Attachment parenting and that Time cover...

catshark209

So opinions people....
What do you all think of this: http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/time-magazines-breastfeeding-cover-moms-react-185700989.html?

For those of you that breasfed, when did you wean? For those of you that didn't, why not?

I think the way the pic was posed was a bit much and don't really think its necessary to breastfeed a child until he or she is 3, not in Western society. I think that most of us, even those of us like myself in the working classes, have adequate food to provide our children. That being said, if someone chooses to breastfeed that late...then so be it.

Anyway, whatcha all think?

ElizabethRoad

I certainly wouldn't breastfeed a kid for that long, but it's fine by me if other people want to. And I really don't see a problem with the cover. What's everyone so shocked about? It's unusual, not vulgar.

catshark209

I certainly wouldn't breastfeed a kid for that long, but it's fine by me if other people want to. And I really don't see a problem with the cover. What's everyone so shocked about? It's unusual, not vulgar.

Because people are prudish.
I just thought it was uncomfortable for both her and the child...cuz of how he was standing on the chair. I found that my son latched better when I laid him across me, but he was 1 1/2 when he was weaned.

dinosnopro

We weaned our first when he was a freshman in college.

ElizabethRoad

It's not a very practical position, I'll give you that.

everytree

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 3 years. I practiced child lead weaning as did most people I know. However, I do not live in the US.

I also practiced attachment parenting which was not invented by Dr. Sears as the article implies but has been the normal method of parenting for thousands of years and is the most usual way of parenting in non-westernized cultures.

Having said that - I have no problem with how people chose to parent their children. What works for my family won't work for yours and whats right for yours won't be right for the next family and so on and so on.

I am the expert at parenting MY children. No one elses.

What I hate about that article is that it is setting up the mommy wars. We are competitive enough with each other and I hate that it is looking to shoot down each other. As mothers we should be looking to build each other up because lets face it - its a damn tough job.

I also hate that picture. Seriously. They are trying to create controversy and I guess they've done it but they have a chosen a thin, beautiful hipster type mother, a large (thats a tall 3 year old) BOY looking at the camera and exposed her chest and posed them to get people talking. If they showed her cradling her child nursing him, it wouldn't have created the same buzz.

And the title "Are you Mom enough?".....don't get me started.

chrissyrn04

I know several poeple that breast fed until their kids were 4 and even 5... totally grosses me out.

StarvingDiva

I say to each their own.

But the picture on the cover was obviously meant to shock and bring up discussion, my guess is that Time magazine's circulation department is down and they are looking to drum up some business.

LilynEdensmom

The cover is awkward and looks very uncomfortable. I didn't breastfeed either of my girls. With the first I had no milk even after trying to pump for the first two days (I wasn't allowed to hold her or anything she was in the NICU long story) I had none, no leaks no nothing...with my second I just went with what I felt comfortable doing and that was formula. I don't regret my choices. That said, its a parents choice.

jodycoady

YUCK.

That poor kid will suffer later on with that photo. Some people are total narcissists.

Laces_0ut

i have memories of when i was 3 and i am very glad i do not have memories of being breast fed by my mom.

Lovinmama

I breastfed both of my children, my daughter for 16 months my son for 22 months. I have no regrets but would no bf past 2years. it is the best you can provide! never recalled never goes bad made just for them

Laces_0ut

YUCK.

That poor kid will suffer later on with that photo. Some people are total narcissists.

o yeah...that kid is screwed. better start the psych appointments now.

StarvingDiva

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 3 years. I practiced child lead weaning as did most people I know. However, I do not live in the US.

I also practiced attachment parenting which was not invented by Dr. Sears as the article implies but has been the normal method of parenting for thousands of years and is the most usual way of parenting in non-westernized cultures.

Having said that - I have no problem with how people chose to parent their children. What works for my family won't work for yours and whats right for yours won't be right for the next family and so on and so on.

I am the expert at parenting MY children. No one elses.

What I hate about that article is that it is setting up the mommy wars. We are competitive enough with each other and I hate that it is looking to shoot down each other. As mothers we should be looking to build each other up because lets face it - its a damn tough job.

I also hate that picture. Seriously. They are trying to create controversy and I guess they've done it but they have a chosen a thin, beautiful hipster type mother, a large (thats a tall 3 year old) BOY looking at the camera and exposed her chest and posed them to get people talking. If they showed her cradling her child nursing him, it wouldn't have created the same buzz.

And the title "Are you Mom enough?".....don't get me started.

That's precisely what I didn't like about the image either, he clearly wasn't "breastfeeding" and the way the picture was taken was purposefully put to shock people. I agree if she was cuddling him while he breastfeed, I don't think it would have been as dramatic. I think women are much too hard on each other as it is, we don't need magazines to continue to perpetuate it.

FrugalMomsRock75

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 3 years. I practiced child lead weaning as did most people I know. However, I do not live in the US.

I also practiced attachment parenting which was not invented by Dr. Sears as the article implies but has been the normal method of parenting for thousands of years and is the most usual way of parenting in non-westernized cultures.

Having said that - I have no problem with how people chose to parent their children. What works for my family won't work for yours and whats right for yours won't be right for the next family and so on and so on.

I am the expert at parenting MY children. No one elses.

What I hate about that article is that it is setting up the mommy wars. We are competitive enough with each other and I hate that it is looking to shoot down each other. As mothers we should be looking to build each other up because lets face it - its a damn tough job.

I also hate that picture. Seriously. They are trying to create controversy and I guess they've done it but they have a chosen a thin, beautiful hipster type mother, a large (thats a tall 3 year old) BOY looking at the camera and exposed her chest and posed them to get people talking. If they showed her cradling her child nursing him, it wouldn't have created the same buzz.

And the title "Are you Mom enough?".....don't get me started.

Yes. This. As a mom that is currently breastfeeding a 4 year old and a 2 year old (tandem), I rarely stand like that and have my breast that way. I love child led weaning. I love that my body continues to give my children antibodies (no; they do NOT outgrow this need at a year, as a child's immune system is not fully developed until somewhere around age 6) and nutrition. I don't force them to nurse (much to the surprise of people who say that moms who BF past a year only do it for themselves). BF is hard. BF for four years is harder! It isn't for myself! It's for my babies. However, we never have any tacky displays of it. We are discreet.

Though I'll tell anyone about it.

ellaminnowpea11

What I hate about that article is that it is setting up the mommy wars. We are competitive enough with each other and I hate that it is looking to shoot down each other. As mothers we should be looking to build each other up because lets face it - its a damn tough job.

I also hate that picture. Seriously. They are trying to create controversy and I guess they've done it but they have a chosen a thin, beautiful hipster type mother, a large (thats a tall 3 year old) BOY looking at the camera and exposed her chest and posed them to get people talking. If they showed her cradling her child nursing him, it wouldn't have created the same buzz.

And the title "Are you Mom enough?".....don't get me started.

^^^^^This^^^^^ ITA!!!

Flemstica

What I don't understand is why anyone cares how long anyone else breastfeeds? But to answer the question; I nursed my first daughter for 32 months, my youngest for 27 months. With both I tried to wean gently, but also was at a point when I did not want to continue nursing. I know plenty of people who nurse longer, and think it is wonderful.

ttaylor68913

my friend nurses... and she decided she was going to let him self wean(he is 28 months)..... she also plans on home schooling... so i think he will still be nursing when he is 40 living in her basement. I love her to death but if iwere her i'd want my body back

catshark209

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 3 years. I practiced child lead weaning as did most people I know. However, I do not live in the US.

I also practiced attachment parenting which was not invented by Dr. Sears as the article implies but has been the normal method of parenting for thousands of years and is the most usual way of parenting in non-westernized cultures.

Having said that - I have no problem with how people chose to parent their children. What works for my family won't work for yours and whats right for yours won't be right for the next family and so on and so on.

I am the expert at parenting MY children. No one elses.

What I hate about that article is that it is setting up the mommy wars. We are competitive enough with each other and I hate that it is looking to shoot down each other. As mothers we should be looking to build each other up because lets face it - its a damn tough job.

I also hate that picture. Seriously. They are trying to create controversy and I guess they've done it but they have a chosen a thin, beautiful hipster type mother, a large (thats a tall 3 year old) BOY looking at the camera and exposed her chest and posed them to get people talking. If they showed her cradling her child nursing him, it wouldn't have created the same buzz.

And the title "Are you Mom enough?".....don't get me started.

That's precisely what I didn't like about the image either, he clearly wasn't "breastfeeding" and the way the picture was taken was purposefully put to shock people. I agree if she was cuddling him while he breastfeed, I don't think it would have been as dramatic. I think women are much too hard on each other as it is, we don't need magazines to continue to perpetuate it.

I also agree about the title. I forgot to add it in my original post. I feel bad enough as it is that I work full time and my mother has practically raised my son. I mean seriously, "Are you Mom enough?"

miranda_mom

We weaned our first when he was a freshman in college.

Well at that point you pretty much have to. I mean, it's just a scheduling nightmare.

Lovinmama

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 3 years. I practiced child lead weaning as did most people I know. However, I do not live in the US.

I also practiced attachment parenting which was not invented by Dr. Sears as the article implies but has been the normal method of parenting for thousands of years and is the most usual way of parenting in non-westernized cultures.

Having said that - I have no problem with how people chose to parent their children. What works for my family won't work for yours and whats right for yours won't be right for the next family and so on and so on.

I am the expert at parenting MY children. No one elses.

What I hate about that article is that it is setting up the mommy wars. We are competitive enough with each other and I hate that it is looking to shoot down each other. As mothers we should be looking to build each other up because lets face it - its a damn tough job.

I also hate that picture. Seriously. They are trying to create controversy and I guess they've done it but they have a chosen a thin, beautiful hipster type mother, a large (thats a tall 3 year old) BOY looking at the camera and exposed her chest and posed them to get people talking. If they showed her cradling her child nursing him, it wouldn't have created the same buzz.

And the title "Are you Mom enough?".....don't get me started.

awesome! i totally agree! I am a full supporter of breastfeeding and attachment parenting, i also dont live in the usa. I do not jusdge other parents for what they do

TurtleRunnerNC

Both of mine weaned at 18 months. At that point they were only nursing @ bedtime anyway.

UrbanRunner81

My kids self weaned. It was around 2 1/2 -3. They kind of lost interest the older they got. They would skip a day, then they would skip two days and so on and so forth. Actually I was upset when my daughter stopped asking. I was sad as she was my last child. I would have happily kept nursing her if she wanted to.

Sure the picture is shock value, they could did a more natural pose for a mom nursing a toddler, but they wanted to get people's attention.

Bevigal

Motherhood is a wonderful thing and breast feeding is quite normal...however I do not think its necessary to put it on the cover of a magazine. It should be a personal thing between Mother and child. Having a 3 yr old nursing will sell lots of magazines because its not in the norm.

shilohae

I nursed my son for 18months and am still nursing my daughter at 21months. She is almost weaned...down to two sessions a day :happy: However, I agree that that cover was meant to shock. The little boy looks a lot older than he is and while I (obviously) am a fan of extended breastfeeding it looked awkward and I find the title offensive. Am I a better mother than someone who didn't nurse? What about those super women who choose to adopt and can't breastfeed?? We all do what we need to do to be the best mom that we can be...my choices don't make me better.

Lovinmama

As for the comment the kid would be scared... uh no he wont! breastfeeding is non sexual it might seems strange but it is the same as bottle feeding as far as memories ... to a child it is innoncent and pure. I refuse to jusdge others for the length they choose to bf but I wouldnt past 2

12skipafew99100

I nursed 4 children for 1 year. One child a little longer and one child not quite a year. Every child is different. Some want to stop and some want to keep on. But that picture just creeped me out.

veganbaum

I was breast fed until I was three, I also ate food at that age, not so uncommon in the circle of my mother's friends or the time period. It was one source of nutrition. As someone mentioned, that's a recommended age to wean. Just because we're in Western society there's no reason to end something that is so beneficial for children before it's necessary. The cover was obviously made to be controversial, I think it's a ridiculous cover that will do nothing to make such breastfeeding acceptable in our culture.

samf36

All 3 of ours were bf and weaned themselves about at a yr. In my family it is what we did/do. I nursed where ever we were and when ever the child was hungry. I nursed in stores, in church, at family dinners, and I never felt the need to expose my breast and I an sure 99% of people never knew what I was doing.

Time is doing a disservice to bf with this cover. It is a choice each person needs to make and just because you bf or do attachment parenting doesn't mean you are a better parent , it means you made a choice and it is no better than the next persons.

Stinkerbelle84

I am not overly fond of the photo. I understand that it was intended to be controversial, but it felt more awkward to me. While breastfeeding is a perfectly natural thing to do, the photo was quite unnatural. And regardless of the age, I am all for being discreet about it. That is just my opionion though. I fully support moms no matter their decisions!

agthorn

I personally don't care how long someone breastfeeds their kid, but that boy is going to need loads of therapy when he's in high school and the other kids paper his locker with that magazine cover. I mean seriously, did super-mom give even half a second of thought as to what junior will think of that photo in 10-15 years?