Just a few days before Mother's Day, Time magazine featured a woman breast-feeding her 3 (nearly 4)-year-old son on its cover. The photo was quite controversial. The actual article, however, was on attachment parenting, which, according to an article on NJ.com, includes techniques such as extended nursing, using cloth diapers and co-sleeping. Some believe attachment parenting helps create a close and positive bond between mother and child.
But my question is not about attachment parenting. I want to know how you feel about the cover. Also, what is your opinion of extended nursing?
A Washington Post story noted that about 44 percent of mothers breast-feed for about six months and only about 15 percent follow the advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics which recommends breast-feeding for a year. The group touted the benefits of breast-feeding for babies. Breast-fed babies, it pointed out, have a stronger immune system, are less likely to develop asthma or become overweight later in childhood.
What are your thoughts on breast-feeding a child over the age of 1? According to a piece on NY DailyNews.com, the mother on Time's cover said she was breast-fed until she was 6-years-old and said it's the reason she has such a close bond with her mother.
So, what are your thoughts on the cover? Do you think it received such a strong reaction because the child was a young boy — as opposed to a young girl?
How do you feel about extended nursing?
Let me know your thoughts.
2 comments:
I honestly don't care how people parent their children as long as what they are doing isn't abusive. It's not my business.
Also, I think the cover received so much attention because we have sexualized the breast. It has a function, that's what she is using it for, that's her child and everybody else can really just stuff it.
Post a Comment