Time Magazine Cover Shows Mom Breastfeeding 4-Year-Old Son: Did They Go Too Far?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/05/10 22:00:00

Related Topics: Time Magazine Cover, Time, Breast-feeding, Breastfeeding, Mom, Mother, 4-year-old, Son, Attachment Parenting, 21, Philosophy, 2012, Motherhood, Kids, Blonde

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	Yes	462 votes	71%
	No	185 votes	29%

If you're interested in these sorts of things, you've probably heard of "attachment parenting," in which mothers breastfeed for longer than the recommended six months to one year, partake in "co-sleeping" with their children and wear the kids in BabyBjorns. Well, Time magazine chose to take a look at the philosophy for their May 21 cover story, which they illustrate by featuring a mother breastfeeding her nearly 4-year-old son on the cover.

While some are calling the image overly sensational, it does illustrate the parenting method espoused by Dr. Bill Sears. Time takes a look at how Sears came to his philosophy, and interviews moms who believe in his theories, like "cover mom" Jamie Lynne Grumet. Of course, the mom they chose for the cover is 26, blonde, slim and attractive (we're just sayin'...). Do you think the cover goes too far?

+33

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Beat Magnum True Hero 2012/05/10 22:07:26 (edited)

Yes

+23
Breast feeding a 4 year old? If your kid is big enough to stand and ask you for food, he's big enough to use a fork.

Also, where are the fathers in all of this? I can't imagine there are very many men on board with this, and if they are, they're lying.
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john n to GLaDOS 2012/05/12 13:35:38

I can agree with six months or even a year, but 4 years is way over the top...

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GLaDOS to john n 2012/05/12 14:54:17 (edited)

+1
Well, six months is for exclusive feeding. After that, one can, though they need not necessarily, introduce solid foods. It doesn't mean that they should stop breastfeeding, just that they accustom the child to something else.

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Heather to Fenabarb 2012/05/11 14:07:08

+4
I breast fed my second son until he was almost 3 but the way Time portrayed it makes it look very inapropriate and sexualized.....they did quite a disservice to moms. This picture is NOT how you would breast feed a three year old.

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Fenabarb to Heather 2012/05/11 14:27:14

+4
So right, moms need all the support they can to breastfeed “the right support and the right information."
So in this case - Time rag did go to far

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Lanikai to Fenabarb 2012/05/11 15:03:05

+9
I can agree with that, I had a patron at a Red Lobster star me down when I was nursing my then 6 month old daughter UNDER a nursing tent. He almost had a stroke and sent a manager over to ask me to stop.

I told him across the 4 tables that as SOON as he was willing to eat a meal in a bathroom, I would expect my child to do the same. I got applause.

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GLaDOS to Lanikai 2012/05/11 15:18:14

+2
I certainly would've applauded you!

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Lanikai to GLaDOS 2012/05/11 15:30:25

+1
Thanks.

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imsmarter to Lanikai 2012/05/11 21:49:01

I would have applauded you.

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Smokey 2012/05/11 13:26:54

No

It's marketing! They got our attention! :) Got mine! But, in my opinion, they shouldn't have that picture on the front cover.

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Ronzo to Smokey 2012/05/11 13:53:23

+1
Then your answer is actually yes

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Smokey to Ronzo 2012/05/11 15:14:29

Ooops! I have fat fingers and I made a mistake! You're correct, it should have been "Yes." :)

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HiddenDVS1027 2012/05/11 13:26:08

Yes

+7
Heck yes! The kid is 4. He can get his own milk out of the fridge already. Breast feeding is not bad. But that is pushing it to far. And if some women want to breast feed a kid for a long period. . . You could put your breast milk in a sippy cup.

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LMaree to HiddenD... 2012/05/11 13:38:10

+1
You've never actually tried to express breast milk into a sippy cup have you?

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Angie ♥... to LMaree 2012/05/11 13:56:35

+1
the word is expell and that's what breast pumps are for.

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Lanikai to Angie ♥... 2012/05/11 15:07:02

+2

Does THIS look like it would be more comfortable than latching a kid straight on?????? Those things HURT. Latching the kid on is not painful after the first week.

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Angie ♥... to Lanikai 2012/05/11 17:41:04

Oh how you assume, I pumped for my son, it didn't hurt a bit.

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imsmarter to Angie ♥... 2012/05/11 21:51:06

Great for you, everyone is different. I pumped for about 6 weeks and it was godawful. Nursing is much easier.

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imsmarter to Angie ♥... 2012/05/11 21:50:14

Actually the word is EXPRESS.

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LMaree to Angie ♥... 2012/05/14 02:06:08

The term used is expressed. But I'm sure expel is used too. Not everyone is able to pump. I have a good supply while breastfeeding but to express using pump, I only get a tiny amount and sometimes it really is uncomfortable. I know what your saying. Most toddlers (1-4y.o.) only have one or two breastfeeds a day. What works for some doesn't always work for others.

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HiddenD... to LMaree 2012/05/13 02:40:08

Seen my cousins pump it and put in one. Not that difficult to do or imagine. Smart ass!

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Lanikai to HiddenD... 2012/05/11 15:04:02 (edited)

+1
Okay, when you have been hooked up to a nursing machine-talk to us about it.

my breast pump was a good one, and it still hurt FAR too much.

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Angie ♥... to Lanikai 2012/05/11 17:42:05

then u did it wrong, my pump didn't hurt a bit.

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imsmarter to Lanikai 2012/05/11 21:51:40

Mine too. I had a Medela PISA and it hurt like a bitch.

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HiddenD... to Lanikai 2012/05/13 02:43:32

Cry me a fn river chick. Not all women experience the same. And if it hurt so much, maybe you should have found another way to give your kid milk, and not b!$&@ about it on here. That is part of motherhood, so when you stop with your wahhhh stories and get a brain then maybe you could talk to us about it.

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imsmarter to HiddenD... 2012/05/14 17:08:21

Wow you speak like a child. She DID find another way breastfeeding. She explained that, but you obviously cannot read. She was explaining that to someone else who suggested she pump instead of nurse. Pumping does not work for everyone. There is no reason to be so rude.

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Booッ 2012/05/11 13:24:35

Yes

+5
That is ridiculous!

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lm1b2 2012/05/11 13:17:10

Yes

+7
This borders on the obscene,Time evidently will do anything to sell magazines.

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Menjay 2012/05/11 13:15:05

Yes

+7
Enough is enough - there should be limits to how far we go

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MLor 2012/05/11 13:10:23

Yes

+6
Seems like once they get on the tit they never get off if it; this is now acceptable behavior, therefore the "give me" crowd. Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! I want, I want, I want! Then when I don't get...well....throw a tantrum & riot. Way to go Time, you're contributing to the problem!

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metasebia 2012/05/11 13:04:40

Yes

+2
Wow, but my sister son breastfeeding 2 years & 8 months after that he stop.

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MJ 2012/05/11 12:58:21

Yes

+2
yes too far

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ordman 2012/05/11 12:58:11 (edited)

Yes

+3
How can anyone look at this picture and not see the mind set that is the "Progressive Ideal of America".

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GLaDOS to ordman 2012/05/11 13:08:21

You mean the understanding that breastfeeding to this degree continues to provide health benefits to the child and mother?

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MLor to ordman 2012/05/11 13:11:40

+1
You'd have to be blind or stupid to not see it!

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betsy 2012/05/11 12:57:02

Yes

+9
I do not want my children to see this! I know my four year old daughter would look at it and say eeew. If a child can see it then why can't these mothers? As for this being a wonderful way to bond with your child…huh? Isn't your child going to live with you for atleast 18 years? Is this not enough time to fully bond with your child? I was never breastfed and I have a wonderful relationship with my mother, we talk almost daily, I visit her every weekend, and can tell her anything. The mothers are doing this for themselves, they're afraid of the kids becoming detached.

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David 2012/05/11 12:54:01

No

+2
Breast feeding photos don't bother me, BUT a four year old is far too old not to be weaned!

This merely exhibtionism!

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GLaDOS to David 2012/05/11 13:15:36

+1
Some mothers don't even last the pure six months that they should be breastfeeding exclusively.

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Ronzo to David 2012/05/11 13:55:19

+1
Then your answer is actually YES!

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David to Ronzo 2012/05/11 14:02:04

Very perceptive!

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Artist 2012/05/11 12:51:17

Yes

+6
But hey, it's Time magazine...what more would you expect?
Kinda gross if you ask me, almost like porn. Very twisted...

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