breastfeeding?

Question

Is breastfeeding a 2 1/2 year old acceptable?

Answer 1

I think giving a 2 1/2 yr. old breastmilk is perfectly fine, however I don't think actually breastfeeding them is such a good idea. They're 2 1/2 yrs. old--they aren't infants and shouldn't be fed like one.

Answer 2

Yes, that's totally normal.

The AAP recommends nursing for *at least* the first 12 mos and thereafter as long as mutually desired. In their most recent policy statement on breastfeeding, they go on to say, "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."

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)

Former Surgeon General, Dr. Antonia Novello, proclaimed: "It's the lucky baby, I feel, who continues to nurse until he's two."

The World Health Organization recommends nursing for at least 2 years.

The world-wide average age of weaning is 4.2 years.

Research by anthropologist Kathryn Detwyler shows that the natural age of human weaning should fall between 2.5 and 7 years of age.

A baby's sucking need tends to lesson sometime between nine months and three years. The age at which this need lessens is individual, yet very few babies are emotionally filled and ready to wean before a year.

Breastmilk continues to provide benefits to the child as long as you nurse. It doesn't turn to Kool Aid at a certain age as some people would have you believe.

Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986).

And it is NOT abuse.

Answer 3

In most countries, children are weaned at around three. Historically this is true too: The Bible mentions that Abraham was nursed until he was three. The World Health Organization and the Canadian Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing until AT LEAST the age of two.

There are many many benefits to extended nursing. I'm sure I'll get many thumbs down for this, but I nursed my eldest child until he was three and a half and my youngest until he was two and a half. My children have never had ear infections, strep throat, or anything other than the occasional runny nose. My almost five year old son is reading at a third grade level and my almost three year old knows the alphabet, can count to 100, knows all of his colors and shapes, and is highly verbal. Is this because of breastfeeding? Maybe, maybe not.

Just as I would never judge another mother for using formula or weaning before the recommend age, other mothers who choose not to nurse until a child self-weans shouldn't judge mothers who do. To each her own. As women and mothers we should support each other and our parenting choices, not judge those who have made different choices than our own.

Answer 4

If a child is old enough to ask for it, s/he is old enough to drink from a cup. This is a comfort issue, possibly for both mother AND child, but comfort can be provided in other ways: hugging, sitting in mom's lap, etc. Nutrition is a non-issue at this age. The child should have been eating solid food for two years at this age, so s/he should be getting enough vitamins and nutrients from the solid food so as not to need the breast milk. Sorry, that's just weird.

Answer 5

If you're still producing milk and both you and the child are happy to continue breastfeeding, then DO IT !!!

People who think it's weird are seeing the child at the boob as though they're seeing an adult at the boob and need to get over it.

I think it is due to the changes to society. We're pushing for independence, even onto our children.

Answer 6

I think something that I didn't see on any other post was that most 2 1/2 years aren't nursing for food but for comfort. How reassuring to know that when everything else in the world is changing they can still count on mom for comfort and safety back in her arms. I think it is fine.

Answer 7

It's really none of our business. If the childs mother is comfortable with it, why should anyone else be saying anything about it?
It's time we all started letting mothers do what they think is right for their individual children without making them feel bad for the decisions they make.

Answer 8

No, a child at 2.5 is normally on 2 % milk and long off the breast. That could be considered abuse, it is not benefiting the child any longer, it is a parent issue. Way too old to still on the breast!

Answer 9

Totally. There is nothing wrong with it. The baby does NOT associate the Breast with SEX or finds it EROTIC!! The child thinks of it as his FOOD.
One thing however is that he should be getting other foods too.
It`s no different than a pacifier or a warm bottle of milk before bed. Mommy and baby decide when enough`s enough.
Good luck!

Answer 10

Yes.

"the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies be breastfed for at least one year, or as long as mutually desirable.3"

http://www.lalecheleague.org/ba/Feb01.html

"Many people are surprised to learn that experts consider 4 or 5 years to be the average age of weaning worldwide.5 Research by Dr. Katherine Dettwyler, anthropologist at Texas A&M University, argues that the natural weaning age for human beings falls between 2.5 and 6 years of age.6"