'I breastfeed my 4 year old - it freaks people out but I have no plans to stop'
Controversial parenting decisions can often cause a stir online - but one mum is holding firm on her breastfeeding choices.
Saskia, 24, has admitted she still breastfeeds her four-year-old son and has no plans to stop until he "chooses to", and has defended herself from harsh criticism she's received for her parenting approach.
The mum has built a platform on TikTok by sharing her unusual parenting methods, which also include using cloth nappies and refusing to buy her children any light-up battery-powered toys.
But the opinion that causes the most controversy is her decision to continue breastfeeding her son Ezra, despite him being four years old. And even though many don't agree with her approach, Saskia - who is also mum to five-month-old Octavia - has said she has "no plans to stop".
Saskia shares her parenting methods on TikTok (Jam Press/@universitymum)
The mum will keep breastfeeding her kids until they want to stop (Jam Press/@universitymum)The teacher, from Kent, said: "I intend to breastfeed for as long as my children choose to. [In my opinion], the breastfeeding rates in our country [Britain] are very low. Within other cultures, there is a different view. In the UK, it's considered controversial. I've had people comment to say my son is too old or that it's wrong for him to be breastfed at his age, but I have no plans to stop."
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Saskia, who documents her parenting journey alongside her partner Ben, 23, also explained her decision to use cloth nappies for her children, as she said she wasn't a fan of the "chemicals in disposable nappies". On the topic of light-up toys, Saskia said she doesn't want her kids to use them because they don't encourage "imagination".
She added: "The noisy, flashy lights are overstimulating and overwhelming for the brain and can actually reduce the attention span. There is no imagination or use for the toy outside of its purpose. They can reduce social interaction and problem-solving skills because most of these toys are independently played with. Many people may disagree with this view or think I'm denying the children of 'fun'."
And while her parenting opinions might differ from the norm, Saskia has a strong support system behind her, as she's found a community of parents who share the same views as her. She explained: "All of my friends are supportive I think because they are either not parents themselves or they know my background in child development and education. They know I make choices that consider this knowledge and further research.
"Online there is a bigger community of parents who are like-minded so I actually see the most positivity here. Overall nothing we do is particularly out there, it may be a bit unusual and in some ways controversial. But it's just how we live our lives."
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