How old is too old?

Social media outlets are abuzz with controversy today, ignited by Time Magazine’s latest cover featuring 26 year old mother Jamie Lynne Grumet breastfeeding her almost 4 year old son.

This startling image is being used to illustrate an exploration into the world of “attachment parenting”, a parenting style rooted in the 1992 parenting guide “The Baby Book” by Drs. Bill and Martha Sears.  Attachment parenting is based on the notion that the strong emotional bond forged by parent and child during early childhood has lifelong benefits.

In addition to extended breast feeding, attachment style parenting promotes closeness between parent and child through other practices such as co-sleeping and “baby wearing”, the practice of wearing a baby or child in a sling against your body at all times, as opposed to in a stroller.

The cover image has Grumet’s son standing on a chair in order to reach her breast, raising the obvious question of should a child still be breastfed when they are too big to be held.

Twitter has been exploding with feedback on the cover, debating how old is too old to breastfeed? Is this parenting style healthy or unhealthy?

Chime in and let us know what you think.  Has attachment parenting gone too far?