Do you think breastfeeding a boy should be stopped by age 5?

Patchouli · #11 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 12:13 PM

I personally don't see a need to breast feed a boy or a girl any longer than a year. A lot of people do it though. The pediatricians have said that after a year there is no longer any nutritional need to breastfeed. The same for formula. Babies only need those nutrients for the first year. Both of my kids were drinking whole milk before a year. Also as soon as they were able to sit up I started them on a sippy cup. They were both off the bottle by about 10 months old. This is just my opinion but I think when a mother breast feeds her child longer than she has to it's because she is having a hard time letting go.

parentingzen · #12 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 01:40 PM

I personally would stop before then, but then again I think it is up to the mother to decide when the time is right.

-Amy
Parenting Zen

mor · #13 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 11:11 AM

From 2 and half year l think they should not be beast feed. and l would think that ones milk can not last that long.

turtleohs · #14 (**permalink**) 04-07-2008, 12:39 PM

Personally I think age 5 is far too long...

Mandy3 · #15 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 12:31 PM

Personally after 12 months I believe that breastfeeding should not continue breastmilk after a year goes down in vitamin content. That is why a ped.. would like you to switch to whole milk. AS well as the fact that breast milk is sweet and may have some after effects on your childs teeth

Katiegirl83 · #16 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 01:16 PM

Personally I plan on breastfeeding my child until they are between 1 and 1.5 years

Judithlb · #17 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 09:22 PM

Wow, what a great debate this has started. Mainly I just wanted to say that the following posts took the words out of my mouth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironmama

Also, breastmilk is sweet and can rot a child's developing teeth if it continues throughout the day. A woman i know insisted on nursing her (at the time) 3 year old, and his teeth were concave at the ends, rotting away. She was in serious denial that nursing was causing this problem, and in her case it was apparent it was her inability to let her child grow up and leave her lap that kept her in an un-necessary clingy cycle.
Breastfeeding past the natural time frame of approx. 1 year also can create psychological problems for the child. The child can miss out on developmental opportunities to develop important independence from mom. Nursing children can be more clingy rather than outgoing, and if the child continues to nurse all the way until age 5-- that's school age! Guaranteed no other child in his class still nurses, and that might cause some embarrasment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommiof2

a 5 year old? i find that to be child abuse. that is a child old enough for school. i cant see breast feeding much past 2. emotionally i think that is terrible for a child, boy or girl, to still be breast feeding at 5 and it can be crippling to them socially. there are many many other ways to bond around that age. my daughter is about to turn 5 and we are very close. we read, cook, play and get ready for her first year of school. i can't even imagine breast feeding her. i know everyone i know feels the same way.

personal feelings aside, i would just ask your son's doctor. get their opinion. i know that my daughter's doctor wanted her drinking whole milk for brain development and strong bones. definately check with the doctor to see benefits and negatives.

And to the following poster? Did you even read what you wrote?

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemamabistro

According to the AAP, in order to get the full benefits that breastfeeding offers, you have to nurse at least the first 2 years of your child's life. http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/breastfeeding.cfm

2 years, not 5!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemamabistro

I am so sick of people being judgemental about a woman's personal choice of how long to breastfeed.
I wouldn't listen to what people "advise"- just go with what you think is right & what you're pediatrician would recommend for your babies & toddler's nutritional needs.
Breastfeeding is natural and the functional reason for why women's breast produce milk after birth.

Aren't you being a bit judgmental of those that have stated their opinions? We all have a right to comment, just as much as you do! But tell me any other creature in the animal kingdom that breastfeeds their children once they are self sufficient? Of course it's a woman's personal choice, but that doesn't make it right...or the best thing for her child.

Me-Jeff-and-AJ · #18 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 04:29 PM

I breastfed AJ until he was 23 months. I let him stop on his own. I however did kind of trick him into stopping by telling him that big boys like himself didnt need 'nibs' lol. I believe that 5 years old is too long, that's my personal opinion, and I am allowed to have it. 2 years is a little too long too. I had a hard time weaning my son, and when I finally did, I got some help from my mom. My mom took him on a trip to Arazona, and since I was too sick to go, I couldnt breastfeed him. He quit cold turkey, and was fine with it. It was the longest and sorest week of my life, but I'm glad that he stopped.

I dont like it when parents only breastfeed for a few days though. I know its a personal choice, but mother's milk is better than anything else out there. But that's just my opinion.