Breastfeeding an 8 Year Old Child

Recently, I came across a video on you tube about a woman in the UK who breastfed one daughter until the age of 5, and she is currently breastfeeding her second born daughter at the age of nearly 8 years old. The mother feels that her children should decide for themselves when to stop breastfeeding. Both of her girls talk about the experience saying the milk tastes sweet and they even draw pictures of it. They do seem like well adjusted children and the family seems to be happy over all.

Yet, some people on you tube have said some very harsh comments in regard to this and some people have even gone so far as to make videos of their own making fun of this family. Others have also stepped in to defend them.

This video has received well over 6 million views so far, which is why I decided to write about it. I also decided to write about it because I support breastfeeding and I wanted to express my own opinions. Over a year ago I created my organic living web site, and I dedicated one page on the site to breastfeeding. I want to do what I can to help support other mothers who choose to breastfeed their children.

http://www.organicliving4you.com/Breastfeeding.html

In the United States, breastfeeding at all is a controversial subject because breasts are viewed as sex objects. This has caused many women to feel un comfortable about it, and some of them have simply chosen not to breastfeed their babies because of our society. Many mothers who do breast feed only feel comfortable doing so in the privacy of their own homes or vehicles when they are out and about. Overall our society doesn't seem to support nursing mothers.

My first son Jacob is still nursing at 2 1/2 years old because he has a very strong attachment to it. We are in the process of weaning him because I also have another child, and it is getting to be too much for me. I am also nursing my 6 month old son Caleb. I myself don't want to judge the mother featured on you tube for nursing a much older child because I know how it feels when people poke fun or make comments. Even well intentioned family members can be harsh. The reason why some children don't want to give up the breast is because it is their safety net. Being at their mothers breast helps them to feel comforted and close. My older son is having a hard time giving up the security that nursing provides. It is hard for him to see his younger brother nursing, which is why weaning is taking longer than what I had anticipated.

I am eager to wean my two year old from the breast for many reasons; yet weaning itself is a whole other subject. I feel that he has had plenty of time at the breast. Every mother and child is different and this is my own unique situation. Breastfeeding is a personal decision and I will never judge a mother for not breastfeeding nor will a judge a mother for extended breastfeeding. As a nursing mother I have compassion on both sides of the coin. I feel that people wouldn't be so quick to judge this woman for nursing an older child if they didn't view the breasts as sexual objects.