A South African parenting influencer has sparked intense debate online after defending her decision to continue breastfeeding her four-year-old child, despite critics calling it “inappropriate” and “unhealthy.” Shinnai Visser, known on social media as @mindful_mamma_za, has become the center of a heated parenting discussion after sharing details about her extended breastfeeding journey with her followers. While many praised her honesty and commitment to what she believes is best for her children, others strongly criticized her parenting choices.
Visser, 34, is known for posting content focused on holistic parenting, home births, homeschooling, and motherhood. Much of what she shares is embraced by her audience, but some of her more unconventional parenting methods have attracted harsh reactions. Her latest comments about continuing to nurse her older child have especially triggered strong opinions across social media, where parenting debates often become deeply personal and emotional.
Why She Says She’s Continuing To Breastfeed
According to Visser, her choice to keep breastfeeding her children beyond what many people in Western culture consider “normal” is based on research that changed the way she thinks about weaning. She said she learned that the natural weaning age for humans can range anywhere from 2.5 to 7 years, which made her see extended breastfeeding as something biologically normal rather than unusual. In a post shared on TikTok, she explained that in many cultures around the world, breastfeeding well into early childhood is not seen as strange at all. Instead, she said it is often expected and fully supported. That perspective, she argues, is very different from the judgment she often receives online, where many people immediately assume that nursing an older child must be harmful or emotionally unhealthy.
Critics Call It “Inappropriate”
The strongest backlash has come from people who believe breastfeeding a four-year-old creates too much dependence or crosses a line once children are old enough to eat solid food regularly. Some social media users labeled the practice “inappropriate,” while others accused her of making parenting choices that could negatively affect a child’s independence. Visser has pushed back against those criticisms, arguing that many of the negative reactions are shaped more by cultural discomfort than actual science. She believes many people are reacting to something that feels unfamiliar rather than something that is truly harmful. That is why she continues to speak openly about the topic, even though she knows it will attract criticism.
It’s About Comfort, Not Just Nutrition
One of Visser’s main arguments is that breastfeeding an older child is not simply about food. She says that for her children, especially as they grow, nursing is more about emotional regulation and comfort than nutrition alone. She described breastfeeding as a way to help her children feel calm, safe, and connected, especially during stressful or overwhelming moments. She explained that her four-year-old now breastfeeds only minimally and intentionally, sometimes going several days without nursing at all. Meanwhile, her younger child, who is about 20 months old, still nurses frequently throughout the day and even during the night. That difference, she says, shows that each child’s needs are unique and should not be forced into a rigid timeline.
She Says She’ll Stop When It Feels Right
When asked when she plans to stop breastfeeding altogether, Visser’s answer is simple: she will continue for as long as it feels “mutually right” for both her and her children. Rather than following outside pressure or social expectations, she says she is focused on what works inside her own family. Despite the backlash, Visser remains firm in her stance and continues to encourage other mothers not to feel ashamed if they choose extended breastfeeding. Her story has become another reminder that parenting decisions — especially ones shared online — can quickly turn into public debate, even when they come from a place of personal conviction and care.
