When is too old to breastfeed, do you think?
HelenMFM
admin
Hello
We've just heard about a mum-of-2 who's said she's going to breastfeed her children till they're 10.
Miira Dawson, from Poole in Dorset, still breastfeeds her son Ray Lee, who's 2, and her daughter Tara, who's 5 and at primary school.
Miira says she thinks breastfeeding is the key to 'health and IQ benefits''— and she’ll continue as long as she can, and preferably till they are 10.
She says she's explained to Tara that the breastfeeding will stop one day but "every time I mention it to her, she looks so sad. She said the other day she was going to have 'noo noo' forever."
The World Health Organisation recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed until they are 6 months old but it doesn't specify when breastfeeding (in combination with solid food, after 6 months) should stop, saying only that it can continue up to 2 years and beyond. And few experts would say that there are any nutritional drawbacks to continuing to breastfeed for such an extended time.
But what do you think? Do you think that, though Miira is undoubtedly unusual in breastfeeding for so long, she's not doing anyone any harm and we should leave her to it. Or do you think that, actually, there's something a little bit odd about still breastfeeding a child who's going to primary school?
Please do share your thoughts here. We'd love to know!
Replies
We drink cows milk - which is effectively the breast milk of a cow. Why do people find it so weird that some people practice extended breastfeeding whereby they drink milk from their own species for slightly longer than 'the norm'????
At the end of the day it's up to the individual. They aren't doing any harm, and in fact there are so many benefits to breastmilk. I fed my DD for 14 months when she self-weaned but I really hope to feed this second baby for longer.
Human milk for humans!
I don't think there is anything more natural than feeding a baby from the breast, and in my eyes my little boy will always be my baby. I do understand that a lot of mums would receive backlash and nasty comments about breastfeeding past a certain age but I plan to do it as long as possible with DS, as long as he wants and needs me, I'm there!
WHO recommend breastfeeding until 2 years or beyond.
" Review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond."
At some point every child looses their latch as their jaw changes shape to accommodate adult teeth so for many this is the stopping point whether they want to or not.
Too old is more a case if when you decide your breastfeeding relationship no longer works for you. It's a two way street and I think many mums continue in secret because of societal pressures which is sad. We should be proud of offering our babies our milk, it's a natural thing and doesn't come easy to many people.
I don't think there should be an upper limit as it shouldn't be forced. I completely agree with the human milk for human babies. I stopped at 18 months with my daughter (mainly to start ttc) & hope to continue to 2 this time unless my son has other ideas! People shouldn't be embarrassed.
You don't find many teenagers still breastfeeding. Once they socialise with their peers more, it tends to lose some appeal