I was on YouTube looking at some funny kid clips; and one thing lead to another and I ended up on this one:

YouTube--Breastfeeding an 8 yr old


I was never able to breastfeed. If I had, I don't think I would have kept it up even HALF this long!!! To me, this is just gross.

I remember a story like this one several years ago where the mother of a 7 year old was still BF. She really wasn't putting out much milk though. It was more for comfort. The police were looking at charging her with child abuse. While I don't think it is child abuse, I can see how it could be thought of that way with such an old child. I BF for 5 or 6 months until my milk dried up, but I could not imagine BF for more than two years. The child might not be uncomfortable with it, but I would.

I agree. I couldn't imagine going past age 2. If my child can ask me for it, I think I'd be a little uncomfortable with it. LOL.
I went 13 months. And that was long enough! But you know, I sometimes still miss it.

There is something way out of balance with a kid nursing this long - it definitely makes you question the motivation of both mother and child. However, I went past 2 with my first - he was almost 2 1/2, and my second had just turned 2. They could both ask for it before they were a year old, so I definitely went way past that benchmark.

I found this video very disturbing. I'm almost to my one year mark, so I have begun weening (I would appreciate any successful tips you all have on that issue!). I am not opposed to going beyond one year, but I start back to work full time in August, so I want to have plenty of time to get him used to it.

As for the 8 year old, I completely agree with LawMommy. What is the motivation? I understand that it some cultures, BFing persists into older childhood as a means of nourishment and sometimes, survival. That doesn't seem to be the case in this situtation. I would imagine that the child's social interaction with others, particularly women, would be seriously compromised. And how can she relate to other children? What type of dependency must this create? Hmmmm......

Like those that commented above me, I also find it very disturbing for an 8 year old to still be breastfeeding. I'm also sad that it seems like the only time breastfeeding gets any attention is in extreme cases like this one or other negative stories. Although I feel 8 years is definitely too long to breastfeed, I'm not sure when should be considered too long. The AAP recommends at least a year and WHO recommends 2 years. In some cultures it is common for people to breastfeed 4 years. It seems in our culture (especially here in Alabama) any amount of breastfeeding is seen as "too long" or "disturbing." According to the CDC only 52% of babies in AL are ever breastfed. 25% are breastfed at least 6 months and only 11% are breastfed at least a year. Only 19% are breastfed exclusively for 3 months and only 11% are breastfed exclusively for 6 months. So, at only 7 months or breastfeeding I already fall into the "weirdo" category. Maybe tomorrow you will see a YouTube video of me, the nut that breastfed past 6 months. By the way, I plan to breastfeed at least a year.

Sorry, to get a little of topic it's just a really important issue to me!

Here is a link to the CDC BF'ing statistics, if you are interested:
http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/report_card2.htm

I didn't even watch the vieo because I assumed it would be disturbing.
SarahMay, those statistics are dismal. It's no surprise that we also rank near the bottom in numbers o fobese and overweight children. And don't we always rank low on children's health rankings in general?

http://www.kidscount.org/datacenter/snapshot.jsp
Unfortunately, our local lactaction "support" is lacking and women who don't have a network of support on their own often become frustrated and stop breastfeeding because of problems that they believe are insurmountable.

LawMommy, the video itself is not visually disturbing. The mom is discrete. This must have been a news report of some kind. (I don't think it is in the US) With interviews with the kids, too.

Anyway, the mother has allowed the children to decide when to stop feeding. The first stopped at age 5 and the second is 8 and still feeds occasionally.

I couldn't breastfeed either, FM (tried for almost three months with my eldest, if I'm remembering correctly!), but I would have liked too. Not for eight years, though!

Sarah May,

I could not find the WHO's BFing recs on their website. They may be included in their Feeding Practices for Infants and Young Children document, which I didn't download. Do you have a link to those recs?

I have looked for research comparing long term benefits of BFing for 1 vs. 2 years, but haven't found much.

I love nursing, but I have to say, I am looking forward to an apple martini, peanut butter, and sashimi tuna!!

Here is the WHO's FAQ section that references their recommendations (notice the 12-24 months section of the chart includes breastfeeding)
http://www.who.int/features/qa/21/en/index.html
Here are some more links to information about the benefits (for child and mother) of "extended breastfeeding", or breastfeeding beyong one year of age.
http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpweaning/0,,3x5j,00.html
http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Feeding/Ask-Dr.-S...ndling-the-Criticism

MyMcDreamysMama,

I did a search on the WHO website and I found several articles mention the 2 year recommendation, like these article:
http://www.wpro.who.int/health_topics/infant_and_young_...ing/general_info.htm
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/index.html
But, I don't think that is what you are looking for. I'm having trouble finding something on their website that goes into the specifics as to why they recommend 2 years. I know I've seen it somewhere, just can't find it now. Sorry.

Here is a link to some information I found on extended BF'ing:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

Ooops, LawMommy already found it while I was out looking!

In the Ask Dr. Sears link I pasted above, I believe he says the WHO's current recommendation is 3 years.

Thanks, guys!

I thought it was interesting that Dr. Sears says BFed toddlers are easier to discipline. Yeah, he did say 3 years. Could I go that long without my apple martini??

I put in an interlibrary loan for the Gulick (1986) article referenced in a few of these links. I'll post it FYI once I receive it.