channel 4 breastfeeding programme

[lazycow]

Just thought people might be interested if you don't already know.

Channel 4 on Weds 1 Feb. A programme called Extraordinary Breastfeeding is on. The write up in the magazine I'm looking at says:

"You'll be texting your friends about this as soon as it starts. It's about the phenomenon of mothers who breastfeed their kiddies well beyond the age considered 'normal' in this country. Seeing a feisty mum breastfeed her two-year-old twin isn't that disturbing, but the sequence of another lady suckling her 7 year old dughter isn't one we will forget in a hurry. "

I'm looking forward to seeing the tone it takes.

I hope they dont class the 10 year old case the same as feeding a 2-4 year old.

I think nanneh's point is utter rubbish tbh!

I have to agree with nanneh. Of course it is an emotional thing.

Hercules - me too. I am so hoping for an intelligent programme.

Although I disagree about the distressing thing.

GDG - are you saying toddlers have no emotions ? What is the rubbish bit of what I said ?

I think they feel just as emotional about having to get rid of nappies or dummies or bottles or whatever it is they are 'attached' to. Certainly ds1 went absolutely bananas when we tried to put pants on him for the first time and ds2 when putting his pull up back on at night when potty training rubbed his bum and said 'nice nappy, I love my nappy'.

There's lots of things we might not be comfortable about when growing up - it's just part of life. I'm not talking about yanking a baby away from comfort but at 3 yrs that's different. There is no need for breastfeeding them at that age, imo, and I agree with cod - it is 'babying' them. That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it - I don't really want a row about it because you won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

I'm not anti-breastfeeding (that would be utterly ridiculous) and I'm not anti-breastfeeding in public or anything like that. It's just that, for me, it's something for babies and young toddlers - not 3 and 4 yr olds and most definitely not 7 or 10 year olds.

I guess we all have different experiences. My two loved being toilet trained and no longer wearing nappies. It does make me feel a little sad that 3 or 4 is seen as too old to be breastfed as they are actually still very young on the scheme of things.
I'm not offended by what you say as we all feel differently about these things

I do loads of things for my kids that arent necessary.

Nonsense Kittyfish. It is bizarre for a ten year old to be breastfed, and it is totally weirdo crazy to offer her one as a birthday treat! Nutso. Suppose she wanted to spend the day in a cot, shitting in a nappy? We'd think she was disturbed! Ten is really grown up. People used to go out to work at the age of ten. I cannot imagine what kind of mother would entertain this one single second.

And I am very pro breastfeeding!

Me too hercules. I don't know, it's just psychologically I associate it with babies and 2.5-3 is when they really are on the road to being independent in a number of ways - going to the toilet, speaking in sentences and also of course, feeding themselves with forks and spoons and using cups.

I'm glad you are not offended. I don't want to offend anyone - it's just a personal opinion I'm expressing and I'm trying to explain clearly why I have it. I don't want to be nasty to anyone.

Maybe that's part of the difference. I dont just associate it with small babies.

agree tipex.

I agree with tipex too

I also agree with Tipex. I think it DOES not help the image of breastfeeding for people to say 'Oh, two, ten, twenty..its all the same'.
Find it depressing that the programme is sensational when breastfeeding is anything but in reality.

I think it's a huge mistake to equate breastfeeding with something like nappy wearing, even in examples like the above. Nappy wearing is a purely practical measure designed basically for the benefit of the adult. There is no point whatsoever to continue it past the point at which the child can do without it. Breastfeeding on the other hand gives great emotional and physical benefits which continue for many years. Since the invention of formula, a child can do without breastmilk from the moment they are born, but nobody would deny the huge advantages of a child being given it, and in my opinion given it until he or she decides she no longer needs it.

HC is right - we know nothing about the individual circumstances of this legendary 10 year old and can't make an informed judgement until we've seen the ruddy programme. But I still can't see why it's totally beyond belief that anyone of that age would still want to breastfeed - I sucked my thumb till I was in my late teens - am I a 'disturbed' 'nutso' freak too?

On second thoughts, don't answer that

No but there is a good chance you would be if you had a mother who wanted to breastfeed you at the age of TEN, IMO. It's bizarre and freaky. You know it is really!
Look at some ten year olds you know, then image them even wanting to breastfeed.

Nobody has said that breastfeeding a 2 year old is the same as feeding a 20 year old. Have they? Am I on a parallel thread and you are all having a much wilder discussion somewhere else?

Yes, I've said I think it's unusual - very unusual. I think it's a little over excitable to start calling it freaky and disturbed and all that. It's only breastfeeding, ffs! Don't think there's much to do with breastfeeding that can freak me out very much, to be honest.

If we say that 'oh yes, ten year olds being breastfed, totally normal and desirable' we are just fooling ourselves and giving ammunition to people who think all breastfeeding is weird. If not, why not have 15 year olds being breastfed? Why not, it's not sexual!

Well, I would be concerned for the welfare of a child of ten who was being breastfed in today's society (and we DO live in today's society, like it or not).

Nah, nobody has said it's normal or desirable - clearly it is neither. Just not worth getting that hot under the collar about IMO - one misguided 10 year old who I presume may have a few problems. Better that she thinks she'd like a slurp of milk than that she is out trying her first E, don't you think?

Did anybody ever read that book "Fresh Milk"? It's an eye-opener. Includes accounts of men breastfeeding, adult breastfeeding, women consensually breastfeeding other people's children, people non-consensually breastfeeding other people's children, and breast milk ice cream recipes, LOL. To be honest I think the only one of those that really shocked me was the non-consensual feeding of another woman's child. That to me is appallingly freaky and terrible. The others are just part of life's rich tapestry