Time Cover

[Sciencewoman]

Well, at least she's keeping her figure trim by maintaining her high metabolism due to continued breastfeeding.

[DZTurtle11]

I find this whole thing disturbing. I know that since I'm not a parent I can't totally understand, but there is something odd about women who do this at such a late age. I keep wondering what types of issues he'll have when he gets older. Maybe he won't have any issues, but there seems to be a reason why the majority of women stop breast feeding after a certain age/period.

Even if this is healthy, is it really appropriate to put it on a magazine cover like this? Is nothing private anymore? I get it's natural, but so is going to the bathroom and I hope that isn't on the cover next week. It's all just bad taste.

[thetalady]

I have never had kids, so I might not have a full comprehension of this whole thing. My opinion, though, is that when the kid is old enough that he asks for a sandwich with his "milk", time to stop the breast feeding!

Magazine cover totally exploiting the situation and unneccessary.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Well, at least she's keeping her figure trim by maintaining her high metabolism due to continued breastfeeding.

Seriously. The thinnest I've ever been was while I was nursing. I also had a nice bust line to go with it. It was awesome!

I nursed my son until he was 9 months. I was working full-time also which was NOT easy to do. I would have liked to continue until he was a year, but my son got the whole family sick with the Ebola virus or something (horrible HORRIBLE stomach flu) and my milk supply tanked since I basically didn't eat for about 3 days. I was sad because I really did enjoy nursing. The benefits of breast milk are undeniable. And it's a hell of a lot cheaper than formula!!! By the age of one, toddlers are capable of absorbing nutrients from regular table foods. That's when they move onto to whole milk rather than formula since their bodies no longer need the nutrients in formula. For me personally, I've never understood nursing past the age of one. It's not really a nutritional supplement at that point since food provides it. Sure, breast milk provides antibodies but kids at age one are typically past that scary age when a little virus (like RSV) could send them to the hospital for two weeks. A lot of the AP moms say that nursing brings comfort and consolation to their children. That's what hugging and cuddling are for, IMHO. When you continue nursing well into the toddler years, I think it becomes more for the benefit of the mother rather than the child. To each their own, I guess....

That poor kid is on the cover of a national magazine breastfeeding. His classmates will never let him live it down when he gets to middle school.

[OneHeartOneWay]

I'm not an AP mom, but for the sake of adding to the conversation, The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until age 2. The American Pediatrics Association and/or other similar organizations here have lowered that to make 6 months/ 1 year the "acceptable norm" in American society. From the (limited) research I have done, in most other developed countries, the "acceptable norm" is much closer to 2 than 1. As far as why most/many moms say breastfeeding is enjoyable, it's not because of nipple stimulation or anything like that; the woman's body releases pleasure hormones (endorphines, I believe) while breastfeeding- it's nature's way of trying to help moms be okay with having a baby attached to the nipple every 2-3 hours!

Now, all that said, I breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, and then quit completely at 9 months when pumping became too much for me as a full time working mom. My plan (funny how most parenthood related plans fall by the wayside when the time comes!) was to breastfeed until 1, and continue to pump and give in a sippy cup as long as my supply lasted. I, while recognizing everything I stated above and the proven nutritional benefits, was also "grossed out" by the thought of my baby walking up to me and asking for milk. I'm pregnant again; I guess my plan will be the same as last time, and who knows how long I'll go this time.

I agree that the greater discussion here is that every parent should do what's best for them and their child(ren). I also agree that I take much great offense to the headline than the actual picture- we are ALL "mom enough." and most of all, I agree that I just feel sorry for that kid when he's older and that picture is discovered by his classmates!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by OneHeartOneWay

I'm not an AP mom, but for the sake of adding to the conversation, The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until age 2.

Since it is the WORLD Health Organization, wouldn't they take into account when making this recommendation that safe and healthy formula is really really hard to find and completely out of the price range of mothers in many parts of the world? I mean obviously if you're in the middle of an insect-ridden swamp with no running water it's probably best to breast feed as long as you can. That isn't the case here.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by OneHeartOneWay

I agree that the greater discussion here is that every parent should do what's best for them and their child(ren).

But it cannot only be about that.

Societies have what are considered normative behaviors and laws. If a mother (in societies in which breastfeeding is such a hot nipple topic) said that she breastfeeds her 12 year old child, would people say "well, that must be what works for them, as long as the child is happy and seems healthy"? I think people would challenge this notion that the child is both happy and healthy despite what the mother claims.