Source: Getty
How long should children be breastfed?
It’s a sensitive question that often starts heated debates.
Today, Sarah Murnane, founder of the Australian Breastfeeding Project, told the Sunshine Coast Daily that women should be encouraged to breastfeed their children for as long as they choose.
“I don’t believe there should be an age limit on breastfeeding,” she said.
“Society puts one on it. The World Health Organisation said children should be breastfed until they are at least two years old.
“You tell people that and someone sees a mum feeding a two-year-old and they freak out.”
Ms Murnane also said that the natural weaning age was around four-and-a-half years old.
Earlier this week British mother Adele Allen caused a stir when she told Metro about her ‘all natural’ parenting style which included having a lotus birth (not removing the placenta after birth until it falls off naturally) as well as breastfeeding her five year old.
Post continues after video.
Here in Australia, extended breastfeeding advocate Maha Al Musa made headlines last year when she declared that she would continue breastfeeding her six-year-old daughter for as long as her daughter wanted, even if she wanted to continue for years.
While many see extended breastfeeding as a healthy way to bond with your child whilst nourishing them, critics have called the practise ‘creepy’ and ‘unnecessary’ as the children are receiving most of their nutrients through solid food.
What do you think?
Should the parent or the child be the one to make the decision to wean?
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
