Katherine Clarke, an Australian mother, has come under fire for sharing photos where she breastfeeds her 4-year-old son. The mother shared the images on her company's, Our Eco Babies, social media accounts.
Clarke decided to leave it up to her son, Ryder, to decide when the breastfeeding would end. While many have called the mother sick and perverted, others, including some experts, say breastfeeding beyond infancy is OK.
According to Dr. William Sears of Parenting.com, "The World Health Organization (WHO) officially recommends mothers breastfeed until three years of age. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers should breastfeed 'at least until one year of age and then as long as baby and mother mutually want to.'"
So while many may think the mother's choice is bizarre, many doctors would say that extended breastfeeding has developmental health benefits for the child.
See more of Katherine Clarke's controversial story below!
[H/T: Daily Mail Australia]
“I don't breastfeed him all of the time,” Clarke told Daily Mail Australia. “Probably a couple of times a week. He will often see his 19-month-old brother, Kingsley, being breastfed and will want it.”
“I find it interesting asking him about wanting to be breastfed — does he want milk, water or hot chocolate for example? But Ryder just wants that connection and nourishment. I'm confident he'll stop when he wants to; it's a natural progression," the mother of two said.
"I pity the people who say it's perverted. I do find it a little bit heartbreaking that some comments online are from women, but they obviously have some guilt or shame around breastfeeding, and I hope that changes," she said.
"I didn't have a particular goal in mind as to when I would stop breastfeeding," she said.
But the mother is confident that she can let her son decide.
"I think little people know their own minds really well. I will let Ryder make that choice," Clarke said.
What do you think? Moms: did you let your child decide when you would stop breastfeeding? Let us know in the comments!
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