Mum who breastfeeds almost four-year-old daughter cops backlash

A mum-of-three who shares photos of her breastfeeding her children has sparked outrage because one of them is nearly four years old.

A mother-of-three who breastfeeds her nearly four-year-old daughter said she “won’t stop until she chooses to stop”.

However, her parenting style has faced huge backlash with others claiming her daughter will become “emotionally messed up” because of it.

Autumn, 25, and her husband, Tyler, from the US, believe in extended breastfeeding and natural weaning, meaning they’re letting their three children – Nova, 3, Forest, 1, and newborn Ophelia – decide when they are ready to stop nursing.

In an episode of the Truly series My Extraordinary Family, Autumn opened up about the harsh criticism she and Tyler have faced online.

Autumn, 25, and her husband Tyler. Picture: YouTube

“People would say really horrible things (like) ‘While I totally love and agree with breastfeeding, this is just plain wrong, kid is going to be emotionally messed up’,” Autumn said.

Others had an issue with her sharing breastfeeding images online.

“What’s weird isn’t even the breastfeeding, it’s how many photos this lady has of it,” one person wrote.

“She’s putting her kids at risk by posting very personal, private photos of them unblurred/without consent. It’s not rocket science why this is incredibly weird behaviour.”

Autumn, who regularly shares breastfeeding photos to her Instagram, pointed out one particular image where she was nursing a young Nova, while pregnant with Forest.

She said one person commented that “she doesn’t need to be doing it anymore”, while another responded, “Man I don’t understand the stupidity with people is really mind-boggling.”

Autumn breastfeeding Nova, while pregnant with her second child Forest. She said the image sparked outrage, attracting hurtful comments. Picture: Instagram/bloomsinthefield

“In the beginning the comments were a lot harder. I had never heard anything that direct and that hateful,” Autumn said.

“When some people would say really horrible things I would always have to bring it to Tyler and cry about it. Now they don’t hurt anymore.”

The trailer for the show on YouTube also attracted discussion, with one person commenting: “I’d be horrified if my mum had one photo of me being breastfed. But to have hundreds of them, and then videos for all to see. Lets ask her kids when they are teenagers how they feel about this video.”

Autumn breastfeeds all three of her children. Picture: Instagram/bloomsinthefield

The mum has opened up about the harsh criticism she has faced. Picture: YouTube

Another wrote: “The photos are ridiculous. Breastfeeding is a shared relationship/connection between mother and child. Putting these types of photos on social media are just to get some type of attention she is clearly lacking. A photo of your toddler/four-year-old breastfeeding is an invasion of their privacy.”

However, many came to the defence of the young mum and her breastfeeding choices.

“I would NEVER do this, personally … but who the hell am I to judge someone else on the way they want to raise their children?” one woman wrote.

“She’s the mum and it’s her choice. As long as it’s not harmful to the child then it’s no one else’s business,” said another.

Autumn said she will continue breastfeeding until her children are ready to stop. Picture: Instagram/bloomsinthefield

Autumn explained she never chose to still nurse her oldest daughter, but had “read about the benefits to let her wean and make the choice to stop herself”.

“Sometimes weaning them cold turkey can be upsetting for them to suddenly lose that connection with their parents – they’ve even done studies to show (breastfeeding) has helped their social and mental development.”

There are well-documented benefits to breastfeeding toddlers and young children. Picture: Instagram/bloomsinthefield

The National Centre of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that natural weaning “usually takes place between two and four years of age”.

“In Western cultures, there remains a relative intolerance to this type of weaning and many mothers who breastfeed older infants and children become ‘closet nursers’,” NCBI states on its website.

“Closet nursing is nursing privately at home in secret and propagates ignorance about breastfeeding duration.”

The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding children at least until they are two years old.

Autumn and Tyler both admitted that they thought extended breastfeeding was “odd” and “so weird” before they had children, but since becoming parents their perspective has changed.

“Before you even have kids, (if) someone tells you about nursing until they’re like four or five, you’re like, ‘That’s crazy. They’re so old.’ Now, when it’s your kid, you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, that makes complete sense now. I totally get it,’” Tyler said.

When asked if they believed in extended breastfeeding, the dad laughed.

“I hope so. We’re four years into it.”

Autumn added she doesn’t even remember what it’s like to not be breastfeeding at this point, saying: “If the youngest nurses as long as Nova, I have another four years.”