”Women should breastfeed children until they’re 8.” Mum Says To Promote Breastfeeding Older Children

Sophie Emma Rose, 40, who shares videos of herself breastfeeding her 4-year-old son, Shaye online says women should breastfeed their children until they’re at least eight.

The British mum, who feeds Shaye on demand and also shares a bed with the youngster, started posting videos of herself breastfeeding six months ago and has received more than 8 million views on her YouTube channel, Mirror reports.

Sophie, who lives in Thailand with partner Danny, said:

“Breastfeeding older children is so important.

As well as the nutritional value of breast milk, you also let your child know in a very physical way that you are there for them. It’s about the comfort and emotional connection.

When I look at some of the negative comments on my channel, I’m amazed that some people still feel strongly about how wrong it is to breastfeed a child and share that over YouTube. But I’m going to continue uploading videos.

I think the work I’m doing affirms other mums who want to breastfeed older kids or babies. I feel the act of me breastfeeding without shame on YouTube sends the message out that it is ok.

Breasts are not just sexual objects, this is what they’re made for.”

Sophie added that she was always drawn to attachment parenting values.

“As a child, I wasn’t breastfed and was given my own room fairly early on. My parents did their best but they weren’t aware of the things we’re aware of now in psychology.

Attachment parenting is about treating a child with dignity and respect and meeting their emotional needs fully. Practices like co-sleeping and breastfeeding make a child feel close and reassured.

I’ll breastfeed Shaye for as long as he wants it – that is the goal. I know that breastfeeding does end – children eventually lose the latch and are not physically able to breastfeed past the age of about 7 or 8 years old.

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I have no fears that I’m going to be feeding Shaye at eighteen years old when he’s at university.”

She explains further:

“When Shaye cries, I’m almost it’s 99% sure that he is going to want breast milk. And when I do breastfeed him, I am 99% sure he is going to stop crying in minutes. I don’t know how parents parent without breastfeeding.

Shaye’s diet is very healthy and we follow a high-raw vegan diet. For breakfast and lunch, he’ll have fruit something like a watermelon followed by a mango and banana smoothie. And he can have as many fruits as he wants all through the day.

Whilst for dinner, he might have something cooked for example, a curry with rice or potatoes with corn and beans. Or he might have a salad.”

But Sophie is most passionate about raising awareness on breastfeeding older children through her videos as it it’s still a subject which attracts a lot of criticism and gets less exposure.

Photo credit: News Dog Media