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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truthman to MLor 2012/05/12 07:14:40

+2
you got that right

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Zombiec... to MLor 2012/05/12 21:31:28

The world is a cruel place. And kids these days just are too babied to be ready. I can't help but think that growing up on your Ma's tit would help. Oh how feminized they are making boys!

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SA to truthman 2012/05/11 15:00:07

+2
I agree. I couldn't breast feed my babies because I am on medication. That doesn't make me inferior. I had plenty of time spent with them, teaching and playing with them. They are now adults and doing fine.

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truthman to SA 2012/05/12 07:16:32

+2
These magazines will do anything to sell a copy. I dont believe half the crap they preach.

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paul 2012/05/11 07:31:02

Yes

+4
Looks like a boy pursuing a crush he has on his gym teacher.

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veteran to paul 2012/05/11 09:08:11

+2
Well...thanks a lot! Now I have to clean the snot off my screen. :-)

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westernslope~PWCM~JLA 2012/05/11 07:30:23

Yes

didn't realize that was still published

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Scott 2012/05/11 07:11:24

No

+1
The sad thing is the way so many people sexualize it. Historically and in many parts of the world even today it is perfectly normal for mothers to breastfeed for that length of time, but somehow many people in the modern world can't see it as anything but sexual and that's seems to be where all the objections come from.

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veteran to Scott 2012/05/11 09:13:14

+6
Not especially. And as far as "many parts of the world", it is more of an economic question and survival than a cultural practice. After a child has gained the antibodies from mother's milk, there's no reason at all to continue the practice after the first several months except to promote bonding. And by then, you should be bonding with a child by stimulating it's urge to learn, not suckle. Jeez...we'll have a nation with a generation of buck teeth. Orthodontists everywhere should be cheering. ;-)

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Scott to veteran 2012/05/11 09:49:40

+1
No ... there are few studies that go past two years of age but there are plenty that show that breastfeeding continues to have health benefits for the child at least that far, and in fact the nutritional content of breast milk of mothers who have breast fed for > 1 year has been shown to be higher in calories ... IOW the nutritional content of the milk changes naturally to meet the changing needs of the child as it grows.

The science just doesn't support your assertions. Pretty much every study shows that breastfeeding has enormous health benefits for both baby and mother and that those benefits are greatest among children breastfed the longest. Like I said, most of those studies don't go past age two, and there's obviously a cut off at some point, but all the evidence is the natural and optimum cut-off is far later than a mere few months and is at least a couple years.

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Zombiec... to veteran 2012/05/11 11:55:33

agreed. That makes sense.

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MLor to veteran 2012/05/11 13:35:17

Haaaaahaaahahaaaha!

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Ronzo to Scott 2012/05/11 09:17:50 (edited)

Yes your probably right, I read where mothers in third world counties breast feed to keep the kid alive and by doing so sacrifices the mother health. I would say 7 of 10 say it is going to far and that's what is wrong with our world today, 30% of the people are light between the ears. I have a step son and this sounds like his logic. Go Hawkeye

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Scott to Ronzo 2012/05/11 09:36:19

+1
Then you've been reading misinformation. Breastfeeding doesn't sacrifice the mothers health if the mother receives sufficient nutrition. And 8 out of ten people believe in one form of creationism or another. You are right about what is wrong with the world but you've got the numbers reversed. It's the 70% that are light between the ears, unfortunately.

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mrdog 2012/05/11 06:53:04

Yes

+1
But they made their point... I support breastfeeding...it is wonderful for both
child and mother... bark

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Vortex Lord 2012/05/11 06:37:14

Yes

+4
Okay that`s just plain creepy!

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Rachel 2012/05/11 06:23:52

Yes

+10
This image incited more controversy than opening discussions about the issue.

Are people talking about attachment parenting after seeing this?

I doubt it.

That kid's screwed for life.

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MLor to Rachel 2012/05/11 13:40:54

+2
........and our administration just gave the green light for gay marriage, hmmmmmmmmm, make ya wonder what it'll be like in another 5 to 10 years.

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CREW grand 2012/05/11 06:23:21

Yes

+5
If they're too old to breastfeed from the neighbor, too old to breastfeed from their mother.

Don

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Timetraveler 2012/05/11 06:21:19

No

I think its funny! look at the expression on the kids face. besides we guys never stop enjoying the nipple LOL

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Zombiec... to Timetra... 2012/05/11 11:57:19

Ur Ma's nipple?

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Timetra... to Zombiec... 2012/05/11 13:44:50

+1
Do you think the kid sees that as dirty or wrong? the only people who draw attention to it are people who believe their opinion is the only one. when a guy goes down on your nipple do you remind him that it is for your future child? LOL

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Zombiec... to Timetra... 2012/05/11 22:29:09

No.... but gross if you can remember the action as a grown up. And no I do not... but with these bangers I doubt it would stop him. o_O

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Timetra... to Zombiec... 2012/05/11 22:53:47

+1
see! guys are just dogs mostly...

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Zombiec... to Timetra... 2012/05/12 02:11:44

LOL.... It's alright.... most girl's don't mind it. :)

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MLor to Timetra... 2012/05/11 13:44:20 (edited)

+1
The mother has a gratifying look too. The child is the significant other it seems. This I believe is why marriages are breaking up. The mothers are falling in love with the child....the husband....he goes to his "stupid man cave".

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Mike 2012/05/11 06:14:26

Yes

+4
Bet ya, the pedifiles were in their glory.

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AmericanVirus 2012/05/11 06:10:45

No

+2
People who are sickened with that are the problem, you're the ones giving it a sexual nature (only logical reason you could be disgusted by it) which makes you the perverts. Stop making it taboo, and it will stop being a problem.

While I do firmly believe there is a time to stop breast feeding, I don't see anything wrong with it.

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Ronzo to America... 2012/05/11 09:07:37

I would say your the sick one, your name states that Mr. Miss, Mrs. Virus? Get real, 7 out of 10 say your wrong, deal with it.

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America... to Ronzo 2012/05/11 09:13:21

My name states that I'm sick?
My name was created out of necessity.
And to create my name, because I couldn't think of anything, I looked at my movie collection, and what did I see but American History X and the movie Virus, so came AmericanVirus.

You sir, are ignorant.

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MLor to America... 2012/05/11 13:48:58

LOOK AT THE PICTURE!

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America... to MLor 2012/05/11 23:25:42

I say again, I firmly believe there is a time to stop breast feeding.
While I do believe they passed it, it's not my place to say.

You're making it far worse than it is.

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TC 2012/05/11 06:07:56

Yes

+2

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Grandbrother 2012/05/11 06:00:36

No

+2
Too far for what? There's nothing perverse or raunchy about it, so what's the problem?

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volley15 2012/05/11 05:56:19

No

+3
There are some countries in the developing world where breast feeding till the child is five is perfectly normal. I don't see what the problem is. I don't know what this country's problem is with human anatomy or breast feeding in general but it needs to stop. Psychologically damaging? Really? I HIGHLY doubt it.

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Bali to volley15 2012/05/11 08:58:37

+7
that is because there is NO food to feed the child. so a four year old is at a birthday party and alll the other kids are eating cake, but not little johnny, his momma has to pull out her saggy bags and feed him....gimme a break.

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Zombiec... to Bali 2012/05/11 11:58:51

+2
rofl

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MLor to Bali 2012/05/11 13:50:06

+1
Right on!

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Bali to MLor 2012/05/11 13:53:11

+2
its borderline porno at that age, imagine it the sexes were reversed.

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volley15 to Bali 2012/05/11 16:32:34

You do realize that once a child is old enough to be able to eat solids that breast feeding, even up to ages like 4 and 5, is not done for EVERY meal, right? Even in developing countries. So you and everyone else are exaggerating to such extreme levels that it's not even funny.

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