A Mother Who Nurses Her Sons Until Age Ten

According to Saed News, citing Bahar News, Sheryl Wayne from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK, insists that breastfeeding her young sons is completely natural, as it strengthens their lifelong bond and has made them “closer.” The 39-year-old mother of six-year-old Riley and five-year-old Milo says both boys still receive breast milk.

Speaking to The Sun, Sheryl claims that breastfeeding is one of the best parenting tools, helping to calm children and soothe them when they are upset or unwell. However, the mother of two admits she has faced negative reactions from strangers and even some family members, who question whether her sons’ behavior is linked to breastfeeding.

Although she originally planned to stop breastfeeding when Riley was three, Sheryl wants her children to have a say in the decision. She says she will continue breastfeeding them until the age of ten if they wish. “It’s not just my choice, it’s a relationship because it’s something we do together. But it’s not like I have no limits—many times they want milk and I tell them no,” she explains. Despite criticism from family and friends, Sheryl believes breastfeeding has brought her closer to her children, which she calls the main motivation for continuing.

She adds, “I’ve been very lucky not to receive negative feedback from strangers. People think they are experts on raising other people’s children, but I don’t do this blindly, even though in many ways I follow my instincts.” Sheryl is a hypnotherapy coach and a doula—a role that provides emotional and practical support during events such as childbirth, miscarriage, or infertility.

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) advises mothers who choose breastfeeding not to worry about feeding their child on demand. They encourage breastfeeding whenever the mother or child feels the need, emphasizing that “feeding your child whenever they are hungry or need comfort is not spoiling them.”

Nutritionists consider exclusive breastfeeding beneficial for the first six months of a child’s life, after which complementary foods should be introduced alongside breast milk or formula. The NHS states, “You and your child can enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding for as long as you like. Breastfeeding up to the second year or beyond, alongside other foods, is ideal. If you become pregnant again, there is no need to stop breastfeeding.”