Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
View Poll Results: What Is Your Opinion On TIME's Cover On Breastfeeding?
Appropriate 4 10.26%
Inappropriate 29 74.36%
Other.....please explain 6 15.38%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>TIME's Cover on Breastfeeding...Opinion?
Former Teacher 03:09 PM 05-14-2012
Another one of my polls

If you wish to give more of your opinion, please do!
Reply
MyAngels 03:12 PM 05-14-2012
IMPO it's a shameless bid for attention and the kid is going to need psychotherapy. I'll qualify that by saying I saw the cover and listened to about 1/2 of a snippet on the news about it - so perhaps it's not the most well-informed opinion .
Reply
Crystal 03:37 PM 05-14-2012
I read the article, and while I can definitley say I do not care either way about wether or not a family practices attachment parenting, or breastfeeds until their kid leaves for college, but, I must say that the cover was presented as it was for the shock value of it. I think that there are much more appropriate ways to draw the attention (and support-which I dare to say WON'T happen when it is presented this way) to the culture of attachment parenting.

I will say, this was a very timely article for me, as I am currently studying working with families in a diverse world for my MA and we are focusing on families with young children and how to support development of children's self-identity in child care programs.....I am using this article for one of my projects.
Reply
Crystal 03:38 PM 05-14-2012
And, BTW, I feel REALLY sorry for that kid when he starts junior high
Reply
safechner 03:59 PM 05-14-2012
To be honest, it is so sick to me! She mentioned she thinks it is the best for her child, that is not true! She is doing best for herself, not this child. She also bf her adopted 5 years old son.

Truth is, I feel so sorry for this child because his mommy will ruin his life when he gets older. I also noticed her child is being brat in interview with her mom.


I nursed my daughters but I weaned them when they were 14 months old and 20 months old. I weaned my last daughter when she was 20 months old because she is old enough that she doesn't need my breast milk. After that, she never complained it.
Reply
Crystal 04:20 PM 05-14-2012
Originally Posted by safechner:
To be honest, it is so sick to me! She mentioned she thinks it is the best for her child, that is not true! She is doing best for herself, not this child. She also bf her adopted 5 years old son.

Truth is, I feel so sorry for this child because her mommy will ruin his life when he gets older. I also noticed her child is being brat in interview with her mom.


I nursed my daughters but I weaned them when they were 14 months old and 20 months old. I weaned my last daughter when she was 20 months old because she is old enough that she doesn't need my breast milk. After that, she never complained it.
While I understand your feelings about the topic, I honestly do not feel it is fair to say that she is not doing what she feels is best for her child, but rather for herself. And, while I disagree with it being plastered in such a discraceful way on the cover of Time magazine, I feel it is the parents perogative to raise her child as she sees fit, so long as there is no abuse occurring. Attachment parenting is it's own culture, and just as we expect others to respect our culture and values (not agree, but be respectful of them) I beleive that the same is owed to these families.

Honestly, at one time I thought breastfeeding past the age of one was repulsive. And, while I would still choose not to BF my own children beyond the age of one, I would not condemn others for doing so....including you BF at 20 months.
Reply
sharlan 04:42 PM 05-14-2012
I've not seen any of the interviews nor read any articles pertaining to this issue.

What I find disgusting is the child standing on a chair with a boob in his mouth plastered on the front of a magazine. Had they shown the mom cuddling the child in a more normal pose, I doubt it would have gotten much attention. But then, they were after the shock appeal.

I'm not into parental/child attachment parenting. That's me. If you are, that's your perogative, your right. I'm also not into organic, no red food dyes, etc, but again, that's me. You do what is right for YOUR family.

I had a mother that was still nursing her 2 1/2 yo twice a day. He would be about 25 or so now and I really doubt he still is. I didn't find it offensive as it was done in the privacy of their own home. Her dh didn't have an issue with it so why should I?
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 04:48 PM 05-14-2012
I've heard the article is awful, from my AP friends.

The actual Mom herself is a wonderful lady. http://iamnotthebabysitter.com is her blog.

Extended breastfeeding is wonderful and should be normalized, but the way Time went about it is just adding fuel to the Mommy Wars fire. Unfortunate.
Breastfeeding until the age of TWO is actually recommended by the World Health Organization, and there are still health benefits for both mother and child after the age of 2.
Reply
Kaddidle Care 04:55 PM 05-14-2012
Originally Posted by Crystal:
I read the article, and while I can definitley say I do not care either way about wether or not a family practices attachment parenting, or breastfeeds until their kid leaves for college, but, I must say that the cover was presented as it was for the shock value of it. I think that there are much more appropriate ways to draw the attention (and support-which I dare to say WON'T happen when it is presented this way) to the culture of attachment parenting.
While I don't always agree with Crystal, in this case I agree. That picture is there for shock value only. Besides, do you know anyone that nurses their child like that?

The latest I nursed my youngest was 18 months and my neighbor last I know nursed her last one sometime past 2. She sure didn't nurse her child like that and nor did I.

They got the world's attention so they won. Whatever. Nothing surprises me these days.
Reply
AmyLeigh 05:15 PM 05-14-2012
As an extended nursing, AP-lite mommy....

I hate the picture. It's just the media's way of taking something natural and nurturing and making it sensational. I mean, really, if she was holding him in the way she most likely nurses him, we wouldn't even be talking about the cover, would we? Maybe if the journalists have more confidence in the current day relativity of their articles, they wouldn't need to resort to sensationalism to get people to read their magazine. I understand that they are trying to get people to learn about the benefits of extended nursing, but this is not a true representation of nursing. A true representation would be of mom cuddling him, looking at him in the eyes, talking to him while he is kicking his feet in the air. Now, wouldn't that be more inviting than him standing on a stool so that he can reach her breast?

(off soapbox now )
Reply
AnneCordelia 05:36 PM 05-14-2012
As someone who nursed all four kids including nursing past the age of three, tandem nursing and donating 5000+ oz of milk to preemies I think this pic does me a huge disservice. It fuels those against nursing and it is insulting to those of us who choose to do this.

BTW, anthropologically speaking it is the biological norm for our species to wean between 3-7 years of age based upon our teeth, our brain development, immune function, etc. The average age of weaning worldwide is 4 years old.

The US has an unnaturally conservative attitude about breastfeeding when it places the one year limit on the nursing relationship.

Also I don't need to nurse my preschooler to prove I am supermom.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 05:43 PM 05-14-2012
Originally Posted by AnneCordelia:
As someone who nursed all four kids including nursing past the age of three, tandem nursing and donating 5000+ oz of milk to preemies I think this pic does me a huge disservice. It fuels those against nursing and it is insulting to those of us who choose to do this.

BTW, anthropologically speaking it is the biological norm for our species to wean between 3-7 years of age based upon our teeth, our brain development, immune function, etc. The average age of weaning worldwide is 4 years old.

The US has an unnaturally conservative attitude about breastfeeding when it places the one year limit on the nursing relationship.

Also I don't need to nurse my preschooler to prove I am supermom.
Well said.
Reply
godiva83 08:45 PM 05-14-2012
What got me most about this TIME article and cover,was the phrase, " are you MuM
enough."
I really really struggled with breast feeding my son, he was very sick and my milk just never came in! I tried EVERYTHING from herbs to prescription medications. I was made to feel like a complete failure and less of a woman/ mum because of something out of my control.

Once, I got past it I really made sure to act as a support to new Mum's in whatever approach they decided upon - I love that in our society there are so many diverse roles BUT hate that the media feels it is nessecary to push it down others throats in a 'shock and awe' kind of way.

I mean, sure let's hear the facts aboEut the benefits of attachment parenting and breast feeding, but let's let the readers make an educated informed decision about it with out all the hoopla.
Reply
DBug 04:59 AM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by Kaddidle Care:
That picture is there for shock value only. Besides, do you know anyone that nurses their child like that?
I actually do. When I was a teenager, my family was visiting another family for dinner. The mom brought out the apple pie for dessert, sat down, and then her second youngest walked up to her (probably about 4 at the time), lifted her shirt, and stood there nursing. I had a hard time finishing my pie .

I haven't read the article, but I do know that my boys, once they hit 4 or 5, started to notice the female anatomy in a sexualized way. Again, I haven't read the article, but my concern would be that the son may start to confuse the feelings of closeness with his mother with any feelings of arousal that might pop up. In our culture, EVERYTHING is over-sexualized (whereas in many other cultures it is not), and I would think it may cause some feelings of confusion or even some sort of shame for the child. I would hate for something like that to affect his future romantic relationships.

I also know that while men in general tend to be very understanding of the mother/child relationship, MOST of them want their wives/SO's back eventually and resentment can happen when they feel they're sharing for too long.

That all said, I think the cover was created PURELY for the shock value. I mean, look at how much it's been plastered all over the media, Facebook, etc. When you look at it that way, the cover accomplished exactly what it was designed to do: create controversy.
Reply
SunshineMama 05:06 AM 05-15-2012
As a quasi-attachment parent, I found the article a bit extreme. In my opinion, it painted attachment parenting as an all or nothing, extreme deal. I breastfed until my children were 18 months old and I co-slept. I allow my children now to cuddle in the mornings with us, and I don't believe in CIO for my own children. That being said, no, I am not "mom enough" to breastfeed a 4 year old. I would not judge a woman for making the choice to breast feed her 4 year old if that is what her family decided is right for them, however I am not sure that is something that I would want to see publicly. Sure, breastfeed your 2 year old in public, but after that, in my opinion, children older than that should be breast-fed at home.

I do not think it is abuse or sexual in any manner to breastfeed older children, but it just is not socially acceptable in our society currently.
Reply
AnythingsPossible 05:49 AM 05-15-2012
I feel it is each families choice on how they wish to raise their child. If a mother wants to breast feed her child for an extended time, that is her choice, not the one I would make.

As for the cover, I felt the picture was totally inappropriate. To have the son standing on a chair, mom standing there in a slightly sexy stance, him standing there looking at the camera I felt was completly wrong. The pose does nothing for the concept of attachment parenting. If they would have posed the picture differently, I would have different feelings on it, but as the mom in the picture stated in an interview, Time accomplished their goal of getting people talking. I must say I have been dreading getting my copy in the mail. My 15 year old checked the mail yesterday and when he brought the mail in, he strategically placed the bills to cover the picture.
Reply
renodeb 11:06 AM 05-15-2012
Can you imagine that child seeing that pic when he is grown? Can you say "therapy for the rest of his life. I think breast feeding is great but there are boundaries. No child of mine is going to stand up on a stool and suck on my boob. Totally inappropiate IMO! As for the co-sleeping, thats a whole other can of worms!
Debbie
Reply
KEG123 11:21 AM 05-15-2012
I personally have no problem with extended breastfeeding. My son nursed until he was 2. However, the detached/defiant pose, not to mention the title of the article, rubs me the wrong way.
Reply
3myjob 11:25 AM 05-15-2012
I have no problem with mothers who nurse their children into toddler hood. There was a debate i came across on facebook. One person said "how long are mothers going to get away with this before they get into trouble"

That infuriated me...I nursed my children until they were 1. no futher...I found no need for it for my family. That being said mothers who do do extended breast feeding I feel shouldn't be punished either.

http://www.boston.com/community/moms...gh-advice.html

This is a link that sums up my feelings on the matter. Its a very good read.
Reply
Sugar Magnolia 11:45 AM 05-15-2012
I guess I just don't get the attached parenting thing. Uhm, aren't we all "attached" to our own kids? Aren't our kids attached to us? Why so much controversy? Besides breast feeding and co-sleeping, is there something I am missing? Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing. The picture is creepy, but otherwise, honestly, the whole thing is overblown. I didn't breast feed or co-sleep, does that mean I am somehow "unattached" to my kids? Phooey. Loving, caring , attentive parents is not a "news flash" imo.
Reply
sharlan 12:40 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by godiva83:
What got me most about this TIME article and cover,was the phrase, " are you MuM
enough."
I really really struggled with breast feeding my son, he was very sick and my milk just never came in! I tried EVERYTHING from herbs to prescription medications. I was made to feel like a complete failure and less of a woman/ mum because of something out of my control.
Once, I got past it I really made sure to act as a support to new Mum's in whatever approach they decided upon - I love that in our society there are so many diverse roles BUT hate that the media feels it is nessecary to push it down others throats in a 'shock and awe' kind of way.

I mean, sure let's hear the facts aboEut the benefits of attachment parenting and breast feeding, but let's let the readers make an educated informed decision about it with out all the hoopla.
Same with my daughter. My grandson projectile vomited most of every feeding for his first 2 weeks. I took my dd to the laction specialist every other day for 10 days because she "was doing something wrong and your baby needs this nutrition." He was losing weight and didn't have much to lose. My dd did some research, decided that he was having issues with her milk and put him on a specialized formula - no more vomiting from the first bottle. The lactation specialist called several times and yelled at her for "not trying hard enough". The nurse said that the breast milk that he vomited 10x a day was more better for him than the specialized formula. Something he vomited was better than formula? Ok, whatever.

The bottom line is you do what is the best thing for you and your family.
Reply
Heidi 01:14 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by DBug:
I actually do. When I was a teenager, my family was visiting another family for dinner. The mom brought out the apple pie for dessert, sat down, and then her second youngest walked up to her (probably about 4 at the time), lifted her shirt, and stood there nursing. I had a hard time finishing my pie .

I haven't read the article, but I do know that my boys, once they hit 4 or 5, started to notice the female anatomy in a sexualized way. Again, I haven't read the article, but my concern would be that the son may start to confuse the feelings of closeness with his mother with any feelings of arousal that might pop up. In our culture, EVERYTHING is over-sexualized (whereas in many other cultures it is not), and I would think it may cause some feelings of confusion or even some sort of shame for the child. I would hate for something like that to affect his future romantic relationships.

I also know that while men in general tend to be very understanding of the mother/child relationship, MOST of them want their wives/SO's back eventually and resentment can happen when they feel they're sharing for too long.

That all said, I think the cover was created PURELY for the shock value. I mean, look at how much it's been plastered all over the media, Facebook, etc. When you look at it that way, the cover accomplished exactly what it was designed to do: create controversy.
lol....pun intended???????
Reply
Heidi 01:18 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by KEG123:
I personally have no problem with extended breastfeeding. My son nursed until he was 2. However, the detached/defiant pose, not to mention the title of the article, rubs me the wrong way.


My former BIL once asked a lady who was nursing in the restaurant to go elsewhere because "this is a FAMILY restaurant". Uhhh.....

Personally I think it's kind to cover breasts with a blanket when nursing in public, if only for the sake of other's comfort. But, he was basically telling the woman to take her child in the bathroom to nurse. I asked him how often he enjoyed eating in the bathroom....
Reply
Ariana 01:32 PM 05-15-2012
It's odd how we go ape **** over a picture like this but if she was scantily clad with her boob hanging out in a sexual way it would be completely acceptable. I hate how my body has been sexualized in this way. Breasts are MADE FOR FEEDING babies and children. I personally chose not to BF until 4-5 but I definately do not judge those who do.

Mothers milk from the breast is sooooo horrible but we willingly wean our children to the milk of a foreign animal...a cow?? makes no sense whatsoever!!
Reply
safechner 02:53 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by Heidi:


My former BIL once asked a lady who was nursing in the restaurant to go elsewhere because "this is a FAMILY restaurant". Uhhh.....

Personally I think it's kind to cover breasts with a blanket when nursing in public, if only for the sake of other's comfort. But, he was basically telling the woman to take her child in the bathroom to nurse. I asked him how often he enjoyed eating in the bathroom....
I must admitted I do not nurse my babies in public at all. I do think it is very disturbing but it is my opinion. I do nursed my babies in the restrooms or nurse room that the mall have it or at home or in the car. I feel it is my private body that I do not need to show in public.
Reply
AmyLeigh 02:59 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by Ariana:
It's odd how we go ape **** over a picture like this but if she was scantily clad with her boob hanging out in a sexual way it would be completely acceptable.
Come on Ariana, it's okay if it's advertising something relevant...like a car, or perfume.
I used to say that I showed much, much less skin BFing in public than most of the women that were giving me dirty looks.
Reply
canadian_daycare 03:21 PM 05-15-2012
I find this picture more offensive.
Attached: obama.jpg (49.2 KB) 
Reply
Former Teacher 03:28 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by canadian_daycare:
I find this picture more offensive.

Reply
DBug 04:30 PM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by Heidi:
lol....pun intended???????
Whoops, no! Not an intentional pun! But a really funny one, nonetheless!
Reply
Tags:article, breastfeeding, poll
Reply Up