No one gave the mom a chance to talk.  And Dr. Sears should be ashamed.  It was Dr. Sears' parents' book that shaped by birth and parentlng theory.  They LITERALLY wrote a book on it and raised him accordingly.  Why didn't he do a better job of sticking up for her?  My now 18, 16 and 12 year old children slept in our bed and breastfed beyond a year.  I even tandem nursed for a very short time.  That tandem nursed child is now an incredibly independent pre med student who has a bigger sense of self than anyone I know.  i am soooo disappointed in Dr. Phil and Dr. Sears.

I have never been so riled up as to post on a show's website.  I have respected the Dr. Phil show in the past, but after seeing the attack on the Attachment Parenting Mom, I have lost a lot of respect.  Attachment parenting does NOT mean parents don't set limits for their children.  This mom LOVES her kids and is totally dedicated to them - she did not get to speak, she got called names, got accused of things that were not true...it was awful to watch.  Dr. Jim Sears did not even get to speak.  I am so disappointed in Dr Phil going to shock value rather than information value.  There was NOTHING to learn from this episode, and that mother got attacked for no reason.   The people doing the attacking were grossly misinformed as well.

Some points that need to be made:

Wearing a baby in a sling helps them feel secure. That mom did not say she wore them in sling and prevented motor development - that was a unfounded accusation that she did not get to respond to.
 
Breasts are made to feed our children, we are mammals, and many societies breastfeed well into toddlerhood.  Sick people make this sexual or gross.   

Co-sleeping has been proven to be beneficial for the entire family and is much more natural for humans.

Also, this whole concept of raising kids to be good adults - how about raising kids to be good KIDS?  Let them be secure, loving, children who get to enjoy being children.  Why would we tell our babies "You are going to be an adult some day so you better tow the line now! Sleep alone, cry if you want, but you will sleep alone because that's what you have to do as an adult".  It is so silly.  Most adults never want to sleep alone either, so why do we force our children?  Stop reminding us that our job is to raise adults - let's let our children be loved, be children, and grow into balanced adults surrounded by love, boundaries, and encouragement.  Attachment parents are doing that too, not just Ferber-ites.


It sickens me that the show did not educate viewers on attachment parenting, Ferber sleep training, or other theories.   Instead we got to listen to attacks and then spend MORE time talking to that train wreck of a granny.     The show has lost it's informational value for me - I felt that I may as well have turned to Jerry Springer.


I hope some amends are made to that mom, to Dr. Sears, and to parents everywhere who are genuinely trying to find their way in parenting that does not include screaming and crying and tantrums and power struggles.  These kids are in fact turning out fantastic, and there is a ton of research to back that up.  I use some attachment parenting aspects but my daughter prefers her own bed now (she is only 1!), she is already starting to wean, and I only carry her for convenience into the store or hiking, etc.  It's guidance, not a cult, and each child is different.  I intended to nurse into toddlerhood, but she is happy with cups, so we'll wean - others may need that nursing longer.  Don't attack mothers who are loving, doing what is natural, and are following good solid research from leading pediatricians. 

   

I would like to defend the poor Mom you bashed and attacked on national TV on your show March 29, 2013 Kathy. What she does for her own children and what she feels is best - is NONE of anyone's business, and certainly doesn't hurt them. And those genuinely STUPID audience members who gave their 2 cents, were ignorant and should be ashamed. For the really stupid one who claimed that baby-wearing and breastfeeding was WRONG - was obviously never breastfed and I feel bad for her when she gets deathly ill someday....knowing as a lactation consultant in training that breastfed infants/toddlers are proven to be healthier for a LIFETIME. And I suppose if she had or has kids - she never wore a Baby Bjorn or Chicco carrier...huh? Guess what, even with a buckle or strap - its still BABY WEARING. Most people do it and don't even know. How is she weird for wearing her 4 month old INFANT??!!! Its a BABY. Her food is breastmilk and thats what it should be exclusively for 6 months and until 1 year of age and actually The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION recommends (strongly) breastfeeding for AT LEAST 2 YEARS!!! Prove why that is wrong, I dare you.
I can't believe how she was attacked by all sides even by Dr Phil! It was an outrage. And not one supporter??!
How is that fair? I want Kathy to know she has plenty of supporters.
I may not practice attachment parenting to the fullest. I do not share a bed, we stopped at 3 months as we all sleep better in separate beds (but that is just us) and I work full time so I can't be with them 24/7. But I still breastfeed my 2 year old, I believe in child-led weaning. The world average is 2 years - 7 years old to wean.
I am not saying I will go that long, but if I did - what does that hurt some stranger? It doesn't.
I wish I still wore her at times too, we all have those days our toddler is being clingy and you can't get anything done. It's a win-win for all, baby gets to be close to Mama and Mama gets stuff done around the house.
And wearing a 4 month old INFANT - again - is completely normal! She's damn near a newborn for crying out loud!
I feel bad for the kids of those obviously un-educated and ignorant women in the audience.
Next time you have a "controversial" issue on the show, try being fair and having supportive members of the audience and cast who don't straight talk out of their butts!
I wish I was there that day. That poor woman was done wrong by you and your show.
And there is much more to attachment parenting than just extended breastfeeding.
And I will have you know - my daughter is well rounded and independent, as I do work full time there is no separation anxiety - which actually is normal at a certain age.

You know, I really have no objection to a mother breastfeeding as long as she pleases, or any of the other things.  It's different than the choices I made when raising my children, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. This show did bring back a memory of a story my mother shared with me years ago. At a family reunion, when my mother was a young girl,this was possibly in the 30s, a five year old little boy went up to his mom, munching  on a chicken leg, climbed on his mother's lap, and announced, "I want *itty."  They were country folks and didn't use the word "breast". His mother obliged and even back then, there was discussion in the family as to whether it was "right".  I kinda hafta chuckle when I think of this story.

I was so digusted by the comments in this show.  I honestly think that many of the comments came from a place of guilt, and are unsupported by science.


I breastfed both of my children, my oldest until he was 5.5 years old, my youngest until she was about 4-4.5 years old.  I also co-slept (didn't even set up the crib for my second because it was just a giant laundry basket for my first), and wore them for years, and cloth diapered and refuse to spank.  Now that they are older I am even more sure that I did the right thing.  I see their compassion, their independence, their intelligence and their social development and know that prioritizing their needs when they were littles is a big part of why I have well disciplined, self motivated and remarkably compassionate young people now.

I am also beyond tired of the myth that meeting your child's needs and managing behaviors in a non-violent way is somehow spoiling them.  I also laugh at the concept that co-sleeping inteferes in parental relationships.  I honestly feel sorry for parents who never have the kids snuggled up in bed.  You don't understand all the precious moments you miss.

um a penis doesn't supply every nutrient a baby needs to be healthy and at their best. You're sick, Dr. Phil should do a show about people like you :)

I commend the mother who is still breastfeeding her 4 year old.  Our society thinks that breastfeeding a child beyond infancy is wrong.  They make comments like "but he can talk" or "but he has teeth".  The decision of when to wean a child from the breast is something that occurs between the mother and the child.  To the mother on the show:  You did a really good job standing up for yourself in an assertive and non-defensive way to these ignorant people.  Good for you!  You are a good Mom.

Come on people this is wrong and disgusting!!! After a certain age it is NOT a natural thing it becomes a sexual sick kind of attachment thing! Potty training age(which that boy should be passed) is the age where children learn the difference between what body parts little boys have and little girls have. That little boy is growing up thinking it is normal to suck on women's breast and to feel them up whenever he wants! How will he ever know what BOUNDARIES are between him and the opposite sex or even the same sex for that matter! That could put him at risk for much more serious things. That is the age you learn boundaries. He is four years-old he will REMEMBER sucking on his moms breast and most likely grow up with psychological and sexual problems. And for the people saying its not sexual your right when they are a one year-old baby, it is not when they are four years-old healthy and can eat a normal diet and know the differences between sexes and don't need breast milk anymore! Its sick and sexual. At that age they do not need to me looking at their mother in that way and it will turn sexual if she continues! She or any other women who do this may not see the sexual and emotional problems now but I garantee it will come up later in their childs life. If she is really doing it for health reasons then she can get a breast pump and give it to him in a normal cup. God created breastfeeding for until the child could eat and drink solid normal foods and drink, not so the mom with her OWN ATTACHMENT problems and issues can breastfeed them forever.This child is fine and can have a healthy normal diet. I love how she said until he is ready to stop, I think its more like until she can handle letting her own issues go and make him stop. That is all he knows so what makes her think he will tell her he wants to stop, until he is in school getting made fun of for it because he thinks its normal when its not!  I pumped my breast milk and my son was always bottle fed and we are closer than ever, but at 22 months he already knows boundaries and is going to be a successful human being and citizen because I didn't coddle him and I'm letting him have his own independence.I am teaching him proper boundaries not only because it will help him as a person in the future but also for his safety. I would never want him to think he should or its okay to touch a women like that at a young age. There are too many sick people out there in this world and this is confusing children on what the boundaries are between adults and children in a sexual way. This could leave the child in a very compromising situation. I also don't want him to think it is okay to grab and look at women's breast like that.There is a point when we have to ask ourselves could this potentially hurt our child psychologically in the future when it comes to sexual and emotional problems, and yes it could it is not normal after a certain point when they understand the difference between men and women. Also, breastfeeding out in public is fine but there's no hurt for women to put a blanket on to be respectful,and yes a 12 year-old boy could find it very sexual! Sorry, just stating the truth.

I grew up in Asia. In Asia people talk about american parenting style as such: The parents shut the doors on their babies, those babies grow up and shut their doors for their aged parents!

i am so appauled at peoples ignorance to feeding a child. if they did research not only is your child smarter, healthier, etc. i could go on and on but the benefits to the mother are endless too. breast cancer decreases amongst other things. i am a mother of four beautiful daughters who were all breastfed till at least the age of three and my third daughter till she was six. i am currently breasfeeding my two years seven month old with no signs of stopping unless she wanted too. it is just very sad that in the world we live and with all the violence that people would still disagree and put down good parenting.. my oldest daughter who is twenty is married and in college and has a job and guess what is very independent and was breastfed for three years. my twelve year old who was breastfed till she was six is an honor student and wise beyond her years and extremely independent and same for my nine year old who was also breastfed till she was three. how many parents can say that there twelve year old has never taken an antibiotic ever... not many.. also about the not so smart lady about your child having a full set of teeth please watch a video on how children and babies breastfeed... do you use your teeth to suck on a straw... no... the american academy of pediatrics actually recommends breastfeeding at least for two years... and for the dr. who said co sleeping is fine well it is but the over weight comment was not very accurate i am over weight and have slept with all my children as infants and into childhood and it is something called mothers instinct not to roll on your child unless your obviously not mentally stable or under the influence which should never occur obviously if you are breastfeeding. please people worry about the economy and poverty and yourselves and leave good caring and loving mothers alone. didnt your momma teach u if you have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all....