Emily
Recent research suggests a potential link between extended breastfeeding and elevated IQ as well as higher income during adulthood. For numerous mothers, nursing fosters a deep early connection, inspiring them to prolong this practice beyond the initial years following childbirth. The continued skin-to-skin contact provides comfort to toddlers, serving as a tangible expression of nurturing affection.
1. Mayim Bialik
The actress and author, a mother of two boys, openly discussed her nursing journey. She breastfed her younger son, Fred, for an admirable duration of 4 years and 3 months, highlighting the profound bond and nutritional advantages it provided. Alongside the joys, Bialik acknowledged the enduring challenges, candidly sharing that the experience was consistently painful and involved numerous struggles with thrush.
2. Thandiwe Newton
The actress, a mother of three children, continues to breastfeed her 2-year-old, considering it a profound source of “complete happiness.” She expresses, “This is the purpose my body was designed for.
3. Nelly Furtado
Back in 2003, the singer celebrated the arrival of her first daughter and revealed that she breastfed for a span of two years. She conveyed, “Once I stopped, I noticed a surge in my energy levels. I felt capable of doing more.”
4. Nikki Reed
In 2017, the actress and her spouse, Ian Somerhalder, embraced the arrival of their daughter. Sharing her thoughts on breastfeeding when her baby reached 20 months old, she acknowledged her uncertainty about the journey’s duration. Emphasizing the importance of following her daughter’s cues, she mentioned, “I take cues from her; she communicates exactly what she requires.
5. Selma Blair
Upon reaching 40 years old, the actress joyfully welcomed her son and commemorated a breastfeeding moment when he turned two. Blair staunchly advocates for breastfeeding in public, affirming, “I don’t mind who I might upset—my baby needs to eat. If I can’t cover up quickly enough, then that’s how it is
6. Danica McKellar
Upon turning 35, the actress and education advocate joyfully welcomed her sole child into the world. She committedly breastfed him until he reached 2 1/2 years old. Her choice to conclude was based on fostering his burgeoning independence.
McKellar stressed that the duration of breastfeeding remains a personal decision for each mother and child. She expressed, “For me, it was 2 1/2 years, and for you, it might be 3 1/2 or 3 months or whatever duration suits your circumstances.”
7. Bekah Martinez
The former Bachelor contestant, who welcomed two babies within a two-year span, passionately advocates for tandem nursing. She breastfed her daughter for 26 months and mentioned she would have continued for twice as long if both were still comfortable with it. Furthermore, she emphasized that nursing a 4-year-old is a natural and commonplace practice globally, existing since ancient times, stating that it neither appears odd nor repulsive.
8. Coco Austin
At the age of 43, the TV personality persists in breastfeeding her 5 1/2-year-old daughter, Chanel. She revealed, “Chanel still finds comfort in nursing,” highlighting its importance as a bonding experience between mother and child.
Emphasizing the emotional connection, Austin expressed the profound sense of being needed that this bond provides her. Despite Chanel’s regular diet, her attachment to breastfeeding remains apparent, seeking solace and closeness in her mother’s embrace.
What are your thoughts on mothers continuing extended breastfeeding versus stopping it after a certain time? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below!