‘I still breastfeed my nine-year-old, I won’t stop until she says she’s ready’

“Imagine if her friends found out,” a shocked mother wrote. 

When it comes to breastfeeding, there are plenty of debates about the correct age to start weaning your child away from the nip.

While some love breastfeeding their children for a few years, other mums can’t wait longer than six months to begin introducing a bottle. 

Sometimes, health issues like mastitis can influence this decision, but at the end of the day, it’s a choice for the mother and child to make themselves. 

However, one woman’s breastfeeding choices have sparked a fiery debate after she confessed how long she had been nursing her daughter. 

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The mum confessed to breastfeeding her 9yo daughter. Picture: iStock

Mum admits she still nurses her nine-year-old

“I still allow my nine-year-old daughter to breastfeed from me,” she shared online. 

Not only does she allow her daughter to continue breastfeeding nearly into her double digits, but she also doesn’t plan to stop. 

“She won't stop until she wants to,” the mum said.

“Does anyone support me?”

Global exports, including the Australian Breastfeeding Association and the World Health Organisation, have agreed that babies should be exclusively breastfed for six months. 

While it depends on the person and child, they encourage weaning children aged between six and 24 months from breastfeeding. 

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However, they also indicated it was “biologically normal” for a child aged from two-and-a-half to seven years to stop entirely. 

“It is up to you and your baby to decide when the time is right,” experts at Better Health encourage. 

“Some parents and babies enjoy breastfeeding so much, they are in no hurry to stop. It is not unusual for children up to four years of age to continue to be breastfed.”

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Weaning can’t be done overnight; it can take months and, in some cases, years for babies and children to successfully move away from breastfeeding. 

For those who are trying to wan their toddler or child from breastfeeding and are facing difficulties, the Australian Breastfeeding Association recommends undertaking a new bedtime routine that “doesn’t involve feeding to sleep.”  

Instead, they suggest introducing an activity that encourages “love and comfort”, such as singing, rocking, or reading a story.  

“If your toddler wakes during the night and wants a feed to get back to sleep, see if your partner can settle them, perhaps with a cuddle and a drink of water,” it continued. 

“Sometimes toddlers will accept this, as your partner doesn't remind them of breastfeeds.”

They also recommend avoiding long feeds and wearing different clothes that make breastfeeding more difficult. 

For parents who fell “uncomfortable” refusing a feed for their toddler or child, they suggest implementing the “never offer, never refuse” approach. 

“If your child really seems to need to suck, weaning onto a bottle may be better than going straight to a cup,” they said. “Offer a short breastfeed, then the bottle. “

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“When teeth start to come in, it’s time to start the weaning process”

The mother was met with outrage from others on the forum, with some labelling her actions “problematic.”

“Please seek help,” someone advised. “This is not natural or healthy for your daughter. You really need to turn off the mummy [spigots] and let her grow up.”

“You have created some really big problems for your daughter down the line!” said another. 

“There's no earthly reason for a nine-year-old to still be fed like an infant,” said another. 

“Breastfeeding is wonderful. It gives babies better nutrition, is cost-effective, and can be done nearly anywhere,” a mother wrote. 

“However, when teeth start to come in, it’s time to start the weaning process.”

“Agreed,” said another. “Nine years old and nursing is weird. Please stop. Imagine if her friends found out.”

Originally published as ‘I still breastfeed my nine-year-old, I won’t stop until she says she’s ready’