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australian mom lauren mcleod who has been called ‘disgusting’ and ‘abusive’ for breastfeeding her five-year-old son, says she has no intention of giving up anytime soon.
The 29-year-old mom, from Perth, is open and honest about her parenting decisions on Instagram in hopes of reducing the stigma around breastfeeding.
In August 2017, she gave birth to their son, Bowie, followed by their daughter, Tigerlily, in May 2020. Today, Lauren still breastfeeds both children.
‘Breastfeeding beyond infancy is completely normal. I never thought I would be breastfeeding my five-year-old son, but I am just like any other mother doing the best I can for my children,” she said.
It’s not weird or sexual, it’s completely normal and I’ll keep going until they want to stop.
“It annoys me to think about when we stop, it’s been a big part of our lives and I don’t think Bowie will continue feeding until six.”
Lauren says that she will only stop nursing Bowie when he is ready and wants to.
Australian mum Lauren McLeod, 29, (pictured center with her children) has continued to breastfeed her five-year-old son Bowie (left), but initially only planned to breastfeed until the age of two.
The doula, a person who provides support during childbirth, has also been labeled “sick” and “disgusting” for breastfeeding for so long (pictured with her two children, Bowie, left, and Tigerlily, right ).
The doula, a person who provides support during childbirth, has also been labeled ‘sick’ and ‘disgusting’ for breastfeeding for so long.
She and her husband Anders, 33, were breastfed until they were two years old and wanted to do this with their own children.
‘We think he [Bowie] it would wean itself at that time, but two came and went. She is now five years old and breastfeeds only at bedtime and a few times a week.
‘Occasionally people say something really mean, due to lack of education, but no one has ever said anything to my face.
‘Someone accused me of not giving him food, of course we do.
‘I think we’re doing the right thing for us. It’s a beautiful thing for us to come together and reconnect after a long day.’
‘Breastfeeding beyond infancy is completely normal. I never thought I would be breastfeeding my five-year-old son, but I am just like any other mother doing the best I can for my children,” she said.
When Tigerlily was born, she had to set some boundaries and began nursing Bowie less.
At one point, she felt ‘touched’, when one feels overwhelmed by being touched too much, and decided to wean Tigerlily for the night.
“I’m sure there will come a time when I need to set more boundaries, but Tigerlily has never had a bottle, so at night if she wakes up, she drinks water or cow’s milk from a sippy cup,” Lauren said.
“Bowie drank express breast milk from the bottle when he got back to work one morning a week, which made things a bit easier.”
On other occasions, she has also breastfed the baby of a friend who does not drink a bottle.
‘It was a little weird feeding a baby that wasn’t mine, but not in a bad way. She felt so natural, and it was really nice to help my friend, since she was only eight months old and she didn’t want to leave him with anyone else.’
Lauren previously told FEMAIL that she chooses to breastfeed because it’s what “has always worked best” for her and her children. She also believes that breast milk is an immunity booster.
Lauren previously told FEMAIL that she chooses to breastfeed because it’s what “has always worked best” for her and her children. She also believes that breast milk is an immunity booster.
She said children find comfort in breastfeeding and that it also “calms them down to sleep faster,” soothes them if they’re upset, relieves pain and supports their immune systems.
Despite nasty comments on social media, Lauren turns a head on those who criticize her.
“I just don’t read the comment sections on social media posts that aren’t mine, so I don’t see most of the nasty things being said about me,” she told FEMAIL.
Lauren said that if someone is negative online, she just blocks them and deletes the comment.
“It’s not worth my time and energy to respond to someone who has already made up her mind about me, and takes time out of her day to be nasty,” she said.
‘At the end of the day, if someone disagrees with my choices, that’s fine, that’s their opinion.
She added that the positive impact it leaves on other parents who choose to breastfeed “outweighs the negativity.” And hundreds have praised Lauren for having the courage to share her story.
“Many of the negative views people have about breastfeeding are often based on cultural bias and a lack of education on the subject, which is part of the reason I share my story, to help people understand that full-term breast-feeding is biologically normal.
She added that the positive impact it leaves on other parents who choose to breastfeed “outweighs the negativity.”
And hundreds have praised Lauren for having the courage to share her story.