Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Which is more controversial Coke or breastmilk?

I pretty much try to avoid writing about anything too controversial on this blog, or anywhere else for that matter, but there are two debates which I can't help but follow: how old is too old to breastfeed and whether it's ok to give kids soft drink. 

For the record, I'm a hopeless breastfeeder and haven't made it past 6 months and I have never offered my kids soft drink (although it is not a banned substance in our household or anything).  That said, I am supportive of people breastfeeding for as long as they think it is working for them and their kid/s and really don't think there is anything wrong if other people give their kids the occasional soft drink - both are totally personal decisions which everyone can work out for themselves without me throwing my two cents in.

So the thing that gets me about how these debates play out is how much more controversy there is around people, like Mayim Bayalik that choose to breastfeed their kid to until they're 4, as opposed to the widespread practice of giving kids soft drink which some experts say needs a health warning and is even  accused of contributing to obesity the death of a 30 year old mum of eight.

I'm just surprised that it is considered more weird for a four year old to drink breastmilk than Coke.  I say more power to the breastfeeders (and less power to Coca-cola and Kochie).