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

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[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.

[Catspaw]

LOL! "Your honor, in the interests of judicial expediency, I, OPH, volunteer to test the defendant for her state of lactation."

[camle]

she's kinda cute. if she wants a volunteer too take over...

[PeterPrinciple]

"until he weens himself."

Yah, thats gonna happen!

[William Terrell]

There is no medical reason to breast feed beyond six months of age. This is the most perverted thing I've heard in the last 15 minutes.

Why does there have to be a "medical reason" to breast feed? And what possible business of your's is it?

[CholeraJoe]

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding:

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

Link Here.

[Aggie Mama]

My son weaned at 2 and my daughter is still going at 19 mos. I don't think that most people realize that the frequency of nursing drops off considerably after the child starts eating table food.

I've had doctors tell me again and again that my children are so healthy (no ear infections ever) due to the nursing. Not to mention there is an inverse relationship b/w female cancers and breastfeeding. The longer a woman nurses, the lower her chances of female cancers. Doing what God intended, I suppose.

[CholeraJoe]

See #25 for AAP Policy Statement on Breastfeeding.

[chance33_98]

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding:

well, now I am convinced < /sarcasm>

[xsmommy]

yes, for the benefits of nutrition and immunities, the first six months are crucial, but that is not to say it becomes a perversion at 7 months. ya weirdo. ; )

[Aggie Mama]

That's an old (1997) recommendation that came out after my son was born. They've changed it twice since then, first to 1 yr, then to self-weaning. Unfortunately, I have to leave for the morning, but when I get back, I'll try and find the info for you.

[Mercat]

I breast fed my first until he was 17 months and my second until he was 23 months. At 23 months, he knew how to unbutton my shirt and had a name for each boob. In each case, it was the choice of the child to get food elsewhere and each just quit asking to nurse.

[CholeraJoe]

And what possible business of your's is it?

I'm a physician.

[Neets]

Whoooooooooomp!!! heheeh I was waiting for that!!!! You go Doc.

[chance33_98]

At 23 months, he knew how to unbutton my shirt and had a name for each boob.

What were the names :)

[CholeraJoe]

It's the one on their website labeled "Current through June 2002." Have they changed it in the last 10 days?

[2Trievers]

And I thought you were going into IKEA because their summer sale is on ... ROFLOL. Lunch hour errands indeed! &;-)

[Always Right]

My wife still breast feeds our daughter at 14 months. And our daughter is very healthly and has not been sick once. She feeds me too :)

The 6 month statement seems kind of odd. All studies indicate great benefits of breast feeding, and there is noting wrong with going past 1 year. Now if the kid is around three, one might question it.

[truenospinzone]

I think most of us will agree that 8 years old is a little much for breast-feeding. Now, the golden question: how many of us think it's any of the government's business?

[b4its2late]

"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."

She's whacked for sure. Slick Willy will be looking her up no doubt....