Channel Button

There are 10 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #5 by Helium's members.

Parenting & Pregnancy   >

Feeding & Breastfeeding

Get a Widget for this title

Is 4 too old to be breastfed?

YES YES YES, The answer is yes. That child is now able to feed him or herself and even a doctor will tell you they need to drink from a cup no if's and's or but's about it. This child is old enough to start pre school or maybe even kindergarten and should not be feeding directly from the breast at all by this age. There is no need when food and water are readily available.


Do not get me wrong I am all for breast feeding as I have 4 kids one is 9 months old and I am breastfeeding, the difference is this child is now old enough to know the differences between boys and girls and should not have the memory or breastfeeding when they get older and kids remember at 4 yeas old. There are many reasons why this should have stopped by at least 2 the teeth and bottle rot are number 1 and yes they do get bottle rot from breastfeeding.
There is also the fact that the simple act of what you may think is harmless breastfeeding can be keeping your child back socially and mentally. In other words this child is not a baby and should not be treated or be able to act as one. This is the time when your child should be coming into their person not looking around for mommy's breast.
If you do this in public you will be subjecting your child to ridicule and to be made fun of by any child who See's this-kids speak their minds and are cruel. Do you think other children's parents will look at this act with a 4 year old who can talk and walk and should be acting like a normal 4 year old as good practice? No they wont and this could cost your child friends at school or other places this child will be the strange kid. I hate to be the mean one but you need to see things the way they are not the way you want to.
Your child is a child not a baby not a toddler. Besides Breast milk is made for infants not 4 year old children who should be getting regular milk. I do not think you have thought about what your child's mental situation will be like if you do this at 4 or 5 or even older. You are not creating a bond at this age you are creating a disorder.. social and otherwise. Look if your mom breastfed you and you know it great but do you want to remember that with great detail? This child will not want that either. You need to speak to your doctor for both your child and you as it seems to me you may have some issues with needing to feel needed as he or she is getting bigger and more self reliant. You may have some letting go problems and may need to into other ways of coping with the fact that your baby is not a baby and kids grow. Thats what they do.
The simple fact is you need to stop breastfeeding when your child can rationalize, speak to other kids attend preschool etc.. There are social reasons for this but also the health reasons mentally and other wise you will create if you haven't already the abundant. Just because you see and here a perfect child as all parents do does not mean there are not issues you can not see yet. Talk to a professional but in the mean time if you are still breastfeeding this child STOP NOW and let them be a 4 year old child.

Learn more about this author, Christina Johnson.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Is 4 too old to be breastfed?

  • 1 of 10

    by Alexis Tembra Neal

    Deciding what age to ween your child is a very emotional decision for both you and your child. This decision has many factors

    read more

  • 2 of 10

    by Linda L Kinyon

    Breastfeeding an infant is one thing, but a toddler is quite another. Having been on both sides of this issue I can safely

    read more

  • 3 of 10

    by Lacey Kirsch

    World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends nursing until AT LEAST two years. In a society where one year seems to be

    read more

  • 4 of 10

    by Summer Minor

    Is 4 too old to be breastfed? That depends on the child. The World Health Organization states that children should be breastfed

    read more

  • 5 of 10

    by Christina Johnson

    YES YES YES, The answer is yes. That child is now able to feed him or herself and even a doctor will tell you they need to

    read more

View All Articles on:
Is 4 too old to be breastfed?

Add your voice

Know something about Is 4 too old to be breastfed??
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Toddler leashes: Good or bad idea?

Click for your side.

91517

Featured Partner

Chesapeake Service Systems

Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS) has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse C...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA