Mum who still breastfeeds her five-year-old and baths naked with him says it’s ‘normal’ and will continue for as long as possible to break stigma

Stay-at-home mum Amy Hardcastle, from Lancashire, even breastfeeds naked in the bath – and says it's easier to nurse older kids, because you can tell them when you feel sore.


When her son Max was first born in July 2013, Amy didn't feel comfortable breastfeeding him – but she soon grew in confidence.

The 27-year-old has been giving her son solid food alongside her milk since he was six months old.

But, after learning about the benefits of mum's milk, Amy said she felt no need to wean him off completely.

She explained: “We almost quit breastfeeding at four weeks old because of latching problems, but someone helped me out just in time.


“I have breastfed Max for five years, and he breastfeeds now a few times a week, but neither of us have decided to stop nursing yet.

“I try to explain that just because something isn’t the cultural norm here, it doesn’t make it wrong.

“Breastfeeding makes complete sense since my body continues to produce milk to sustain and nourish my child.

“Once you’ve cracked breastfeeding it’s just about going for as long as it works for both of you.

“When he was younger I used to breastfeed in public – but it’s always at home now.

“I’ll keep going until he wants to stop. I don’t have a problem continuing until he’s fully done.

It actually gets easier to breastfeed as they grow older

“I have friends who were also happy to continue to carry on until the child weaned and they stopped much younger because all children are different.

“I don’t give my son breast milk over food, if he’s hungry then he eats and if he wants to nurse then he does so.

“Breast milk never stops being good for you and it’s mostly about comfort and closeness.

“It actually gets easier to breastfeed as they grow older – you don’t have to breastfeed every two hours.

“You can also talk about it with them, I can let him know if my breasts are feeling sore or if I’m feeling touched out and need to say no or ask him to wait until later.”

Amy wants to normalise breastfeeding older kids, and openly posts pics on Instagram – to some negative reaction.

She said: “From time to time I get something nasty or aggressive come through, but I just don’t think about it too much and block it out.

“I want to normalise these things that people aren’t used to seeing and showing people that there are other ways to do things.

“Solidarity for any mums who still nurse their toddlers and children should be validated.

“As long as we are both OK with it then there’s nothing wrong with us continuing to do so.

“Objectively it’s a natural human function, but subjectively people have their opinions on it – none of which are relevant to me.

“I have a lot of support from my friends but there are people and family members who think it’s weird, and I get that.

“It’s OK to not be used to seeing a young child ‘still’ breastfeed, that’s why I talk about it because it does happen and it’s natural. It isn’t wrong, so I just try to normalise it.

“I don’t hate formula and I don’t judge mums who don’t breastfeed, but I do wish all of them had access to the support and information that they need to make sure they’re making fully informed choices.

“After that it’s up to them and what’s best for their family.

“When I was pregnant I didn’t know anything about breastfeeding or how long anyone did it for.

“I don’t think I had ever seen a baby being breastfed, so I try and share my story so that people can see it and decide for themselves with all the options presented to them.”

Experts have agreed that there can be positive health benefits to both the mother and the child.

The NHS website says: "Breastfeeding into your baby's second year or beyond alongside other foods is ideal.

"You and your baby can carry on enjoying the benefits of breastfeeding for as long as you like."

And the World Health Organisation also agrees that breastfeeding should continue "up to two years of age or beyond".

However, other experts claim there is limited evidence of extra benefits of breastfeeding a child over the age of two.

Dr Max Davie from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the BBC: "By the age of two a child should get all the nutrients required through their diet so there is no additional benefit to breastfeeding over this age."

Former Apprentice contestant Jessica Cunningham recently breastfed live on This Morning.

While this dad's sweet video of baby daughter sucking on his nipple has been branded ‘disturbing’… so is it OK for fathers to comfort nurse?

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