at what age did your child stop breastfeeding?

[BuckNaked]

Oh, and for what it's worth, the damage done to my breasts was done when I was pregnant - nursing hasn't affected them any more or less.

Same here - you don't go from pleasantly perky to Supermam without some lasting elasticity issues...

 

[metivier]

Actually, breast milk is not only designed for infants as there is medical evidence that extended breastfeeding has its virtues, especially for toddlers and beyond.

Scientific research by Katherine A. Dettwyler, PhD, shows that 2.5 to 7.0 years of nursing is what our children have been designed [for] (Dettwyler 1995) and many countries have women who still practice extended breastfeeding.

DS (age 25 months) thanks you for setting the record straight about the nutritional quality of his mommy's milk.

 

[Planogirl]

OK, if extended breastfeeding is so healthy then why not go for extended bottlefeeding? I bottlefed and did not allow DS to go to sleep with a bottle or to run around with one. He had to lie down and consume his bottle and once he was finished he could get up.

I realize that bottlefeeding is not as good as the breast before someone points that out. But I would presume that it's healthier than regular table food so why not continue to bottle feed?

As for those nations who still practive extended breastfeeding, I suspect that that's due to economic factors rather than any physical need. Breastmilk is free so you definitely can't beat the price!

One more thing, someone mentioned natural weaning of kittens. The mother cat decides when it's time though not the kittens.

 

[GEM]

Walking away.
Walking away.
Walking away.

This is my New Year's resolution and my Christmas gift to myself.

Happy discussing.

GEM
(Mother to a very happy, independent 32 month old who is still nursing and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.)

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I realize that bottlefeeding is not as good as the breast before someone points that out. But I would presume that it's healthier than regular table food so why not continue to bottle feed?

A bottle is just a method of delivery, so from a health standpoint, there is no advantage to bottle over cup.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I did not read past the 1st page
i think its gross
i have 2 sons and did not breast feed at all as I had a reduction in high school and could not
but others is family have and they said between one or 2 depending on the kids
i think breast feeding a 6 year old is yeah gross
anything over 3 and i would probably be like thats gross

 

[BuckNaked]

Walking away.
(Mother to a very happy, independent 32 month old who is still nursing and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.)

Guess you couldn't quite walk away, huh?

Sorry you broke your resolution so early in the year - it usually takes me at least 2 weeks.

 

[mommystieg]

FWIW:

The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that "breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired." * The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two years.

Breastfeeding a toddler helps with the child's ability to mature. Although some experts say a toddler who is not weaned will have difficulty becoming independent, it's usually the fearful, clingy children that have been pushed into situations requiring too much independence too soon. A breastfeeding toddler is having his dependency needs met. The closeness and availability of the mother through breastfeeding is one of the best ways to help toddlers grow emotionally.

Breastfeeding can help a toddler understand discipline as well. Discipline is teaching a child about what is right and good, not punishment for normal toddler behavior. To help a toddler with discipline, he needs to feel good about himself and his world. Breastfeeding helps a toddler feel good about himself, because his needs are being met.

Just as babies do, toddlers receive health benefits from breastfeeding. Your milk continues to provide immunities and vitamins, and can help protect your toddler from illness and allergies. If your toddler does get sick, nursing will help comfort him. In fact, a toddler with an upset stomach may be able to tolerate nothing but human milk.

Toddlers have a huge world to explore, and breastfeeding provides them (and their mothers!) with some quiet time in their busy, waking hours.

A mother and her baby should breastfeed for as long as they wish to breastfeed. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently (2005) recommends: "Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child." * As solids are introduced, usually around the middle of the first year, your baby will shift his primary source of nutrition from your milk to other foods.

All the benefits of human milk--including nutritional and health--continue for as long as your baby receives your milk. In fact, as your baby takes less human milk, these advantages are condensed into what milk is produced. Many of the health benefits of human milk are dose related, that is, the longer the baby receives human milk, the greater are the benefits.

BUT -- I doubt I will BF DD#3 until she starts school--just not for me.

 

[GEM]

Guess you couldn't quite walk away, huh?

Sorry you broke your resolution so early in the year - it usually takes me at least 2 weeks.

Nope. Seriously. I'm walking. See. Here I go . . .

. . . I just discovered there is no "walking away" smiley, so I'm going to use this guy . . .



Riding away.
Riding away.
Riding away.

 

[CathrynRose]

Well the le leche league uses the term your baby not your child.

I still call my 10 y/o - my baby.

 

[BuckNaked]

Nope. Seriously. I'm walking. See. Here I go . . .

. . . I just discovered there is no "walking away" smiley, so I'm going to use this guy . . .



Riding away.
Riding away.
Riding away.

That's cute!

But I'm pretty sure that it's too late to walk away once you've already made your position known.

 

[Planogirl]

But truthfully a 6 year old is neither a baby or a toddler.

I realize that a bottle is a method of delivery as is a sippy cup whether it holds breastmilk or formula. But children tend to be held while taking a bottle so that also provides comforting and security IMO.

Ah well never mind. GEM, are you having trouble getting that bike to go?

 

[leighe]

It seems to me there is a huge difference between a toddler and a six year old. I personally wouldn't BF my 6 year old but I wouldn't want to call it child abuse if someone else did.

I'm planning on BFing for a year and to be totally honest I am really, really nervous and a little icked out about it. I mainly want to do it because breastmilk is supposed to be better for the baby. DH's aunt is president of a local LLL chapter and would freak out if I didn't. She nursed all three of her children until they were almost 4 I think. I have a friend who ended up in counseling b/c she wasn't able to BF her little girl and her lactation consultant and other people convinced her she wasn't trying hard enough, she was selfish, etc. She got so upset and anxious that she couldn't eat and the baby cried all of the time. I never knew it was so hard in the first place.

 

[CathrynRose]

GEM
(Mother to a very happy, independent 32 month old who is still nursing and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.)

Good for you - seriously.

*Especially* admitting such in the midst of a heated, rip-on-anyone-who-doesnt-share-your-view debate!!!

 

[katerkat]

One more thing, someone mentioned natural weaning of kittens. The mother cat decides when it's time though not the kittens.

I meant more that weaning is a natural thing with the kitten comparasion, unlike deciding to not go to school anymore. All mammals wean naturally (whether it is led by the mother or child); people don't choose to go/not go to school naturally.

 

[Planogirl]

I meant more that weaning is a natural thing with the kitten comparasion, unlike deciding to not go to school anymore. All mammals wean naturally (whether it is led by the mother or child); people don't choose to go/not go to school naturally.

I read it from the perspective of child-led weaning. Gotcha, now.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

DD weaned herself at 15 months..she was just doing it for the cuddle time, not really eating...so we stopped. I was happy to make it 15 months with no formula or milk and work full time!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I just wanted to mention that the reason why many "world" organizations (UNICEF, etc.) encourage longer nursing is due to issues of nutrition and water quality. It does provide babies and young children a "safe" source of nutrition. For the most part in this country, we don't have those issues, so it's not as vital to the child's survival as it might be to a child in, say, India. And of course, no matter where in the world people are, the ones least likely to have the luxury of debating such an issue are the ones most likely to face poverty, disease, and poor nutrition to begin with.

 

[Jeanny]

eeeeewwww, eeeeeewwww, eeeeeeeeeewwwwww. Sometimes, I wonder about people!!!!!!

 

[momof2inPA]

My first stopped at 2 1/2, my second at 2

..and weightlifting is a big help to counteract any elasticity issues- specifically, bench presses and standing curls