Breastfeeding Older Children (babysit, method, son, one year old)

[dreamsncharms]

Originally Posted by ADVentive

Sorry, but there is no way that you can argue that LLL is in any way opposed to nursing toddlers or older children. "Baby" in this case is a term of convenience, as it is in many of my own posts.

I never said that I was going to argue that they are opposed. It was just an observation that they said baby and not child.

[ADVentive]

Originally Posted by mainerwoman

What I stated was perhaps extended breastfeeding caused children to not make connections with their peer group at the crucial time. The studies I discussed in the original posts only spoke of this and what ha
ppens to children who do so.

Yet you said that based on studies which you admit did not even mention extended breastfeeding though. On what are you basing your statement then? It is a huge leap and assumption, and you have not supported your conclusion that extended breastfeeding is even related at all to connections with a peer group. So until you can support that connection, studies showing what happens to kids who don't make connections with their peer group are completely irrelevant to this discussion.

[zonababe]

Originally Posted by 121804

No one on here has nursed an 8 yr old.

Once someone has, I think they can defend the position on a educated platform seeing they have actually done what so many are saying completely ok or completely not ok.

Until then, this is US society & it is what it is...sorry, but there isn't breastfeeding time at our local elementary school for moms to come in & nurse their 2nd grader.

There are reasons for this that go beyond people feeling "uncomfortable".

IMO, if there was true nutrional value & more importantly, need, it would be an accepted practice.

So, when does it stop...14, 15, 18?

Funny thought, coaching a girls softball team and nursing your short stop on the sideline. Why hide it? If it's heathy, you should enlighten the team!

[dvcgal]

This video is disgusting! My daugher is 9 and I cannot even imagine her trying to breastfeed at her age! I could not even watch this video all the way through. This woman has to stop. I'm sorry, I don't care about what or how others view this on here, this is gross and creepy!!!

[dr74]

As most of you know already from my posts I am pretty liberal. I feel that age 4 is the cut off age. Even in Europe and other countries children are often weaned on to raw foods or other foods.
Although breast milk is the healthiest the diet of the mother is important since most food and meds are passed on. Not too mention the emotional aspect. After 4 children are aware that the bottle is not okay, the pacifiers are still debatable and breast feeding? Ummmm awkward.
Yes it is natural however at 8? C;mon get real...one is technically a year away from puberty.

[2girlsand2boys]

Originally Posted by dr74

As most of you know already from my posts I am pretty liberal. I feel that age 4 is the cut off age. Even in Europe and other countries children are often weaned on to raw foods or other foods.
Although breast milk is the healthiest the diet of the mother is important since most food and meds are passed on. Not too mention the emotional aspect. After 4 children are aware that the bottle is not okay, the pacifiers are still debatable and breast feeding? Ummmm awkward.
Yes it is natural however at 8? C;mon get real...one is technically a year away from puberty.

Their is a difference between nursing and using a bottle or pacifier; those are proven to be bad for your child's teeth.

If no one here is concerned with this form of extended breastfeeding because of their notion that breasts are a sexual thing, then what is the reasoning? Why the cut-off at age 4? HOw is it okay one day and becomes gross the next? What does being a year away from puberty (potentially, not in every case) have to do with anything? Some kids are still wetting the bed at age 7 or 8-- these aren;t little adults here, they are still little kids!

[121804]

Originally Posted by 2girlsand2boys

Their is a difference between nursing and using a bottle or pacifier; those are proven to be bad for your child's teeth.

If no one here is concerned with this form of extended breastfeeding because of their notion that breasts are a sexual thing, then what is the reasoning? Why the cut-off at age 4? HOw is it okay one day and becomes gross the next? What does being a year away from puberty (potentially, not in every case) have to do with anything? Some kids are still wetting the bed at age 7 or 8-- these aren;t little adults here, they are still little kids!

Why do you keep going back on the sexual thing? Many who opposed it have clearly stated that it based on the emotional & mental health development of a grown child.

And 4yrs old is not 8yrs old nor is it 2 months old. Again, many have stated that nursing infants, young toddlers and older toddlers is not the issue.

Wetting the bed at 8 or 16yrs of age is not b/c parents feel that bedwetting is the best way to relieve themselves compared to going in the bathroom. Toilets are not processed chemicals that are being feed to a child. Parents are not getting in bed or holding their 8yr old as they deficate on themselves & say "That's ok. When YOU are comfortable you can stop wetting yourself". The comparision between bedwetting & breastfeeding makes no sense.

Parents don't encourage their 8yr old to wet the bed. They give their 8yr old the tools necessary to learn how to not do this b/c it's not a healthy thing to continue throughout life.

Most children interact with society & their peers. And yes, they do tell each other everything that is going on in their lives. If they don't, many times it is based on fear or embarassment b/c their peers are not doing the same. Unless they will be living with mommy & daddy their entire lives & never interacting with peers, it's not fair, as parents, not to have given them the self-confidence, skills, & tools necessary to make it on their own. By 8yrs, they can be away from their parents for some time, can make their own decisions & be happy & content with mommy or daddy standing over their shoulder.

Children need to have a healthy education & relationship with their peers. Not providing this for them only confuses them when the time comes to interact with their peers & they are so confused & scared that they are afraid to interact with their peers. Most healthy, normal functioning 8 year olds have been interacting with their peers for a few years & will continue to do so. Nursing a child at this age is not the same as lying in bed with them b/c they are afraid of the thunder or soothing them if they have accidentally wet the bed.

You keep insisting that those who oppose nursing a GROWN CHILD (not a toddler or infant) is b/c we think breasts are sexual. Not the case. If you properly educate yourself & your children, they are well aware at this age that female & male anatomy is normal, healthy & the way we procreate & survive. But 8yr olds do not need breastmilk to grow & survive the way a newborn or toddler needs nourishment. By 8, they are fully capable of digesting foods & drink in a manner an infant or toddler is not.

It has nothing to do with sex unless you are the one who has issues with sexuality. It has to do with mental & emotional development at this age. An 8yr old is not an infant or toddler and should not be treated as such. I've interacted with children who are very extremely attached to their parents at an older age & it was interfering with many aspects of their daily lives when they left the presence of their mom or dad. There are pros & cons. Most parents wanted to break the extremity & allow their child to start to grow & live as their OWN person.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by dvcgal

This video is disgusting! My daugher is 9 and I cannot even imagine her trying to breastfeed at her age! I could not even watch this video all the way through. This woman has to stop. I'm sorry, I don't care about what or how others view this on here, this is gross and creepy!!!

How strange. I wonder why you had such a strong reaction?

What was so creepy about it for you?

[dvcgal]

Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!

How strange. I wonder why you had such a strong reaction?

What was so creepy about it for you?

It's creepy because a child at 8 years old is old enough to potty by himself/herself, buckle himself/herself into the car, feed himself/herself and so on. This mother is creepy. To me, this mother has her own emotional issues with letting go and that creeps me out even more!
My strong reaction comes from being a mother myself and the reason for being a mother. I am not here to enable my children. I am here to help my children and help them grow into strong adults that are not dependent on others. I am here to raise independent beings.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by dvcgal

It's creepy because a child at 8 years old is old enough to potty by himself/herself, buckle himself/herself into the car, feed himself/herself and so on. This mother is creepy. To me, this mother has her own emotional issues with letting go and that creeps me out even more!
My strong reaction comes from being a mother myself and the reason for being a mother. I am not here to enable my children. I am here to help my children and help them grow into strong adults that are not dependent on others. I am here to raise independent beings.

So why do you think that breastfeeding an older child keeps them from being independent in other areas of their lives?