Why do so many people think that a child who can ask to nurse should be weaned?

Question

Just because a child can use the words "I want to nurse" or any other phrase they may use, why should they be weaned?? I hear so many people say "if they're old enough to ask for it then they're too old to be nursing". This just doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. Don't these people realize that babies "ask" to nurse as soon as they're born? They root around your shirt as soon as they start breathing. Different children begin talking at different ages. Why should a child who acheives this milestone early be denied something so wholesome and good?

Answer 1

I was just thinking this exact same thing last night!

If a baby is verbally "gifted" and talks clearly at 10 months, does that somehow affect the mother's breastmilk, and negate the clear benefits it passes to the child?

If a child is a late-bloomer and doesn't start talking until age 2, does that mean it's "OK" for that child to still receive breastmilk? Does he somehow get a "pass" from your judgemental remarks?

Do humans somehow turn into cows at 12 months, so that they become unable to digest human milk, and only do well on milk from an animal? No!

I'm afraid that intelligent well-reasoned discourse on this subject is impossible, since the negative responses seem to be based entirely on knee-jerk reaction. By definition a knee-jerk reaction is neither intelligent nor well-reasoned.

I have 2 children who are allergic to cow's milk. Goat milk doesn't do it for them either. Last time I checked they're not soy plants, so giving them soy "milk" as a primary source of nourishment seemed like an expensive and potentially risky course of action.
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/index.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/phytoestrogens.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/khoury_presentation.html

I continued to breastfeed my fourth child until he was almost 3. He is a VERY independent and healthy 4 year old. Strangers in the grocery store come up to me and compliment me on my beautiful, friendly, and polite children. If breastfeeding him past the age of one has "damaged" him in any way, I'm not seeing it and neither is his pediatrician.

I commend mothers who have the courage to continue giving their children the benefit of breastfeeding despite the rudeness and nosy remarks of ignorant people who have neither knowledge nor experience.

Answer 2

Stupid people that are against long term nursing tend to say these things. I agree with you, at least when they are hungry they can tell you, instead of grabbing your breast and pulling it out and latching on. I stopped nursing my youngest at 9 months, I had to stop because of a major biting issue. I would have nursed her longer if possible. My daughter could say drink at 11 months, if I were nursing I wouldn't have started to wean her, just because of that. Some people just don't make any sense to me

Answer 3

It's simply because of their own personal hang-ups. Because they can't get past the image of the breast as sexual, I think that causes some people to get hung up on the idea that "walking and talking children shouldn't nurse." It creeps them out because they are uneducated and have never experienced it themselves.

Obviously, the people who say this either have never nursed beyond a few weeks or never saw nursing as more than simply a way of feeding a child.

When children learn to use words to ask for other things that they want, parents are overjoyed that their child is learning to communicate! "WOW! We can finally really begin to understand what junior wants!" The child asks for milk and they give him milk. He says he's hungry and they feed him. He says he wants a hug and they give him one. Why is breastfeeding any different!? It fulfills the child's need for nourishment AND his need for love and attention at the same time!

In my opinion, denying him the chance to nurse just because he can use language to ask for it is no different than denying him a hug or kiss because he asks for it. Nursing isn't just about nutrition, it is also a way that mom and baby can be close to each other and show love for each other.

EDITED TO ADD:

MELANY M -
Nursing helps form strong attachments between mother and child. This is NORMAL and HEALTHY! Your children SHOULD be strongly attached to you! It DOES NOT grow "momma's boys" or adults who can't do for themselves. Allowing a child to wean at his or her own pace actually does the OPPOSITE! It grows children who are self confident.

Elizabeth N. Baldwin, Esq. states in "Extended Breastfeeding and the Law": "Meeting a child's dependency needs is the key to helping that child achieve independence. And children outgrow these needs according to their own unique timetable." Children who achieve independence at their own pace are MORE secure in that independence then children forced into independence prematurely.

Answer 4

yea sounds like your one of those mothers that breast feed your baby until they are 5...

children need to be weaned off the mothers milk...it becomes harder for the mother to breast feed and its just plain idiotic to me....if your children have teeth or can start speaking in full sentences it is time to let go.....

breast milk is to provide nutrition for a your infants body becuast its the only nutrition it can have right now but when that child get older it is time to supplement those nutrients with other foods...breast milk is not intended to be for children past infancy...

Answer 5

my mother nursed me for the standard 7-8 months that was the fashion in the late 60s. when my brother came around, she nursed him until 2nd grade (7 years old). do i really need to explain how creepy that was? i don't think it was "wholesome and good" anymore

Answer 6

They connect talking with that magical age of 12 months they they believe that babies suddenly no longer need mommy's milk. Another question, just what does cow's milk having it that is so wonderful that mommy's milk doesn't?

Answer 7

Everyone is saying it's wrong..by why is it wrong? It's ok for a child to ask for food or a stinky bottle so why can't they ask to nurse? Explain why is that wrong. I'd like an intelligent answer please if that's at all possible.

Answer 8

The longer you keep them under nursing the more comfortable they are and the harder it is for you to stop them, they're be 10 years of age still wanting to nurse.

Answer 9

very frankly that is just wrong for a child to come up to you and say mommy i would like to nurse ummm....no i dont think so a child should be weaned by the time they are a year old at that time they are old enough to drink cows milk

Answer 10

Lady will you be like that one woman in Little Britains sketch Bitty? Where her 30 year old son is getting married and he asks to be fed during the ceremony.

Hello?! I think that children ought to be weaned from breastfeeding as soon as they start to walk. It will bind them to you if you don't. They will have trouble being autosufficient adults and will always be 'momma boys'

If you like your breast being knawed at, get a man to do the job, don't get kicks from your child. I think it's just plain wrong that a 4 year old child asks to be nursed and here comes the dumb mom taking her boob out for him to fondle.... eeeeuuuuuwwww!!!