Breastfeeding a SIX year old - aibu?

[flufffffy]

I was taking to another mother at gymnastics yesterday. She casually mentioned that she sometimes still breastfeeds her SIX year old. That sometimes her six year old will come to her and “have a go” and that she has milk left. I’m not making this up, it really happened, and she wasn’t pulling my leg.

I truly had no idea what to do with my face, so I made it look very polite.

Isn’t this a bit weird? I mean, the six year old will remember it when she’s older, surely?

I want to be told I’m being judgemental and unreasonable - because I feel bad for being so judgmental and horrified!

This child has no younger siblings, btw, so it’s not like she’s doing it because they are.

I have a six year old boy and there’s no way in hell I would occasionally breastfeed him! I breastfed up until he was 18 months, so it’s not like I’m not sympathetic to long-ish term breastfeeding.

"Absolute filth"
What a revealing choice of words.

You are rude. Feeding a child milk is not gross, however unpleasant and repulsive you might personally you find it. Maybe you need to explore why that is?

Yanbu. Yes it’s possible and therefore within the definition of ‘natural’ but it’s unnecessary in our society and smacks of maternal indulgence. Children benefit greatly from being taught age-appropriate independence and bodily autonomy.

I did my 3rd child until 4

I have a very boob oriented 2.5 year old. And in all honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if she keeps feeding to 6 or older. I was adamant I would stop feeding at a year and in fact was very judgemental about long breastfeeding. However my experience now is that like with anything in parenting it is to do with responding as you feel best to the needs of the child you have, not some imaginary world where everything is textbook. So ultimately mind your own business if her child is secure, healthy, happy and loved it is fine. ‘Normal’ weaning can happen anywhere from a few months to 7 years so still within a reasonable frame.

Honestly, this is exactly what I would like to know and prepared to be educated on. Why do woman breastfeed a 4,5,6 year old? There are so many other food options that are healthy for the child and also million things they can use as comfort. So I would love to know the reason to breastfeed these ages.

Wow! I made it to 2 months with many tears. Hated every painful minute. I was envious of mums who fed effortlessly and painlessly. Not sure where the cut off point should be but definitely before they start school!

There is.

Would you like some links to educate yourself on the benefits of BF instead, since you seem to be unable to reciprocate?

I'd really hate to be living with such a closed mind or be so affected about how another parent raises their child. It must be exhausting.

Yeah. So in other words you’re wrong.

I BF my DS until he was nearly 3. By then it was only a night-time feed after story & milky drink, just to settle him. For context he is autistic & has ADHD &, frankly, was a complete nightmare to get to sleep & didn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a stretch until his teen years - even then it was a rare thing. I became uncomfortable with the whole thing about that time - it felt weird as he was asking bout women's 'boobies' & I was concerned about sexualising him. The evening after the clocks went forward & he went to bed an hour later than his circadian clock was expecting, he didn't ask for it & I didn't offer. That ended it.

Must confess as I'm a 32AA bra normally & went up to a 32B, I missed having boobs & a cleavage once I'd stopped BFing. 😂

I'd be concerned about the child being bullied. Assuming it is known by others.

Ye Gods! 6!.... to each their own but personally way too old.....

Most kids breastfeeding older only feed at bedtime. It's possible to carry on breastfeeding longer and have rules if you want to. For example once mine were older I only fed at home and I never let them go up to me and start pulling at my top out and about.

Benefits to a child’s immune system, brain development, less risk of obesity to name a few

This grosses me out. Yes I know it’s what breasts are for but we can’t pretend they’re not sexualised. Pretending they aren’t doesn’t make it go away. I’d be worried about bullying. I’d not want my 6 year old hanging off a boob.. they have lots of teeth, it’s weird!

It really isn’t. Four year olds have three meals a day like everyone else, and a large majority of them are at school.

maternal indulgence such as?

Children benefit greatly from being taught age-appropriate independence and bodily autonomy. Correct. However you are implying the mother referenced in this OP forces the child to BF, and that the 6yo has no choice. So, if the child asks to BF and the mother agrees to, whose bodily autonomy boundary is not being respected?

I definitely wouldn’t want memories of drinking milk from my mums breast. I’m not sure anyone would.

Natural weaning for humans is between 2 and 7 years, we’ve been conditioned by formula companies to believe anything beyond infancy is abnormal. Nearly every portrayal of infant feeding in the media involves a bottle (even Peppa Pig’s new sibling is bottle-fed!) this has skewed our perception of what’s biologically normal across the mammal world.

Extended breastfeeding is not only for the mother’s benefit, it’s so much more than just nutrition for the child. It offers comfort, emotional security, bonding, immune support, and a safe space for regulation during early development. Continuing for years is often a sacrifice for mothers, not a personal indulgence. It’s an act of love not self-interest.

They also drink too, some of them will drink cows milk.

I just can't get worked up about a human child drinking human milk.

Sexualised by a 6yo? What education are the 6yos you know getting?!

I’m curious why? They’re not sexualised to the kids, it’s a cuddle & milk, why would remembering closeness be weird?

Really? Like you actually really truly don’t see how gross it is to remember sucking milk from your mother’s breast?

You don’t suddenly start feeding a 4 year old. They were a baby and then a 1 year old and so on, it’s part of your relationship and you plan you’ll stop when one of you wants to - but it hasn’t reached that point for either of you. Some ND children it’s a regulating tool.