AIBU to be surpised at an almost 7 year old still being breastfed?

[Toomanycuppas]

Met up for lunch with friends we rarely see last week and was not aware she was still b/f. Almost 7 year old came running back from the park, went to the mum and lifted her top up and she said "no, it's not an appropriate time for that".

I can understand that it's normal for the child but wouldn't they be teased by school friends if it's asked for/done in public?

She didn't MamaM-most DCs don't.(unless they want to keep mum happy)

But I wouldn't go on tv anyway as its geared to sensationalise not educate

Most children would be curious to try it-it doesn't mean they seriously want to regularly do it.

So why go on TV?

Ok I'm lost. OP said the dd wanted to nurses as in she came in room and lifted mums top. Then the mum said not now.

(that biscuit was not aimed at MamaMaiasaura!)

What does biscuit mean? I disappeared off here for a year and when I came back there were biscuits

Benefits of breasfeeding for the child:

"Studies have shown that a child's immune system doesn't completely mature until about 6 years of age, and it is well established that breast milk helps develop the immune system and augment it with maternal antibodies as long as breast milk is produced"

In studies ... "the babies breastfed the longest did better in terms of both lower disease and higher IQ"

BF babies are less likely to get

• gastrointestinal illness
• upper respiratory illness
• multiple sclerosis
• diabetes
• heart disease

"One study that dealt specifically with babies nursed longer than a year showed a significant link between the duration of nursing and mothers' and teachers' ratings of social adjustment in six- to eight-year-old children (Ferguson et al, 1987). In the words of the researchers, 'There are statistically significant tendencies for conduct disorder scores to decline with increasing duration of breastfeeding.'"

----

Benefits for the mum:

breastfeeding reduces the risk of:

• breast cancer
• ovarian cancer
• uterine cancer
• endometrial cancer
• rheumatoid arthritis

breastfeeding

• protects against osteoporosis.
• has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women

(Sources - aviatrix's excellent link www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html and www.kellymom.com)

Threefeethighandrising - thanks for posting that.

Im actually considering expressing a cup off each day for ds2 to have in a cup as he stopped 12 weeks ago. If it is beneficial in terms of immune system. Will have a think as its got to be better for him than a glass of cows milk a day.

Right, so breastfeeding has been proven to help make my child smarter, healthier and happier and protects me from various nasty illnesses too.

And you reckon we should stop - why again?!

Because of petty prejudices, and fucked up ideas about boobs and sexuality? I don't think so!

This is social conditioning gone crazy, can't you see that?

I'm not saying everyone should do it - everyone should parent how they see best. Humans are adaptable, you see?!

But given the amazing benefits, to judge anyone who chooses to let their child BF to seven is extremely petty and narrow-minded IMO.

Jesus if the shops sold you something that was proven to make your child smarter, healthier and happier you'd be falling over yourselves to buy it!

This stuff is free FFS!!

Exotic - At DD1's school they have notices up in her Yr1 section to ask parents not to come into the classrooms.

Do you know when I stopped coming in to help her with her coat/bag?

Before the 2nd week in reception was finished, and by the end of the 1st week I was just handing her her bag/lunchbox in the classroom and letting her put them in the right place round by the coathooks rather than hanging them up for her.

DD1 bf until 3.6y.

My friend takes her DC in now at Y1(helps with coat etc) and she bf until 3m (mostly mixed).

She hovers by the play equipment when they play after school, I walk off and leave DD1 to it, sometimes I also leave DD2 & DD3 (4 & 2) to it but then DD3 can't get on the trimtrail so just runs around so I'm not worried.

"I would like one person to tell me they actually bfed a junior school aged child and they weren't merely feeding a 4yr old."

So 4 years old is fine in your opinion what about 5 years or 6 years ? Where is your cut off point ?

MamaMaiasaura I'm not sure whether you get the same benefit to the immune system with expressed milk - you'd need to look that one up.

(I'm no expert, just good at avoiding the studying I should be doing finding links :) )

As I understand it, BFing support your DC's immune system because when they suckle, you're exposed to whatever it is they've got, your body makes antibodies and then passes them back in the milk (magic, isn't it!)

So expressed milk wouldn't work in the same way on that score.

However - I'm guessing now mind - it stands to reason that you are also passing the anti-bodies you have over too anyway, so BF would support the immune system this way also (if that's true).

There isn't going to be agreement on this, is there? Some people will agree with the OP and find it weird and other people won't. I find it weird that a child eating a normal diet would also breastfeed but doesn't make it wrong.

I think extended breastfeeding does carry a stigma, if people choose to do it publicly then more power to them but that doesn't mean that people won't be disgusted if they're inclined to feel that way. People just aren't going to agree on this no matter how many arguments on either 'side'.

Right, so breastfeeding has been proven to help make my child smarter, healthier and happier and protects me from various nasty illnesses too.

The benefits fall off rapidly after 6 months, ie by and large when they start to eat other foods - which is what you are conveniently ignoring. By 2 years there is bugger all material difference between bf and not bf to the child.

"The benefits fall off rapidly after 6 months

"By 2 years there is bugger all material difference between bf and not bf to the child"

Yes, it is a well known fact that breastmilk turns to water at the 6 months point and no longer contains any of the previous good nutrients, unlike apples which are always great whatever your age ;)

This thread is great for breastfeeding myth bingo :)

"The benefits fall off rapidly after 6 months, ie by and large when they start to eat other foods - which is what you are conveniently ignoring. By 2 years there is bugger all material difference between bf and not bf to the child."

Where did you get that complete and utter nonsense from?!

The Kelly Mom links were all from her factsheet Breastfeeding Past Infancy

Here's some more

"Extensive research on the relationship between cognitive achievement (IQ scores, grades in school) and breastfeeding has shown the greatest gains for those children breastfed the longest."

"In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:
29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements
-- Dewey 2001"

"Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986)."

""Antibodies are abundant in human milk throughout lactation" (Nutrition During Lactation 1991; p. 134). In fact, some of the immune factors in breastmilk increase in concentration during the second year and also during the weaning process. (Goldman 1983, Goldman & Goldblum 1983, Institute of Medicine 1991)."

"This thread is great for breastfeeding myth bingo" indeed!

I did have one small question after reading (most) of this. I think that one of the issue that makes it appear to be childish is the names. I realise little britain hasnt helped with that but someone earlier on said something about a dc asking for 'Mama Bah' I think if I heard a 6/7 year old asking that I would be slightly freaked where as a request for 'breast milk' or a MN style 'BF' wouldnt raise the same reaction at all.....

Yes, it is a well known fact that breastmilk turns to water at the 6 months point and no longer contains any of the previous good nutrients

It is also a well known fact that when children start eating other foods the bulk of their nutrients then come from those sources, so breast milk constitutes a smaller and smaller % of their nutrient intake, becoming near immaterial as they grow and their calorie intake per day from other foods grows with them.

In addition, their own immune systems operate increasingly independently so the mother's system becomes less and less necessary.

Its not bingo, its very, very basic science.