A dad took to the forum platform Reddit to share his frustration over his ex-wife, who “is still breastfeeding” his seven-year-old daughter.
He explained that his ex-wife is an “intelligent, reasonable person,” she is “very involved, caring, nurturing and a self-sacrificing mother”.
However, he claimed that she may have a “bizarre attachment problem” and despite bringing up the issue, the ex-wife won’t stop breastfeeding their daughter.
He explained: “She keeps saying that she’s working on it but that mostly she’ll stop when daughter ‘is ready’ to stop.”
The dad opined that breastfeeding at seven years old is “wrong on so many levels,” and “another issue” is that her daughter “won’t sleep over at my place because she is used to always sleeping with mommy who breastfeeds her”.
Follow Daily Express on Threads for all the latest news
Hundreds of forum users replied to his post with most people saying it is “bizarre” a seven-year-old still needs to be nursed before going to sleep.
One commented: “A seven-year-old does not need their mom to nurse them, they can eat regular food. This is an unhealthy attachment unless the father is absolutely sure it isn’t.”
However, the World Health Organization explained that breastfeeding can continue “up to two years of age or beyond”.
Dr Max Davie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, commented: “Breastfeeding is a very personal thing.
“It can enhance the mother/child bond and it certainly doesn’t do them any harm, so families should do what they feel works best for them.”
In fact, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states: “There is no evidence that extended breastfeeding is harmful to parent or child.”
On the parenting forum Mumsnet, women shared their own stories with one saying that she is still nursing her three-year-old son, and “I’ve been told that’s gross and wrong”.
Another one explained that she is still breastfeeding her four-year-old daughter who “comes for milk before bed”.
A mum-of-one said: “My son was two years and a half when we stopped. It was my decision as I was ready to stop even though he still loved it.”
For all the latest Lifestyle News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
