Extended breasting. Is it right for your family? According to the CDC, about 15% of women breastfeed their babies after 18 months.
Most can probably agree that breast milk provides a baby with many nutritional benefits, plus it gives mother and child great nurturing and bonding time. According to other statistics, most American moms stop nursing long before their baby reaches their first birthday, but not these celebrity moms who’ve breastfed their babies to age two and beyond.
Extended Breastfeeding: 7 Celebrities Who’ve Breastfed to Age Two and Beyond.
Photo Credit: Richie Knapp/SYFY
1. Mayim Bialik – Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik nursed her oldest son, Miles, for two years and a few months, and her youngest Fred for four years and three months. Bialik was producing enough milk to nurse her son four to six times a night for three years! The actress shared her weaning experience on her blog.
2. Danica McKellar – Former Wonder Years star Danica McKellar is a big proponent of attachment parenting and nursed her son, Draco, until he was 2 1/2 years old. In an interview with ABC News, she said, “You can breastfeed as long as it works for both you and your child, you know? For me it was 2 1/2 and for you it might be 3 1/2 or 3 months or whatever it is that works.”
Related: 30 Celebrities Who’ve Had Unmedicated Births
3. Eryka Badu – Eryka Badu proudly breastfed her son, Seven, until the age of two. Of her experience the soul singer said, “When I first had the baby, I was breastfeeding for two years straight, so we were together for two years of his life – every day, all hours of the day. So I was two people, and I eventually morphed back into one. Now he’s part of me. He’s very independent as a result of it. I thought it was going to be the opposite. I was very worried that he was going to be attached since we were together every day, but I guess it made him feel comfortable…”
4. Nelly Furtado – Nelly Furtado told Lifestyle Extra that she nursed her daughter, Nevis, for two years. And, for those moms thinking she did it to lose weight the Canadian singer dispels that theory. “Whoever says breastfeeding is a good way to lose weight is a liar. I nursed my daughter for two years and as soon as I stopped I had more energy. You can do more things.”
5. Kelly Rutherford – Gossip Girl actress, Kelly Rutherford, nursed her son Hermés, until well past the age of three. In fact, she was nursing her newborn daughter and 3-year-old son at the same time. “…it is really cute when they are nursing together. He just looks at her, and checks her out, and puts his hand on her little feet. It gives him this close-up intimate look at her, and it’s very beautiful to see them kind of get to know each other,” Rutherford revealed to Best For Babes.
6. Selma Blair – Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair didn’t hesitate to breastfeed her son in public when he was hungry and was once snapped feeding him when he was two years old.
7. Coco Austin – Model and reality star Coco Austin was open about her decision to breastfeed her daughter past the age of four. The mom, along with husband, former rapper and actor, Ice-T shared a snap of their daughter nursing on her Instagram stating, “…Ive been getting alot of props in the breastfeeding (sic) community and get tons of emails from woman/moms appreciating me bringing light to the subject … I write a baby blog about my journey with Chanel and soon I will write about what it’s like to continue boob time with a 4 year old.”
Very interesting! I love Mayim Bialik. Good to know I might like her as a person as well. I am thinking most actresses pawn their kids off on nannies alot.
I just had my first son two weeks ago and breastfeeding is hard! I have so much respect for people who breastfeed for so long!
I am just sorry. Call me old school but I just can’t see breast feedind a child that long. Are you just sitting at home with nothing to do and never go out or work or anything. WOW
Breastfeeding and caring for a baby all on your own is in itself a job lol. And the best, most selfless one you can do. The worldwide weaning age for breastfeeding is just over 4 years. So the whole stigma with nursing past infancy being a bad thing is specifically attached to certain cultures and does not coincide with the majority of the world. I say bravo to those women who can put the health of their children first, even when they know ppl are judging them in a negative light because they’re “old fashioned.” We have scientific evidence now showing the benefits for women and children for nursing past infancy, so doing what’s best health wise for your child and yourself is the most intelligent and mature choice you can make as a mother if you have the ability to do so. #stopmombashing #supportallwomensdecisions
As a mom who just finished breastfeeding at almost 3 thank you for this comment. To often was I asked is that all you do all day. Well no at 3 my daughter was just BF at nap and bedtime. And yet that 20 minutes a day meant so much to us and her health.
Yes, you are old school. I breastfed my oldest until over 3 and my youngest until 2. It IS legal to breastfeed in public. There are also nursing rooms available almost everywhere baby associated. ALSO (biggest bonus). You can NEVER forget the food!
Wow!! What an ignorant and lame response. Educate yourself. I have bottle fed and breast fed my kids to 2.5 yrs old. It depends on the child, mom and situation. I’m pretty sure no mom just sat around with nothing to do. You aren’t old school, you are just close minded. Also just because a mom doesn’t work and is supported financially some other way doesn’t mean her contribution as a stay at home parent and homemaker isn’t valuable!
I nursed my twins for 18 months and I am still nursing my 22 month old. I am pretty ready to be done, I have either been pregnant or nursing continuously for 4.and 1/2 years now but she is NOT ready so we continue on 🙂
This is a great post – people shouldn’t feel this is weird. Just a few hundred years ago this was the norm for survival 🙂
Breastfeeding and caring for a baby all on your own is in itself a job lol. And the best, most selfless one you can do. The worldwide weaning age for breastfeeding is just over 4 years. So the whole stigma with nursing past infancy being a bad thing is specifically attached to certain cultures and does not coincide with the majority of the world. I say bravo to those women who can put the health of their children first, even when they know ppl are judging them in a negative light because they’re “old fashioned.” We have scientific evidence now showing the benefits for women and children for nursing past infancy, so doing what’s best health wise for your child and yourself is the most intelligent and mature choice you can make as a mother if you have the ability to do so. #stopmombashing #supportallwomensdecisions
We r all agreed breast milk is the healthiest for the child, but in my opinion after the age of 11/2 the mom could pump and give the breast milk in a bottle or cup. I think it’s unhealthy for a child of four to look back and have memories of suckling his moms breast. I just don’t think it’s mentally healthy for the child. Like I said, the mom could always pump to assure her child was getting the benefits of breast milk.
I nursed my baby girl for 15 months and I loved EVERY minute of it! Just looking down on her sweet little face and her smiling at me while she was nursing was precious . It’s time spent just between me and her and I miss it.