This Morning viewers criticise mum who breastfed her daughter until she was NINE

The mum received harsh criticism.

One mum has been the subject of much online debate today after she revealed she breastfed her youngest child until she was nine years old. Sharon Spinks appeared on This Morning today to defend her decision to keep feeding her daughter until only a few months ago. The mum-of-four said that it was research that led her to the decision to continue breastfeeding her youngest child until she was ready to stop, claiming that her milk continued to give her daughter Charlotte multiple health benefits.

“If they’re allowed to feed, they will carry on feeding for much longer than is seen as normal,” Sharon said. “They’re still getting those benefits, there’s nothing in breast milk which suddenly changes because a child gets to a certain age. “Actually it improves and gears itself towards that child.”

'Trust your child to know what they want' - as one woman admits to breastfeeding her nine-year-old daughter, at what age do you think it should be stopped for good? https://t.co/gqSLKrcBBW

— This Morning (@thismorning) November 13, 2018

Sharon defended her decision by admitting that it’s her daughter who asks to be fed rather than her demanding it, saying she doesn't "offer or refuse". Journalist Rachel Halliwell spoke against Sharon’s decision, saying she felt it was selfish.

“As parents, as mothers… we’ve got one job, and that one job is to raise our children to grow up to be people who can live without us, who can be individuals and live independently and who aren’t reliant on us as their mothers. “I think that if you are still breastfeeding a child when they’re nine, that flies in the face of that basic job that we have.”

And it seems like many viewers agreed with Rachel, taking to Twitter to criticise Sharon’s decision.

“Breastfeeding a nine-year-old is not comforting, it’s disgusting and that poor kid will now be bullied if she’s not already,” wrote one viewer.

I think as soon as they get their teeth or maybe up to the age of 2. Breastfeeding a 9 year old is a bit ridiculous. She's old enough to drink milk from a glass. Also this will get her bullied by her peers.

— Kay (@Glorysun84) November 13, 2018

Very strange... I have a 7 year old daughter and couldn’t imagine letting her breastfeed! Don’t get me wrong I am very pro breastfeeding but I think at 9 years of age it’s rather strange indeed!

— cathy m (@cathybaby04) November 13, 2018

Weird. Proper mummy issues not letting go. My child would want doughnuts for brekkie don’t mean it’s right!

— Jonathan Fulton (@jonathanfulton) November 13, 2018