20/20 last night
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Topic: 20/20 last night
Posted By: sweetpea
Subject: 20/20 last night
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 2:40pm
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Did anyone watch 20/20 last night about breastfeeding? what did you think?
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Replies:
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 3:40pm
| I think that story was on before because I remember seeing that lady with the 8 year old girl. I mean, each to their own, but personally...I reckon that's WAY too long... |
Posted By: Aquarius
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 4:20pm
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in my OWN opinion.....its shocking
come on, really are their any mothers out there who think thats okay??? i think the mothers are doing their kids abit of harm in a way.....kids should be learning to seek 'comfort' in other ways by then, surely? the kids seemed a bit 'baby' to me... yes, each to their own, i know, but what if they never want to self wean?? Little britain comes to mind....."bitty.."...lol ------------- http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/timers/"> 
mum to mr 16 & mr 10 |
Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 4:58pm
hehe I want Bitty!! HAHA... totally agree with all you've said Aquarius! Very weird  
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Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:19pm
I totally agree!! I was always told that there are no benifits to baby/child past the age of 2.... And i do think that it will be doing some kind of "damage" to the child!!
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Aquarius wrote:Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:32pm
| oh i missed it. Sounds like it was interesting. I plan to breastfeed until he self weans but will start encouraging it around 3 i think (wel see how we go). Im assuming it was about major extended breastfeeding |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:38pm
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DH and I saw that article on 20/20. It's not my cup of tea (I think 18mo is probably my limit, 2yo at a stretch) but I do believe in each to their own and I liked the fact that none of the women were preachy about it. Other similar shows have had women saying that's what everyone should do and we're neglectful if we don't blah blah blah IMO they can do whatever (within limits) with their own kids, just don't shove it down my throat. I cracked up at the guy that "has always been happy to take his place in the Q" and what that statement implied. One thing that did annoy me was the women qualifying her choice by saying it was better than having a 5yo still using a pacifier - well lady, a 5yo using a pacifier is wrong! I agree with the point someone made earlier that kids should be taught to seek comfort in other ways. By kindy age they're not with you all the time and therefore they need to learn independence anyway. DH made a good point that what these women are doing by teaching their kids that comfort comes from breastmilk is they're cutting the dads out of the nurturing/comforting role which is simply not fair on the fathers (probably not on the kids either since they never learn that men can be nurturers too). -------------  
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Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:38pm
| oh another point i forgot to mention is that i think its a bit sad that they are putting that on the tv because i think i may put some people off breastfeeding or trying to breastfeed. It also makes it twice as hard for mothers who are breastfeeding slightly older children (im takling over 1year or so) becasue people will be thinking they are gonna breastfeed til the childs 8!!! I think those mothers are just doing it for attention to be honest. A child that age should be getting everything they need from their diet. |
Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:40pm
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I am all for breast feeding and I hoep to be feeding Maddi for a while longer yet....but IMHO I think there is definately a line where it becomes too far. And doing it in the day too.. in Public Keira fed untill she was 18 months and she felt so old then. I would possibly like it if Maddi were weaned by 2 (give me my body back!) Even 3 seems a bit old - I cant imagine still feeding Keira now.
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:42pm
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Good point!! -------------
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 5:42pm
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I thought the same thing about it putting people off breastfeeding entirely. I hope it doesn't. IMO the mothers are doing it for their own comfort as much as that of their children. -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 8:42pm
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Its just weird lol I couldn't imagine BFing Jake now TBH hes just past needing that kind of nurture IMO. I've seen past programs about it and taped this 20/20 episode so gonna watch it over the weekend coz I enjoy making grossed out noises and seeing DPs reactions lol... -------------   
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Posted By: Puddleduck
Date Posted: 01 May 2009 at 9:30pm
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I watched that, I found it a bit odd, to be honest it grossed me out
I think the point about taking dads out of the picture is a really good one too. |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 3:20am
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Each to their own, I'm all for breastfeeding and self-weaning but 8 years of age is too old IMHO.
I breastfed my boy until 2 years old, I wouldn't have minded too much if we went a little over that, but it was the right time for us to wean - we were both ready. He got to the point where he was asking for it in public, and whilst I honestly wouldn't have had a problem feeding him in public - it made me realise how aware he was, and that he'd grown to the point where he didn't NEED it anymore, it was out of habit and wanting to be comforted moreso than anything else. Just my two cents... |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 5:50pm
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It unfortunately grossed me out, I was thankful that Cooper was asleep for a while longer so I could get those images out & I really didn't want to go feed him straight after that program!
I found it really interesting for hear that the 8 year old had self weaned after the program was made. The way that girl spoke about it was what grossed me out more than the mothers, who I thought put their point across just fine. I am all for breast feeding as long as I can, this definitely won't be past the age of 2 though, kids need their independance! Also I want my sexy boobies back..... ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 7:18pm
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It grossed me out as well, 8 years old is much to old to be breastfed and its just habit by that age, its not for the benifits of breastfeeding.
One year old would have to my limit, after that I would feel like I have a 'person" on breast, rather than a wee baby. Not my cup of tea, plus Id want my boobies back as well. ------------- |
Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 7:39pm
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It also grossed me out!
the twins at 2 1/2 were fine but 6 and 8 were just wrong!!!! I personally wouldnt BF until 2 1/2 but i understand and can see why mothers do. My limit i think is 1 year!! But at this stage im just concentrating on getting to 6 months  -------------  
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Posted By: monkey33
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 7:53pm
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I saw the ads for this and to be honest was really grossed out by the older kids - went to bed early that night so didn't get to watch the programme which is a good thing by the sounds of it!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: monkey33
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 7:55pm
Hehe that is exactly what DH said when he saw the ad! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 8:00pm
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I think 8 is weird... That family and the twins had been on some werid doumentry on tv one last year. What I hate about that is they show the "extremes" of BF and it tends to put people off.
I personally fed to 2, but it didn't bother me seeing the 3/4 y/o being fed. However I probably wouldn't have gone that long. The reason why it seems "weird" (the 12 months plus feeding thing) is that it isn't "normalised" in society - eg never on tv, in books/movies/magazines and people don't tend to see people doing it out in public very often (cos it isn't usually more than once or twice a day or so, well, its not 2 or three hourly anyway, by then) so when one brave soul does it, they get labled as a hippy or weird or whatever. As a rule, society mainly see breasts as a sexual thing, thus making it "gross" to feed a person.. Just my 2 cents worth... And by the way, that 8 year old girl was a bit ?%?% wasn't she? Now she WAS weird.... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 02 May 2009 at 8:49pm
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I agree that I think a lot of it is to fulfill the mother's needs. I think they are feeding way too long. I always thought that once they could possibly remember it, then that was long enough! I was surprised that the older boy (weaned at 8 or something) wasn't grossed out and in fact missed it!
No other mammals breastfeed as proportionately long as these mums.... doesn't mean to do so is wrong, but it does show that it is not a nutritional thing past a certain (fairly young!) age. |
Posted By: kriss
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 1:41am
My thoughts exactly! I am hoping to BF until at least 1, and so far it is going perfectly well. Only con is because I haven't bought any maternity/BF tops I just don't want to have to worry about what I wear every day (already made the mistake of wearing totally BF-unsuitable tops out in public!) Edit to fix quote ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 Little Angel, April 10
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 12:57pm
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I have no problem with it. As long as child and Mum are happy doing it there are huge health benefits for both for as long as they want to continue.
The average weaning age worldwide is 4.5 years so while it seems really weird here its perfectly normal in many parts of the world. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 2:17pm
i disagree with this. i think that fathers have to find diferent ways to nurture/comfort regardless. after all they nurture and comfort babies that are fully breastfed (well my husband did anyway, i guess i cant speak for all men). i dont think feeding a child would be the only way a mother who breastfed for that long would comfort or nurture her child... i didnt see the programme on 20/20 tho and am intrigued about this 8 yr old !!! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 2:20pm
but who is to say when that would be. i have met people who remember incidences from a very young age. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 3:11pm
True it maybe normal/acceptable in different parts of the world to breastfeed until much older than is seen as normal/acceptable here... but surely in OUR society this is detrimental to the socialisation of an 8 year old child?? I agree with others that a child of this age should have developed other strategies to gain comfort other than boobies 
I understood the nutritional benefits were pretty debatable after 2 years of age... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 4:22pm
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how is it detrimental to normal socialisation... so the kid has a special bond with his mother...he has probably learnt how to interact with other people without expecting boobie, after all he would have had contact with daycare/kindy/preschool, school, after school activities. all of which wouldnt have had mum with boobies at the ready. He would have learnt at an early age that only mum had the milk, as unlike a bottle fed baby his food would have only been provided by one person and not the village (refering to that old adage it takes a village to raise a child).
------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 4:51pm
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It seems the majority of people who have responded to this topic have been of the opinion that it's weird to be bfing an 8 year old (i didn't see this 20/20 but have seen the mother and daughter on another show) which gives some indication of how our society views this issue... children who are different are often ridculed by other children (sad but true)... I think the 8 year old kid who is still being BF and on TV talking about it is an obvious target for bullying... Bullying I believe would affect a child's socialisation... I wasn't meaning they couldn't carry out everyday life without boobies ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 5:52pm
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Im going to be frank .
My daughter is nearly 7 , she can go into the dairy BY HERSELF, she can work the tv BY HERSELF , she can pour a drink, make her bed , make her own breakfast (well as long as its cereal ) she can ride a bike without training wheels, swing on monkey bars all BY HERSELF . And she gets her nutrition from vegetables, cows milk and the rest . Does she need to be breast fed ? no, she doesnt , she knows I love her and she doesnt need my breast to prove it . This is my personal opinion on it . And also, in 3 years , Caitlyn will be 10 , in another 3 after that, she will be 13 ....how long are these people who are breastfeeding their children, planning on doing it for ? ok, some say 8 is "fine " and normal ish ....when does it stop being normal ? ------------- 
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Posted By: LuluBelle85
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 6:36pm
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I watched this show, and I really think this is another case of media sensationalism at it's best.
The way they make these families come accross is that their whole world revolves breastfeeding when in all reality, it's probably very minor.. (like the 2 english girls were portrayed as being obsessed with their mothers breasts, drawing and talking about them) In fact, who knows... maybe you went to school with kids who were breastfed till they were 8... or wore night nappies, or had a blankie, or even indulged in a pacifier or favourite soft toy... you probably wouldn't have even known. And would they turn out 'normal' or 'socialised'? (Whatever normal may be!) . I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the vast majority of these kids would turn out fine. Afterall, there are certainly some worse ways to stuff up a childs life... I really don't think that extended breastfeeding would be at the top of that list. Anyways... just my 2 cents... (Cos I usually just lurk, but today I'm just sick of the media... I should stop watching TV!) 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 8:30pm
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I agree with Booweeze here.
How can the benefits beyond two be debatable? Kids drink milk, therefore it is better to drink a milk made for humans than for cows. As long as Mum is breastfeeding she has a lower chance of developing arthritis and some cancers. I think at the end of the day you might have a problem with it buts as long as baby and Mum are happy who really cares. There has actually been no evidence to say extended breastfeeding is at all detrimental to a child. |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 9:37pm
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there's always gonna be differences of opinion on such a topic ...
Rachandjack - just wanted to say I don't have a problem with it, it's not my child and really has no effect on me at all... I just think it's a bit weird for that child when none of their friends at school are being bf and they are... also you say as long as "baby and mum are happy" yet I was referring to an older child, i.e. an 8 year old, which is far from being a baby... When my girl was 8 she was already into music, and fashion and boys - last thing she would have wanted was boobies But all kids are different ...
I wonder how many studies have actually examined the social effects of extending breastfeeding in a western culture? I imagine it's not a well researched topic as bfing beyond infancy doesn't appear well practised in our culture IMO... Also I didn't mean that breastfeeding was nutritionally detrimental at all, just that I wasn't aware of any significant nutritional advantages that have been identified in continuing to breastfeed beyond infancy... I definitely think bfing is best if at all possible when children are young as the developmental benefits both cognitively and motorically are undeniable ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 9:50pm
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baby to me is from newborn to 3.5 -4,and tho I personally wouldn't feed my children that long , I would want my body back to myself , it doesnt weird me out as much as a child from 5 years old im sorry but imo once they get to school where they are learning to read and write , and can pour their OWN drinks, they are no longer babies that need it .
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 03 May 2009 at 9:50pm
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meh , double post
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Posted By: Bubnumber2
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 9:04am
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I just wondered why they put the 2.5 year old twins on there (can I just say WOW, twins to 2 and a half...respect). Plenty of people fed until their baby is 2 and a half.
Honestly, I have to say the 8 year old did really weird me out. Though I think the fact she acted a little strange and talked in a baby voice didn't help much. The siblings of the 5 year old (I think it was 5?) who was still b-feeding (and who had fed until 6 themselves) were really normal kids, though you could tell the interviewer was a bit surprised by that...hoping for weird little mummy cling on's perhaps? Personally I really doubt that I could breast-feed past 18 months-2 years...and if I'm honest, anywhere past 3 does gross me out, but perhaps today's view on what is acceptable has just done it's job on me. There is really no defined line. Is there any proof that REALLY extended breast-feeding is detrimental to the child's social development? ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 10:00am
Not as far as I can see - that was my point it's not widely practiced in our culture so maybe not seen an highly important topic to research. I have done a quick search of some databases (only as I have a interest in social development as doing a PhD on social development in preschoolers and effects on learning) and haven't come across anything relating to older children and extended breastfeeding... Without research examining the impact of such extended BFing it's pretty hard to infer what impact it would have - my only thought was bullying IF other children were aware... which of course can have a major impact on socialisation... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 12:25pm
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I was also impressed by the mum still b/f her twins....feeding 1 baby is hard enough, but I am very impressed by someone who b/f twins, let alone for that extended period of time. In these types of documentations they also seem to focus on the extremes, which can be very annoying as it may turn someone people off extended b/f.
------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: sweetpea
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 2:03pm
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each to their own i guess how ever i do wonder how breastfeeding past the age of 2 effects the childs social development regardless if its evident now or in their future.
Personally i don't plan on brestfeeding past the age of 1 (once i get my bfp). I would want my body back. |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 2:41pm
sweetpea - totally agree each to their own... re: the social development comment I thought I had clarified - maybe I wasn't clear I was referring the effects of possible bullying that could occur if an 8 year old was known to be breastfeeding... As I said earlier children are often bullyed for anything which isn't seen as normal in our society - I think at 8 this would could be the target if others knew. The effects of bullying on social development are well documented. Also as I said before I was referring to OLDER children of around 8 years old NOT a child of around 2ish + years at all!!!! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: sweetpea
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 3:01pm
| yup i agree about the bulling thing i just wonder what effect if any it will have on those kids when they reach their teens or adulthood. |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 3:49pm
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yeah it would be really interesting to know! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |