Real Housewives of Sydney star Lisa Oldfield has slammed the mother who still breastfeeds her seven-year-old son.
Last week, Adelaide mother-of-six Lisa Bridger proudly revealed she nurses her autistic sons Chase, aged seven, and four-year-old Phoenix, because they get comfort from breastfeeding.
But Ms Bridger has since been met with a barrage of negative reaction from people, including Ms Oldfield who disagree with her controversial choice.
‘I describe this as beyond odd… It really sickens me,’ Ms Oldfield, who has two sons, aged five and seven, told Today Tonight.
‘I think someone needs to sit down and explain to her that she’s seriously stifling her children’s personal and sexual development. I think she needs some psychiatric help.’
Real Housewives of Sydney star Lisa Oldfield (left) has slammed mother-of-six Lisa Bridger (right with her son Chase) who proudly revealed she still breastfeeds her seven-year-old son
The outspoken mother and social commentator has two sons, aged five and seven
The outspoken mother and social commentator said she had nothing against breastfeeding but Ms Bridger’s story didn’t sit well with her.
‘I’m not anti-breastfeeding by any means. I love breastfeeding and I think this woman is actually doing damage to the breastfeeding cause,’ Ms Oldfield said.
‘We really want to encourage women to breastfeed but when you hear horror stories like this, young mums sit there and think “urgh God, that’s creepy”.’
Ms Oldfield – who’s married to Australian politician David Oldfield – urged the mother to stop breastfeeding her children.
‘She has to cut the cord, she has to draw the line in the sand and go: “Look, no more! Boobs going away, you need to grow up, you need to become independent”,’ Ms Oldfield said.
‘Find something else that’s going to calm your child.’
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Ms Oldfield filmed herself asking her son Bert: ‘Would you like a snack? Would you like me to breastfeed you?’ to which he responds: ‘No’.
Ms Bridger proudly revealed she nurses her autistic sons Chase, aged seven, and four-year-old Phoenix, because they get comfort from breastfeeding
Ms Bridger has a very special reason for keeping up the practice for her sons Chase, aged seven, and four-year-old Phoenix – they are both autistic
Her views comes as Ms Bridger hit back at vile trolls for accusing her of ‘child abuse’ and ‘paedophilia’.
‘I still breastfeed my seven-year-old and I’m far from shame, in fact I’m proud,’ Ms Bridger told Today Tonight Adelaide.
Despite the backlash, Ms Bridger, who has been breastfeeding her children for a collective 20 years, said she simply ignores the criticisms.
‘My kids’ comfort comes first,’ she explained.
‘His [Chase] behavioural counsellor knows I breastfeed and she’s a mental health worker. She has said there’s absolutely no damage that could possibly be done from it.’
The mother said she will only stop breastfeeding when her sons choose to do so on their own.
Lisa Bridger (pictured) has hit back at vile trolls accusing her of child abuse for breastfeeding her seven-year-old son
Her television interview comes just days after she spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her decision to breastfeed her seven-year-old son.
‘I started to notice he would behave a little differently from my other kids at six months. He wouldn’t want to stay strapped into the pram, didn’t like full-on cuddles… but would nurse happily,’ she said.
‘I would often baby wear but he’d be hysterical unless I was feeding him.’
Chase and his younger brother Phoenix have both been diagnosed with autism and are still being breastfed – mainly because it helps to soothe them.
‘As children it was obviously the normal every couple of hours but it’s mostly just before bed now. It’s so sweet, [Chase] just needs that security,’ Lisa explained.
‘He often doesn’t ask in public but if he’s having a meltdown I prioritise it.’
Lisa admitted that during a holiday to the UK a few members of the public stopped to say ‘well done’ when they saw her feeding Chase.
Lisa (pictured) is an administrator for the online support group Occupy Breastfeeding and sometimes uploads photos of her sons nursing
But one social worker came up and said it was ‘child abuse.’
‘It has been pretty good out here, really. People don’t come up to us and say anything. But online it can get really bad,’ she said.
Lisa is an administrator for the online support group Occupy Breastfeeding and sometimes uploads photos of her sons nursing.
‘People will comment all kinds of things. That they should have a bottle, or a cup, that it’s abuse, that it’s bad for them, once you get past six months you should be covering,’ she said.
‘We have other strategies in place to deal with Chase’s autism. Sometimes a cuddle is enough, breathing exercises or distractions.’
The family have even bought animals as a means of comfort for the boys – a dog and two cats.
‘They’ll use the trampoline as a mechanism for calming down as well,’ she said.
After breastfeeding for so many years Lisa’s wardrobe is perfectly equip for nursing – but she will eventually enjoy getting her ‘body back’ once the boys wean themselves.
‘Sometimes I just want them off but it’s like saying no to a hug. When they come over to me and ask so nicely, how can I say no?’ She explained.
After breastfeeding for so many years Lisa’s wardrobe is perfectly equip for nursing – but she will eventually enjoy getting her ‘body back’ once the boys wean themselves
Chase’s ‘quirks’ don’t match up to mainstream schooling, Lisa said, so he is officially home schooled and ‘thriving’ from it
Chase’s ‘quirks’ don’t match up to mainstream schooling, Lisa said, so he is officially home schooled and ‘thriving’ from it.
‘He’d be in year one at this age but he’s doing third and fourth year mathematics,’ she admitted.
‘So while he struggles with empathy and has sensory issues (if it gets really loud he’d uncomfortable), in the education department he’s doing so well.’
The Australian Breastfeeding Association claims all children stop breastfeeding when they are ready and won’t want to feed for ever.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (i.e. no other fluids or solids) for six months and then continued breastfeeding combined with solid foods for two years or as long as the mother and baby desire.