Coco Austin has made it clear that she stands by her decision to breastfeed her daughter, Chanel, until she was six years old.
Ice-T’s wife addressed the “bonding experience” with her daughter during an appearance on the Dumb Blonde podcast. “It wasn’t like I was feeding her because she needed a meal,” said Coco. “She was able to eat by a year, full solids. … It was more that she wanted to be around me.”
“It was mostly when she went to sleep, [and] she wanted me to be there. So it was more of a comfort thing,” added Coco, before revealing that she wanted it to be up to Chanel for when she decided to grow out of it. “I’m going to let her stop when she wants to stop,” Coco continued.
During the podcast episode, Coco addressed people who criticized the fact that she did it for so long. “In Europe, they’re doing it until 7,” Coco claimed. “There, it’s nothing to them. We Americans think that’s weird. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it as long as it’s just in your home, you know?”
As for how that’s impacted their relationship, Coco revealed that Chanel and her are very close. “She’s always sitting and lying on me,” Coco explained. “It’s just a really nice moment because it’s not going to be like this when they get into the teenage years. I’m loving every moment I can with Chanel.”
Coco has spoken out about her breastfeeding journey with Chanel before. In 2019, she shared a lengthy post on Instagram about the experience.
“A mothers calling.... I'm so blessed to have this unbelievable experience in this thing called Nursing,” wrote Coco. “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.”
“I hung in there and now almost 4 years later Chanel still wants the boob ..(Chanel is 3 and turning 4 in 2 months),” she continued. “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.”
After her post went viral, Ice-T defended her decision and his daughter’s eating palette while speaking to TMZ. “They make it like the baby only … breastfeeds,” Ice said. “Every once in a while, you know what I’m saying, she wants to get close to her mom, that’s what they do. She eats food, she eats fucking cheeseburgers.”