Mom Hit With Severe Backlash After Sharing Her Tandem Breastfeeding Journey, Doctor Intervenes

Winona Wyborn thought she was simply sharing a glimpse of her breastfeeding journey. Instead, the Australian mother found herself at the center of a fierce online debate over whether her two-year-old was “too old” to nurse. The backlash came after Wyborn shared a video documenting her experience tandem feeding her toddler alongside her younger baby, with some strangers calling the practice “disgusting” and “creepy.” But while the internet debated whether she should still be breastfeeding her older child, a lactation expert says there is far more nuance to tandem nursing than viral comments suggest. winona_wyborn/Instagram Winona Wyborn is an Australian content creator, homesteader, and advocate for conscious parenting and physiological home birth. She is best known for documenting her “slow living” lifestyle on a seaside farm, running her herbalism brand Mother Medicina, and advocating for undisturbed “free birthing.” The mother of three expected her story of tandem breastfeeding to spark curiosity or perhaps encourage other mothers navigating a similar experience. She had shared the video around World Breastfeeding Week in early August, explaining that she never expected to have three children so close together and therefore had never planned on tandem feeding. winona_wyborn/Instagram “But for me nothing is more important than nourishing my babies with my milk, and so it was always going to be this way,” she wrote in the caption of the clip. Winona also acknowledged that the experience had not always been easy, particularly because of the physical and emotional demands of breastfeeding two children. She explained, “It has come with its challenges, mostly just how overstimulating it can be at times and eating!!! enough food (seriously like a full time job).” The backlash, however, focused heavily on her decision to continue nursing her two-year-old toddler. winona_wyborn/Instagram One critic wrote, “Disgusting, not a baby anymore … too old for breastfeeding.” Another user added, “Breastfeeding toddlers kind of creeps me out,” while a third commented, “Breastfeed, but not for too long. That is gross, your child is too old!” But according to International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Leigh Anne O’Connor, the assumption that a two-year-old is automatically too old to breastfeed isn’t supported by established breastfeeding guidance. For some people, seeing an older child breastfeed can feel unfamiliar. Medically, however, age alone does not make breastfeeding inappropriate. Богдан Маліцький/Adobe Stock (not the actual photo) O’Connor told Bored Panda that “nursing a toddler is absolutely appropriate,” adding that nursing into “toddlerhood is considered biologically normal” and that the average age of weaning can fall somewhere between 2 and 7 years. This is also consistent with guidance from La Leche League, which notes that tandem nursing can involve continuing to breastfeed an older child after a new baby arrives. The organization explains that mothers may choose to continue because breastfeeding can provide both nutrition and emotional reassurance during the major transition of gaining a sibling. That can be particularly relevant in situations like Wyborn's. winona_wyborn/Instagram She became pregnant with her youngest child when her middle son was just seven months old, meaning he had to adjust to becoming a big brother while still very young himself. Winona said tandem feeding helped preserve their connection during that transition. “Tandem feeding has helped me to stay deeply connected to my two-year-old through the transition of being the ‘baby’ to the middle child,” she explained. The lactation expert similarly said continuing to nurse an older child “can help with bonding and potentially avoiding jealousy when a new baby enters the family.” And contrary to another common misconception, tandem breastfeeding does not automatically mean the newborn will be deprived of milk. “The body will make milk specifically for the newborn. The body will make enough for both,” O’Connor explained. She compared the situation to mothers who breastfeed twins or triplets, noting that the body can increase milk production according to demand. La Leche League's guidance similarly explains that after birth, a mother continues producing colostrum for the newborn before her milk becomes more plentiful, generally within the first few days. winona_wyborn/Instagram The organization advises mothers who tandem nurse to pay particular attention to the newborn's feeding cues and ensure the baby has unrestricted access to the breast while establishing their milk supply. This matters because a newborn's nutritional needs differ from those of a toddler. The younger baby's feeding effectiveness, weight gain, and overall wellbeing remain important considerations, particularly during those first days after birth. The organization also notes that the older child may suddenly want to nurse more frequently once the baby arrives. The increased milk supply can make breastfeeding particularly appealing to a toddler, and some older children may temporarily show less interest in solid food. winona_wyborn/Instagram For mothers who are comfortable continuing, that does not necessarily mean something is wrong. However, parents can establish limits if frequent nursing becomes overwhelming. There can also be a practical benefit for some mothers, as nursing an older child can help keep milk moving and ease engorgement when their supply increases after birth, while frequent milk removal can also help maintain milk production in the early weeks. And the milk itself does not simply become “less suitable” for the newborn because an older sibling is nursing. O’Connor said, “The milk will be specific for the baby.” sementsova321/Adobe Stock (not the actual photo) That distinction is important because online discussions often treat breast milk as though its composition remains static. In reality, milk changes throughout lactation and in response to the needs and stage of the breastfeeding relationship. While much of the online debate focused on whether tandem breastfeeding is appropriate for children, there is another side of the practice that deserves attention: what it demands from the mother. O’Connor acknowledged that tandem nursing can sometimes feel overwhelming, saying, “It can feel overwhelming to have both babies on your body.” winona_wyborn/Instagram That echoes Winona’s own description of her experience. She specifically mentioned feeling “overstimulated at times and struggling to eat enough” to keep up with the demands of breastfeeding. La Leche League similarly warns that mothers may experience increased hunger, thirst, and fatigue because their bodies are producing enough milk for two children. The organization recommends eating according to appetite, drinking to thirst, and taking opportunities to rest. It also stresses the importance of accepting help with cooking, shopping, housework, and childcare where possible. Another challenge can be breastfeeding aversion or agitation, sometimes described by mothers as feeling “touched out.” Lactation experts explain that some tandem-feeding mothers can experience a strong urge to limit or stop nursing their older child, particularly when they are exhausted, unwell, stressed, or not getting enough time for themselves. That does not necessarily mean a mother no longer loves breastfeeding or feels differently about her child. It can simply reflect the enormous physical and emotional demands being placed on her body. Despite the criticism, hundreds of mothers defended Wyborn and pushed back against the idea that breastfeeding a toddler is inherently strange or inappropriate. “Thank you for giving out examples of NORMAL [breastfeeding] times and tandem feeding to all the mums in this world!” one supporter wrote. geargodz/Adobe Stock (not the actual photo) Another said, “We are going through this now. And honestly I can say it is more convenient than it is inconvenient.” Wyborn herself said she was surprised by how strongly people reacted. “It actually never crossed my mind that people would find it gross,” she told news.com.au. She added, “I immediately thought how incredibly sad it is that people actually think breastfeeding a toddler is something to be ashamed of. It highlighted to me how disconnected we have become as a society from what is actually natural.” O’Connor also identified discomfort with toddler nursing as one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding tandem breastfeeding. For healthy mothers and children, O’Connor considers tandem nursing safe, although individual circumstances may warrant personalized medical or lactation support. This aligns with Australian Breastfeeding Association guidance, which describes tandem feeding as an “option for mothers who wish to continue breastfeeding an older child after a new baby arrives.” winona_wyborn/Instagram Ultimately, tandem breastfeeding is a personal decision, not a requirement for mothers and certainly not something every family will want to do. But the available breastfeeding guidance makes clear that nursing a toddler or feeding a newborn and older child at the same time is not automatically unsafe simply because the older child can walk, talk, or eat solid food. For Winona, tandem feeding became a way to stay close to her son while helping him adjust to becoming a middle child. The content creator told the outlet, “Tandem feeding has helped me to stay deeply connected to my two-year-old through the transition of being the ‘baby’ to the middle child.” “I wanted him to still have many opportunities of closeness with me, time to slow down and just be together. It’s been really sweet to witness the little moments between the two boys when they’re feeding, like the hand holds, the giggles, and the smiles.”