Lisa Bridger says she is proud to still be breastfeeding her seven-year-old child saying that breast milk never loses its benefit and that she won't stop just because society says so.

Adelaide mum defends breastfeeding seven-year-old son

Today Tonight


AN Adelaide mum has gone public to proudly spruik the benefits of breastfeeding older children, like her seven-year-old son.

Single mum Lisa Bridger has breastfed all five of her children but it's the feeding of her two youngest boys - Chase 7, and Phoenix, 4, - that is proving hard to swallow for some.

Both boys are autistic and Ms Bridger says she only feeds them when they needed comforting.

"I still breastfeed my seven-year-old and I'm far from ashamed, in fact I'm proud," she said.

"It's the connection more than anything.

Social commentator and mother-of-two Lisa Oldfield says she has concerns about older children being breastfed.
Camera IconSocial commentator and mother-of-two Lisa Oldfield says she has concerns about older children being breastfed.Picture: Today Tonight.

“Chase just says it's warm, it's cuddly, he'll snuggle in, same with Phoenix. He likes to just snuggle right up and cuddle right in, it’s what they've known, they've never had dummies or anything like that.

"Apparently I should be ashamed (and) it should be classed as child abuse, paedophilia, I should pump it in a cup, (but) I don't respond to pumps.”

The Adelaide mum has been heavily criticised online, with people describing her actions as 'sick' and suggesting Chase would be "seriously screwed up as a teenager".

Nutritionally she is not doing son any harm, experts say, but some have raised concerns about the longer-term psychological impact.

General practitioner Ginni Mansberg says there is no set age to stop breastfeeding.
Camera IconGeneral practitioner Ginni Mansberg says there is no set age to stop breastfeeding.Picture: Today Tonight.

Ms Bridger said the comments used to upset her but now she tries to give her critics "correct information" or simply ignores them.

But she said criticism from members of the public were harder to shrug off.

"I respect my children, their needs come before a stranger out in the public, if they can't look away, I'm not going to say sorry kids but those people can't look away and they're uncomfortable," she said.

"My kids’ comfort comes first."

Social commentator and mother-of-two Lisa Oldfied said she had concerns about older children being breastfed.

"I'm not anti-breastfeeding by any means, I loved breastfeeding and I think this woman is actually doing damage to the breastfeeding cause, because we really want to encourage women to breastfeed but when you hear horror stories like this, young mums sit there and think 'ewww god that's creepy’,” she said

"I think someone needs to sit down and explain to her she's seriously stifling her children’s personal development, I think she needs some psychiatric help.

"She has to draw a line in the sand and go 'look no more, boob is going away, you need to grow up, you need to become independent', (and) find something else that's going to calm the child," she said.

Lisa Bridger with her son Chase.
Camera IconLisa Bridger with her son Chase.Picture: Today Tonight.

According to the Australian national infant feeding survey, 96 per cent of mother initiate breastfeeding but only 15 per cent continue to exclusively to do so up until six months. That figure drops dramatically as the children get older.

Both Chase and Phoenix were home schooled but Ms Bridger claimed they interacted with other children who were not concerned about her breastfeeding her sons.

"Kids don't look at these things and think anything of it, some of the kids take cuddlies to bed, some of them turn up sucking their thumbs, some have got a toy with them that's their special thing," she said.

"Kids don't judge, we mix with dark skinned kids, light skinned kids, they're all just kids."

General practitioner Ginni Mansberg said there was no set age to stop breastfeeding.

"We would like it if you can go a full year, in terms of health benefits for the baby, but also for the mum, but not many people make it to that stage

"We haven't studied breastfeeding of children who are older, we don't really know what it does, because I can't imagine there would be any harms that would come.

“Now, if a child was spending all day attached to the mothers breast and therefore not running around playing normally, interacting normally then you could say there are a few issues there.”

While Ms Bridger doesn't plan to stop breastfeeding, nature could play a part.

"He's (Chase) lost four teeth now, his molars are starting to come, his adult molars, so his latch is getting harder and harder to obtain, so with in the next I'd say six months he will have weaned, and then it's his choice," she said.