Time’s breast-feeding toddler cover spurs shock, talk

Time Magazine
The May 21, 2012 cover of Time magazine

By Pamela Sitt
Yowza! The new Time magazine cover — you know, the one all over your Facebook newsfeed and/or e-mail inbox — has moms everywhere talking, sharing, commenting and, inevitably, judging. In any case, we’re paying attention now.
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What do you think of the TIME breast-feeding cover?

It’s great!
Eh, I don’t really want to see that.
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Especially me, because today happens to be the day I officially stop breastfeeding my 9-month-old. I have mixed feelings about this — on the one hand, I was able to get dressed for work today without considering the easy-access factor of my shirt. On the other hand, sniff, I already kind of miss it.
It’s a bold move to breast-feed a toddler in today’s judgmental society, and it’s the ultimate bold move to do it on the cover of Time magazine. That’s a real mom with her real kid. And the mom, 26-year-old Jamie Lynne Grumet, will be on TODAY Friday morning to talk about it.
Related: Time cover mom defends breast-feeding 3-year-old
Wondering how she’s taking all of this attention? On her Twitter account, anyway, she’s reacting just as anyone else would: “Oh my gosh! Aram and I are on the cover of @timemagazine”
And once you get past that provocative cover, the story raises the familiar topic of attachment parenting with a profile of Dr. William Sears, along with some pictures of real moms who follow the attachment parenting philosophy of baby-wearing, co-sleeping, and yes, extended nursing.

We know you have opinions about the cover. Sure, it got everyone’s attention, but does it ultimately hurt or help the perception of breast-feeding?
More stories on breast-feeding from TODAY Moms:
Controversial ad uses breast-feeding to sell cookies
Wean, baby, wean: The pressure to rest the breast
Should breast-feeding be shown on Sesame Street?
More adoptive moms breast-feed babies
Video: Playdate waivers: Should parents sign them?

Dr. Bill Sears’ theory of “attachment parenting” is making headlines after a Time magazine cover story featured a photo of a mother breast-feeding her 3-year-old. NBC’s Darlene Rodriguez reports on this parenting technique and TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie speaks with the mother in the now-infamous photo and Dr. Sears.
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