Posted on 07/10/2002 5:53:23 AM PDT by 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.
It also says there are other benefits from breastmilk. Including higher IQ's, no terrible 2's, less likely to get ill the longer that you breastfeed.
I see kids with parents who are unfit, druggies and alcoholics and CPS turns their back and they go after someone like this mother because they don't approve of what she is doing.
I just happened to fall upon this website and wanted to tell my story. It seems like your always on this page so the real question is what the hell is your problem. Sounds like you need more help than the lady breastfeeding the 8 year old
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