An Australian mum has opened up about her decision to continue breast feeding her 7-year-old son – despite being criticised by trolls calling her a “paedophile”.
Lisa Bridger spoke to Channel 7’s The Morning Show about her decision to continue what she called “natural term breast feeding”.
Watch Lisa on The Morning Show below
“It’s not something I chose,” she told hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.
“I’ve allowed it up to them… They feed until they are ready.”
Lisa went on to say her 5-year-old, Phoenix, was currently feeding two or three times a day, a couple of times a week.
“I’m tired… I’m very tired, but they also do not sleep,” the mum added. “They went to bed at 4:30am this morning.”
Lisa explained her children were on the “spectrum” and the decision to continue breastfeeding had been made easier by the fact it appeared to help her kids sleep.
Lisa also opened up to the hosts about the hate-filled criticism she has received online because of her decision.
“[Critics say] that it is a sexual act on my behalf, I’m a paedophile and I need my children removed from my care and given to a family that will love and care for them properly,” the mum revealed.
“[They say] I am causing them emotional and physical damage, I am damaging their health, their teeth, of course, I always do for myself, it is just for me, that is one of the big ones.
“That is heavy going, isn’t it? It can be quite hurtful.”
The mum went on to say she had a message for those bullies.
“There are teenagers and kids out there committing suicide because of bullying,” the mum said.
“People are so brave behind a keyboard… It doesn’t matter how hard I tried to explain myself or when the medical terms behind or anything else. They think after 12 months it is paedophilia.
“That is why our breastfeeding rates are so down low. No one gets past six months because of the answer that formula is better.”
“I am tired and I am tired of the abuse,” Lisa concluded.
