Denise Sumpter, a self-proclaimed Lacto Classicist, appeared on Sky News to discuss why she still breastfeeds her 7-year-old daughter and her 2-year-old son.
"It doesn't restrict me at all," she explained on the segment. "Breastfeeding a 7-year-old is very different than breastfeeding a newborn or a child of 1 or 2 or 3 or 4," Sumpter elaborated. "When you don't forcibly wean your child, it's a very gradual, slow thing."
And it has been. Her daughter Belle "may ask for milk once a week, she may ask twice a day," and Sumpter gives it to her. "It's just a relaxing thing you do."
Dr. Monah Mansoori, a doctor who appeared on the segment as well, called Sumpter's decision to breastfeed for so long "unusual," but was quick to specify that there is nothing medically wrong with what she's doing.
"You can't replace breastfeeding with something to eat or something to drink because when you breastfeed your child, you're giving them immuno-benefits, you're giving them oxytocin, you're giving them bonding, you're giving them proven psychological benefits," Sumpter concluded.
She's not wrong, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. There is evidence to support Sumpter's theories, just as there are theories that breastfeeding a child longer than absolutely necessary will cause developmental issues.
Tess Koman covers breaking (food) news, opinion pieces, and features on larger happenings in the food world. She oversees editorial content on Delish. Her work has appeared on Cosmopolitan.com, Elle.com, and Esquire.com.
