I have been breastfeeding my child and he is now 2 years and 5 months, do you think that is ok?

Question

I would just like to add that he does eat food 3 times a day and he drinks milk and juice out of a cup, the only time I breastfeed him is at night before he goes to sleep!

Answer 1

GOOD GIRL!!

I am so happy to see someone educated about extended breastfeeding!! If your child is ready to wean they will let you know :)


to the many uneducated idiots that are making derogatory comments do your homework before spouting off


• Studies on the length of time which other mammals feed their babies have put the ‘natural’ age for weaning children from the breast at between 2 1/2 and 7 (years, that is)
• In most cultures around the world, breast feeding continues for at least 2 years
• The breast feeding bill introduced in the Scottish parliament makes it a criminal offence for anyone to stop a woman for breast feeding a child up to 2 years old in a public place; there are campaigns to get this arbitrary end date extended or removed.
• Many formula fed babies, or babies who are switched to formula or cows milk, still have a drink of milk at night at 3 years old – if baby can have a drink from a cup at night, then why not a breastfeed?
• The World Health Organisation recommends that babies are breastfed from birth until 2 years and then as long as mutually desired.
• The reduction in the risk of certain forms of cancer increases the longer a mother breastfeeds.
• After 6 months breast feeding is usually a pleasure – You both know what you are doing and how to do it!
• Children who are given continued support and comfort grow up to be more secure and self reliant.
• Although you can not rely on breastfeeding as a form of contraception after introducing solids, extended breast feeding often delays the return of menstruation, for anything up to 2 years after the birth, which is often an unexpected, but very welcome benefit (but please remember that you can fall pregnant again before your first post-birth period!)

and to the person that said its nutritionally useless get a clue:

Breastmilk is, after all, milk. Even after six months, it still contains protein, fat, and other nutritionally important and appropriate elements which babies and children need. Breastmilk still contains immunologic factors that help protect the baby. In fact, some immune factors in breastmilk that protect the baby against infection are present in greater amounts in the second year of life than in the first. This is, of course as it should be, since children older than a year are generally exposed to more sources of infection. Breastmilk still contains special growth factors that help the immune system to mature, and which help the brain, gut, and other organs to develop and mature.

It has been well shown that children in daycare who are still breastfeeding have far fewer and less severe infections than the children who are not breastfeeding. The mother thus loses less work time if she continues nursing her baby once she is back at her paid work.

It is interesting that formula company marketing pushes the use of formula (a very poor copy of the real thing) for a year, yet implies that breastmilk (from which the poor copy is made) is only worthwhile for 6 months or even less (“the best nutrition for newborns”). Too many health professionals have taken up the refrain.

Answer 2

It is fantastic. The longer you breast feed the more benefit to you and him. Your breast milk is still good for him, it changes the longer you beast feed. the World Health Organization recommends Breastfeeding for AT LEAST 2 years. And depending on where you look the international average is 2.8 to 4.2 years. You definitely should not stop just because someone else is uncomfortable. My son is 22 mos and shows no signs of stopping soon. Even if there was no nutritional value, why is it wrong to comfort your child? But you can know that he will be healthier, smarter and more secure because of you.

Answer 3

In some cultures, like ours, it is not common to breastfeed past one. However in many cultures its not common to wean before 2. Despite any cultural habits of one area, numerous studies have shown that there is a great benefit in nursing into the second year of life and beyond. Personally my opinion is in standing with the official policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer." (AAP 2005) The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that "Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2001) With that being said, Yeah, okay 8 years is pretty extreme!! Even a villager from the remotest part of Africa would agree with you! I do beleive from watching the video myself that she truly felt that she was doing what she beleived was in her daughters best interest. I would never breastfeed that long but if there is no evidence to support that this harms a child then it's not my place to judge. I will always see breasts as mammary glands and not sex toys, so maybe that's why I feel a little less "disgusted" by it than some of the other responders. BTW, the child did wean shortly after the video was shot. This video gets brought up a lot on y/a. Personally I think its every mothers choice to breastfeed for the length of time she feels comfortable be that days, weeks, or years. But yeah, 8 is pushing it.

Answer 4

Honestly, I think the peditrician would be the best person to ask that question...I'm sure he doesn't do it that often at two. I agree that mother knows best, though. People are very opinionated when it comes to what is acceptable when it comes to breastfeeding (breastfeeding in public, when you should stop, etc). I would discuss it with your peditrician and see what they say. You will get a lot of rediculous answers on this forum, and alot of the people may not even be parents!

Answer 5

Um i think that may be a little old but heres what i found:

Extended breastfeeding
Some mothers and babies enjoy breastfeeding so much they are in no hurry to stop. Family members and friends may feel uncomfortable about it, but don’t give in to pressure if you and your child are happy.

It is not unusual for children up to four years to continue to be breastfed. The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding children up to the age of two years.

If your child’s only means of relaxation is to breastfeed, it may be useful to help them learn other ways to soothe themselves.

Answer 6

Yes, I think that you should breastfeed for as long as you and your son want to. America is the only country in the world that looks at breastfeeding as weird. Other countries breastfeed their children for much longer than we do. As long as you and your son are happy, don't worry about what other people think!

Answer 7

There are a lot of people that breastfeed their kids until they're 3 or older, there's nothing wrong with it, sometimes they wean themselves and others you have to help th em a little. He'll stop nursing when he's ready, give him time.

Answer 8

I think it's great. Toddlers have notoriously unbalanced diets, and your milk has all the nutrients he needs. Nursing is great for helping get little people to sleep, and to avoid (or recover from) tantrums. Human milk has pain killers in it, too, so it's good after all those falls when they're learning to walk, run, and jump. Breastmilk doesn't produce pollution in the manufacturing, packaging, or delivery; it's good for the environment. And the longer you nurse him, the lower your risks for breast cancer in the future.

The World Health Organization recommends nursing for *at least* 2 years. As long as you and your son are happy, good for you!!

Answer 9

I think that it is good that you are allowing your child to wean himself. My oldest daughter is 2 years and 10 months and also still breastfeeds at night (along with eating regular solids). My pediatrician recommended child-led weaning for my children.

Answer 10

Sounds fine to me - mine is 2 yrs and 16 days and still going strong. Don't listen to the ones who are telling you that you should have stopped when the first tooth came in or at 9 months. The AAP recommends to bf up to 12 months (or did they increase that to 18 months) and the WHO recommend it up to 2 years.