call that a strict "cut-off" age because I know that kids are different. Most children, when left to wean in their own time, will do so around 3-4 years old, with outliers lasting to age 6-7. I think it's very rare, even in child-led weaning culture, for children to nurse past this age. I can't imagine still nursing my daughter at that age, but then again, if you'd asked me 4 years ago, I never could have imagined nursing her as a 4 year old either. It's sometimes hard to imagine situations so different from your own. If I have to name a strict cut-off, as in maximum acceptable age, I guess I'd say puberty.
By the way, you very well may know a child who has nursed that long and you just weren't aware of it. My 4 year old still nurses sometimes, but I don't think that her friends at preschool know about it, nor their parents. She doesn't do it there, and I doubt it comes up in conversation. She nurses at home, in her bed, so nobody else ever sees. My daughter's grandparents didn't even realize she was still nursing until it came up in conversation recently, and we see them frequently and she spends the night there sometimes. This thread wasn't really about how long to breastfeed in general, but how long to do so *in public*, and it is very rare for an older nursling like that to do so in public.
I don't see how you can get that from what I said. You said that your mother chose not to breastfeed so that your father could bond with you, and proposed that that is a "VERY good point". I said that there are plenty of ways to bond besides feeding, and that your statement was a weak argument for not breastfeeding (ie - *not* a very good point). I am refuting your argument, not calling anyone a bad mother. If your mother made a decision based on a fallacy, that does not make her a bad mother, it means she did the best she could with the information she had. There is no reason to propagate the misconception to other parents making their feeding decisions though.
I said it was a very good point because it was a point that many people may not have thought of. I know I didn't.
I don't believe she based it on any "false" information. She had all the information that everyone else had and she still chose bottle feeding (with formula might I add). It did help me and my father bond. It also helped my father spend time with me since he worked and my mom stayed home with both me and my sister.
I am sorry but your comments make seem like you are calling her some sort of low income back ally woman.
I would say that I feel comfortable with it up to about 7, maybe 8, but I wouldn't call that a strict "cut-off" age because I know that kids are different. Most children, when left to wean in their own time, will do so around 3-4 years old, with outliers lasting to age 6-7. I think it's very rare, even in child-led weaning culture, for children to nurse past this age. I can't imagine still nursing my daughter at that age, but then again, if you'd asked me 4 years ago, I never could have imagined nursing her as a 4 year old either. It's sometimes hard to imagine situations so different from your own. If I have to name a strict cut-off, as in maximum acceptable age, I guess I'd say puberty.
By the way, you very well may know a child who has nursed that long and you just weren't aware of it. My 4 year old still nurses sometimes, but I don't think that her friends at preschool know about it, nor their parents. She doesn't do it there, and I doubt it comes up in conversation. She nurses at home, in her bed, so nobody else ever sees. My daughter's grandparents didn't even realize she was still nursing until it came up in conversation recently, and we see them frequently and she spends the night there sometimes. This thread wasn't really about how long to breastfeed in general, but how long to do so *in public*, and it is very rare for an older nursling like that to do so in public.
This is wrong on so many levels. Imagine a conversation between Grade 1's and 2's. "So Johnny what's your favourite thing to drink. I love grape juice." and Johnny replies: "I drink milk from mommy's boobies." yuck!!
I knew a woman who gave her daughter "snacks" at age 7. In the home, in her bedroom. In fact, when her daughter asked for "snacks" they would get up and go into the bedroom. At that age, if this is really what they consider a "snack" - as in, something specifically used as a food substance, rather than cuddle-time, then that kid is old enough to be "snacking" at the dining room table and not in mommy's bed.
I thought the whole thing was bizarre. I mean, you get invited over to a friend of a friend's for lunch, and the host excuses herself to give "snacks" to her 7-year-old in the bedroom? It just really gave me the creeps. And that was (sort of) in private (sort of, because she had company over, one of whom was a complete stranger - me - and because she displayed this "snacktime" in full view of the living room where we were gathered, with the bedroom door open so she could continue talking to us).
Snacks..for a 7-year-old. Snacks? Really?
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