That is pretty weird, but in most foreign countries it's not unusual for a mother to breastfeed until the child is nearly 5 years old. They say it makes the child smarter. I breastfed my children until they were two and I have no regrets. They aren't old enough to go without milk or a supplement until they're at least one. I was too lazy to try to wean them from a supplement or make bottles when I could just hold them a little longer, snuggle them for just a few more minutes. It was a gradual weaning process, easier on me and on them....As they got older, the nursing became less and less to just naptimes and bedtime. There's a lot of emotional and physical bonding that occurs...My kids and I still have a great relationship and I think it was that bonding.

Too many teeth (ouch! Lol!). When they are five, most kids go to kindergarten what do you do then and when they are 8(3rd grade, omg!)
a lot of women do not have that much milk, it could be a little embarrasing too! It maybe true that moms and children develop a certain closeness while nursing but my mom could not nurse us and she got cancer when I was five and we were very close but I believe it should be a pregnant woman and her drs choice.

My mother breastfed me and my sisters until we were a 1 1/2 years old. I think that some women go on longer because it is kind of like a sercurity issue. Like some kids have stuffed animals and blankets that they can't sleep with out, in their case its their mother. I do think that it is a little over the top breastfeeding past 3 years old. I think it is kind of wierd and I know that it is a boding thing but think of what the child has to go through at school. Like if he ever invited a friend over was he breastfed then? What would the other kid think?? I think that once the child is old enough to feed themselves i.E. 1-2 years old then breastfeeding should stop. They should be eating finger foods and drinking out of sippi cups.

Sorry, sandy...I wasn't meaning to step on toes....I realize that moms can have a very close, bonding relationship without nursing....I just used it as an excuse to snuggle a little longer. I'm sorry to hear about your mom, it's great that you were close.

I think breastfeeding is a wonderful idea if the mom is willing/able to but the idea odf an eight year old being breast fed seems strange to me, just picturing it even.

Back in olden days when food was more scarce I can understand why a woman would breastfeed children even up to five- I guess but now a days I personally can imagine breastfeeding beyond the age of two at the lastest!

Blimey! Still breast feeding at 8yrs is abit excessive isnt it! My oldest son is 4yrs and I couldnt imagine him putting up with it let alone me! Lol! I couldnt breast feed any of my children :( but I only imagined doing it till they were about 18mths at the most!

Once I saw a woman breast-feeding a four-year-old. He was running around, playing with a group of other kids like any normal four-year-old, then walked over to his mother and she just stuck her boob out and breast fed him.

It was bizarre seeing someone being breast fed while being fully clothed and standing up.

Just looked in the t.V guide and theres a program on this wednesday (in england) about a woman who still breast feeds her 7yr old daughter! I'll be watching in amazment! Lol!

Oh my. I think breast feeding is a wonderful natural thing between mother and child but at what age does this become almost perverse versus beautiful and natural?? Unless they live in a society where food is scarce I just cant imagine breastfeeding a child that can chew steak.