Breastfeeding - How Long is Too Long?

Oh my gosh, comparing ill parenting crack pots to mothers who extend breastfeeding? How about just compare the mother I saw bottle feeding her baby while holding a cigarette, the ashes where dropping on the baby and smoe going into his eyes? So the comments you were saying you want mothers to give their babies artificial crap from a can instead of what comes natural from the mothers body and then you say we eat bad today? LOL This whole thread is really sad.

I did not compare the wonderful sensible women who choose to breast feed with ill parenting crack pots. What I said was shame on doctors who push breastfeeding today when they are aware of many women who are incapable of a sensible diet, are abusers and babies whose babies are far better off on formula for proper growth and brain development. It should not be pushed as a standard method taken into consideration that this is not a one size fits all feeding method. In addition, many women have other issues that do not make breastfeeding a good choice for them. I did not say I want mothers to bottlefeed their infants as you said "artificail crap over what comes naturally". The point is, it is a mother's choice, and a personal one between her and her baby. Your thread is sad because you are a grown woman and don't know how to read. Moreover, It takes much more than breastfeeding a child that makes you a good mother.

Sometimes I wonder where people get their conceptions of normal from. Why would cow's milk be any better for a human than human milk? The breasts are designed as a feeding instrument. This society over sexualizes everything.
A mother and child have the right to decide when to stop breastfeeding. And as far as the wackos who say that breast feeding should not be done in public is ridiculous as well, it is abuse not to feed a child when the are hungry or to not give them somthing to drink when they are thirsty. If the feel breast is best, more power to them!!!

sorry not wacko, but tired of MY children being uncomfortable in public because you can't have your PRIVATE moments and respect the rest of us. They do make breast pumps, or have you not heard of them? You also could go to a restroom, nursing room, or you darn car. And don't tell me your depriving the child by having them wait while you find a private place to do this, what do you do when your driving, make them wait!

If more women breastfed in public in a tasteful manner it would be more accepted and people like you wouldn't find one of the most natural activities in the world offensive. In addition, breastfeeding in public is protected by law in most states in this country to prevent ridicule or nasty comments from dumb people like you. To say that a teenage boy or teenage girl are going to experience improper feelings from witnessing breastfeeding or learning about breastfeeding is just absurd. There are way more offensive images on television and the internet than a woman FEEDING her child. There is nothing sexual about breastfeeding and if you think there is, than you have a poor body image and improper view of what breasts were naturally made for.

Why don't you go eat in the restroom or your car next time you're hungry? I shouldn't have to go and sit in a possibly disgusting restroom stall or my hot or cold car with my hungry infant just because it makes you feel uncomfortable. I hope you are just as strict with the many disturbing images on television today that your children may be subject to. Besides, your children are "uncomfortable" because you are. Why can't you take it as a learning experience and tell your children that the mother is feeding her child, which is lovely and natural?

You've got to be kidding me..... tell a teenage boy that your boob is not sexual, what planet do you live on? I'm laughing so hard I'm ready to fall of my chair. As for the state law of it, yes we have dumba%$es in congress, etc. but we already knew that. But I guess the same people who find that there's nothing wrong with molesting a child by having them suck your boob at 5-years-old would also find exposing themselves in public, like a common park streaking comforting.

Melissa, I guess most people ESPECIALLY men have the wrong idea of what breast are EXCLUSIVELY used FOR. So make sure you tell your husband to keep his hand off the bottles, LOL. And I guess if your kids are still attached to the boob as teenagers they would find nothing wrong with it. It's just us with "normal" kids whose kids find problems with being uncomfortable with an exposed woman in public. But I can see with your mentality level this is a pointless argument to have with someone like you. Go, tell your hubby hands-off and your still nursing teenager mouth-on.

Teenagers are nowhere near as stupid as you seem to think they are. They know that breasts are for feeding babies even if you don't. And if you think a breast pump is a satisfactory substitute for direct breastfeeding, I hope you end up strapped to one for the rest of your unnatural life. You wouldn't last five minutes.

You took the words right out of my mouth! Artificial milk (formula) will NEVER even come close to comparing nutritionally to that of mothers' milk. The most nutritionally deprived mother will still produce milk that is far superior to formula. Breastmilk is the gold standard that formula companies use to make their formulas. Why do people think they advertise formula as "close to breastmilk" and containing DHA and ARA the same nutrients found in breastmilk?

I was bottle fed due to my mothers' age at the time of my birth (17). All of my other siblings were breast fed (I have five siblings). As a result, I didn't have the close bond with my mother that my siblings have. I couldn't even tell her that I'd been raped at 10 years old. My siblings on the other hand could tell her anything. I strongly support breastfeeding and am not offended seeing it done in public. Those who are offended are those who have been programmed to view the female form as a sexual object for men. The fact that the breast has been referred to as "boob" and "tit" is evidence enough.
However, my best friend nursed her youngest daughter until she was three. She said she wanted to allow the child to make the decision to stop like her oldest did at two. The child never wanted to stop. When my friend decided it was time, I witnessed many tantrums when the breast was refused. At one point the little girl, tried to climb under her mothers' shirt. This was a disturbing sight for me. But, I must also say that at this time my friends' husbands' drinking had caused alot of drama in the home and they were soon divorced. This could have affected the child and the child could have found comfort in nursing. I don't know, I can't speak for the child. What I will say is that nursing is completely natural and was the only way to feed your baby for a long time. A lot longer than formula has been around. Society has made it "disgusting" and as far as I'm concerned. If you have no children and do not want children then you have no right to make any judgements about this subject.
While I do agree that school age is too old to be breastfeeding, at least for me it is. I must point out that it is a personal choice and no body's business. If you have a problem with seeing it in public, don't look. If you have a problem with it being done in front of you while visiting friends, leave. If you don't want to read about it on the web, don't click the link. If you don't want to watch it on Utube, don't click play, and so on. As far as I'm concerned the only ones who need counseling are the ones who can't handle the sight of a mother feeding her child.

I wanted to reply to nonfeisty's remark. I feel bad reading that you could not share your molestation with your mother. As an outpatient therapist, I have learned that many children have shared the horrors of molestation (many from family members). As a society, we need to protect our children and listen to them when they need our love and protection. Protecting our children should not be something we need to debate.