Alanis Morissette Breastfeeds Baby Until 'Whenever': How Long Is Too Long?
Alanis Morissette breastfeeds her 16-month-old son Ever still, and said she plans to breastfeed him for as long as she can- or as long as he wants to drink from his mother's teat.
Alanis Morissette's breastfeeding comments first came on "The Billy Bush Show," where the 38-year-old singer claimed that the timing of the child's weaning should be up to him or her, not the mother.
"I'll stop [breastfeeding] whenever he wants. I know some children who have weaned naturally at two, some kids wean naturally a couple of years later. I mean, it's up to every child," she then told "Good Morning America."
The issue, however, is that some children- if given the choice- will wean until ages 4, 5, or even 6, prompting many to call the issue "attachment parenting." For critics, attachment parenting could give a child real issue in development. Morissette discounts their claims, though.
"I think it affords the child, when he grows up, to have a lot less therapy to go to. For me, I protect his safety and his well-being and his attachment. That stage of development is a very important stage," she explained.
Her attachment extends past Ever's breastfeeding too. She revealed that the toddler sleeps in the bed along with her and her husband, rapper Mario "Souleye" Treadway, whom she married in 2010.
"We're definitely skin-on-skin connected as much as possible," the "Ironic" singer said. She admitted, though, that without her "privileged position" she wouldn't be able to afford the time and resources that attachment parenting demands.
The debate was first ignited by Time magazine's cover several months ago, which depicted a mother breastfeeding her 3-year-old son while they both stood. "Are You Mom Enough?" read the tagline, which lead to controversy over possibly "over-mothering" children.
Even Morissette has some lines that can't be crossed though- one of those is her quality time with her husband. When the "virile" Treadway feels the two should be alone, baby Ever has to go.
"He's a very robust virile man," said Morissette. "You gotta take care of your husband."
