Source: Rob Rich/WENN.com / WENN
Coco Austin, wife of rapper and actor Ice-T, caught some flack recently for her decision to still breastfeed her daughter, Chanel, who will turn four in November.
It all started when the 40-year-old model and TV personality shared images of herself nursing Chanel while they, along with Ice-T, were flying on a private plane. The child was covered up in a blanket, sharing a quiet moment with her mother. Coco shared the photo in an attempt to normalize breastfeeding, saying it’s part of “A mothers [sic] calling.” She also opened up about why her initial struggles to nurse Chanel play a part in why she still does.
“I had a hard time breastfeeding the 1st week of when Chanel was born, I almost gave up but my family told me to hang for another week. They told me I dont want to miss this special moment you have with your child.. health wise and bond wise,” she wrote.
“I hung in there and now almost 4 years later Chanel still wants the boob,” she added. “Its more of a comfort thing now and of course she eats regular but nap time and night time are our time and I’m lucky she hasn’t grown out it yet because when that moment comes I will be so sad..its the best feeling and ALL mothers that nurse know..”
There were a number of mothers who supported Coco, and some shared their own stories of extended breastfeeding lasting until their kids were two and three years old. But there were also quite a few people who told her that Chanel is too old to still be nursing.
Still, Coco isn’t bothered by any of the pushback. She has a whole InstaStory category filled with videos of her nursing Chanel (in a pool and before bed for example), saying it “never gets old” and that she doesn’t know when she will stop.
It also doesn’t bother Ice-T by the way. TMZ caught up with the 61-year-old in New York this week, and he said people who have a problem with Chanel still breastfeeding are inaccurately acting as though that is the only way she eats.
“They make it like the baby only breastfeeds,” he said. “Every once in a while she wants to get close to her mom so that’s what they do. You know what I’m saying? She eats food. She eats f–king cheeseburgers [laughs].”
This isn’t the first time she’s received less than positive feedback for her nursing habits, and every time she has, Coco has pushed people to think outside the box.
“They say to only breastfeed the baby for two years — that’s what they’ve been saying to me. I’m so sick of people telling me that. ‘Cause that’s during the time when they need their nutrition, and then they start eating food,” she told OK! last year. “But in European cities, they’re breastfeeding until seven, eight years old. I get females all around the world telling me that this is something that’s not weird. [They ask] ‘why do you guys have to normalize breastfeeding?'”
