How Old is Too Old to Breast Feed Your Child? Court Case

wkrn ^

[chance33_98]

How Old is Too Old to Breast Feed Your Child? 

How Old is Too Old to Breast Feed Your Child? How old is too old to be breast feeding your child? A controversial case out of Illinois has re-ignited the debate. A young mother there is still breast feeding her eight-year-old. Should she be forced to stop?

Lynne Stuckey said she has been unfairly persecuted for doing something that is perfectly natural: breast feeding her son. But there's a twist - her son is now eight-years-old.

"I did nothing wrong with nursing my child. Kyle is my only son and I'm going to continue nursing him as long as he needs that and until he weens himself."

But child protection authorities did not agree. Her son Kyle was removed from her home for nearly six months and placed in foster care. Lynne and Kyle have undergone counseling and are reunited. Tuesday on Good Morning, America , she showed her face for the first time, saying accusations that the breast feeding was some kind of molestation are absurd.

"You don't nurse your child for yourself when that's something they are needing for comfort. When you do that, you're putting your child first."

An expert on Tuesday morning's show basically agreed, saying it's normal in some cultures for children to breast feed until they are five or six. But it may time for Kyle to be weened.

"There reaches an age when you have to help your child find more mature ways to comfort themselves," said the expert.

"This is a normal thing and people need to know that, and Kyle is a wonderful child," Stuckey said.

By speaking out, Lynne Stuckey said she fears the state may again move to take her child away. The American Academy of Pediatrics said roughly 20% of children are weened by age one, and the vast majority of toddlers are weened by age two.

[knuthom]

Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth.

This statement does not say that breastfeeding is only beneficial for six months. It says that breastmilk, alone, is sufficient for six months. After that other foods are to be introduced, in addition to breastmilk.

Gradual introduction of iron-enriched solid foods in the second half of the first year should complement the breast milk diet.
It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.

The benefits of breastfeeding do not suddenly disappear at six months.

[hobbes1]

But then they grow up to Be Pats Fans!!!!!!

[Catspaw]

I know a guy who was bathed by his mommy until he was 12 and slept with mommy until he was 16 (daddy slept in another bed in another part of the house). I never did ask if he was breastfed and for how long.

Let's just say he turned out a little....um...twisted.

[CholeraJoe]

The scientific evidence for benefit of breastfeeding beyond six months is limited to non-existent.

[chance33_98]

The scientific evidence for benefit of breastfeeding beyond six months is limited to non-existent.

Pretty much the same story with coffee, beer, soda, and chocolate milk :)

[CholeraJoe]

Bingo.

[drjimmy]

Was his name Norman Bates, by any chance?

[Askel5]

With the exception of her first (during which the stress of a move, etc. dried her up), my sister has breastfed each of her kids unto their first birthday.

I understand your point about the medical need but I think a year's about the time they're ready to move on anyway -- and get the green light from the Doc for all kinds of Exciting Foods.

But, almost more importantly, that extra six months provides some valuable down time -- in peace and quiet together in a rocker somewhere -- for both the child and the mother ... most stay-at-home Moms going round the clock as a rule without the luxury of state-mandated breaks or lunch hours. =)

[Askel5]

Exclusive breastfeeding

Hers was not exclusive breastfeeding for a year, of course.

[Equality 7-2521]

I either need to find a women whose breasts produce strong black coffee or get myself one of those toddler sippy cups.

I'm reminded of a story (I believe written by Stephen King) with a character who sat in his bed and read books in a messy apartment, who would drink whiskey from a baby bottle so that he could keep both hands free for page turning. I tried it once with beer and actually convinced several other people to try it but you have to make the holes in the nipples much bigger to get an appreciable flow from them.

[chance33_98]

read books in a messy apartment, who would drink whiskey from a baby bottle so that he could keep both hands free for page turning.

It's called, Books On tape :)

[Catspaw]

Was his name Norman Bates, by any chance?

LOL! That's what we nicknamed him--but we shortened it to "Norm!"

Neither wife #1 or wife #2 had anything flattering to say about him, needless to say, except that they felt like they were married to him AND his mother (he spent inordinate amounts of time on the phone or at her house daily), that he hated her, that he loved her, but she still controlled every (and I do mean "every") aspect of his life--and that when they left him, he stalked and harassed the ex's relentlessly. From my dealings with him, he was a nut case.

[gunshy]

There was an incident reported within the last 18 months of a group of shipwrecked passengers who were saved during their ordeal at sea by nursing on a young woman who had been nursing her child. She was their only source of water and nutrients.

[Catspaw]

Ya know, I'm kicking myself because I never asked about it...but, knowing the guy, I wouldn't doubt it.

I do know that when he was escalating (or any other time), you really never wanted to make eye contact with him. It'd give you the willies for hours.

[Dixie Mom]

First of all, I'd like to know how the powers that be found out this information. Seems to me it might be the child that ratted on the mom, which seems to me the child just might not want to be breastfeeding but mom is insisting.

Something is definitely not right in this case. Age five is generally seen as extreme in terms of extended BF. Almost all children will self-wean between 2-3 years of age, if not sooner.

[gunshy]

The most perverted thing is that we are a nation where many people, of all ages, have been sucking on the government's teat for most if not all their lives.

[chance33_98]

There was an incident reported within the last 18 months of a group of shipwrecked passengers who were saved during their ordeal at sea by nursing on a young woman who had been nursing her child.

Note to self: Keep wife handy when at sea.

[chance33_98]

The most perverted thing is that we are a nation where many people, of all ages, have been sucking on the government's teat for most if not all their lives.

Maybe it is time we started biting it :)

[luckystarmom]

Actually, the longer you breast feed reduces your chance of breast cancer.

A friend of mine has breast fed her 3 boys until they are 2 to reduce her risk of breast cancer. Her mother had breast cancer.

I couldn't breast feed mine, but wish I could have.