What do you think about breastfeeding a toddler?

Question

Every time I see a question about someone nursing a toddler I see a lot of answers that don't really answer the question but point fingers at the mother. Is the perception that we don't feed our children anything else and don't show them any other affection? I am nursing my 16-month-old daughter. She eats three meals a day, two snacks and can handle her own cup and spoon. She has never had a bottle or a pacifier. I also shower her with hugs, kisses, tickles and spend all of my time with her (I had an office job that I took home with me). All of the other mothers nursing toddlers that I talk to do the same. Why this misconception that we're some kind of creepy weirdos that do nothing but thrust our breasts at our children all day?? Let me tell you that they ask for it at this age....or just help themselves!!! Then there's the point of people thinking that we're creepy for "enjoying" it too much. Why wouldn't I enjoy such a close time with my daughter??

There are PLENTY of health benefits after a year! Breastmilk doesn't turn to water when the baby turns one. It is still full of vitamins and immunities that you can't buy at the store. The older the child get the more concetrated the immune factors become. This is nature's way of dealing with the fact that older children get into more germs!!

I appreciate your opinion vato. My main point in this is the fact that a couple days ago I asked a question about jury duty and nursing and got responses about not teaching my child to use a cup and not having another way to bond with her etc. etc.. That had NOTHING to do with what I was asking. In this question I am trying to understand why some people think that nursing toddlers are not able to feed themselves and are not shown any other affection. Show me a (normal, healthy) toddler that doesn't want to do all the things big people do--like have a cup and their own plate at the table.

mommyof2-YOU are creepy and weird for even thinking that breastfeeding is child molestation---where is YOUR mind?

vato--you hate people who type poorly? You have at least one typo and one grammatical error in your answer here.

mommyof2--You are just plain stupid. You can't even write correctly. To touch a child=molestation?! What kind of a broad statement is that? Are we supposed to use kitchen utensils to scoot them around and change their diapers?? What in the world do you think breasts are for? For grown men to fondle? Get your head out of the gutter and get some education.

Answer 1

Some people just don't educate themselves very well. World wide, the average weaning age is around four years old. In all other mammals weaning does not occur until the babies permanent molars erupt. In humans this is between ages 4 and 6. Also, a childs immune system is not fully developed until 6, meaning evolutionary breastmilk was available up until this age. In America we put too much emphises on when to wean, and not enough on our childrens HEALTH!!!!!!!! Breastmilk is the perfect food, and should be available until the child is ready to wean his or herself. It should not, in my feelings, be the parent's decision.
I would like to add, good for you for continuing to breastfeed.

Answer 2

It's kinda funny that people think breastfeeding is such an unnatural thing, when that's what we have them for. I have talked to many women who breastfed past the second year. Perfectly okay, as long as both parties are okay with it. I got met with lots of criticism about nursing my youngest past a year. She has never been very sick other than very minor colds even after starting daycare. With such a high risk of breast cancer in my family (two members have died from it and one currently in remission) I am hoping to reap the benefits from it myself. Just ignore the ignorant people and do what you feel is best for yourself and your child. I've never heard of a child being "psychologically damaged" from breadstfeeding, in fact it's the opposite. It's nice to know there are lots of supporters out there, and that makes it easier to dismiss the negative ones.
Looking at your previous question, I was called to jury duty while nursing, and just sent in an explanation of the burden of cost of child care since I was a stay at home mom while my husband worked, plus a note from our family doctor who wrote that it would be detrimental to baby's health (she was under a year old at the time). Obviously it worked, and I haven't been called since. I'm glad, since I've already served on jury duty more than once.

Answer 3

I fed both my children until they were two (25 yrs ago). They and I both enjoyed it and I think it was beneficial for all of us. Two seemed a natural time to stop to me as they were beginning to discover the world away from me. Since then I have seen several toddlers who have carried on feeding on demand though the night, and have had to have teeth removed because of decay. I still think breast feeding is best, and would happily carry on feeding beyond babyhood, but would be more cautious now about multiple feeds through the night where milk is likely to lie in their mouths. Just a small note of caution.. otherwise a great idea!

Answer 4

I am breastfeeding and co-sleeping with my 2.5 year old son. His teeth are fine, he doesn't bite, he eats plenty of table food and also drinks cow's milk. And he is emotionally secure. As a breastfeeder I don't claim that this is the only way to feel close to my son but I do feel that it is the best coice for us. What everyone else does is their choice, their business. I just wish they would accept that for my choices.

vato - I do not give thumbs down to everyone I do not agree with. I do not give thumbs down to misspelled answers because I'm not going to blame a person for being English challenged, having learning disabilities, or for being a product of a poor school system. I will give a thumbs down for an incorrect answer if appropriate. For opinions, I give thumbs down to uninformed, ill-informed, rude, or irrelevant answers. I gave a thumbs up to your answer because even though I do not agree with how your husband feels about his childhood experience, at least your answer was based in experience, not just spewing out one-liners of abuse.

Mommyof2 - Get real! My door will be open to any state service worker who wants to check us out. I personally know a few in my area who accept what we do, along with a child psychologist that I know very well. They fully support our parenting decisions and even encourage them. They also support that my 13 year old daughter is exposed to this as I am teaching her this very normal activity and influencing the health of my future grandchildren.

Answer 5

Its great! My son is almost 2 and nurse a few time a day and night.
My 10 year-old nursed until she was 3.5 years. She is bright, fiercely independent and amazingly healthy.

Pediatricians recommend full-fat milk for the first 2 years. The cholesterol helps the brain synapses connect and function. I don't understand why people think they suddenly need to force their babies off the breast and onto the Breast milk of an entirely different species.

If people think it is molestation to touch your child. How do you hug them, or carry them or even wipe their bums?

Americans don't seem to understand that Breasts are not actually sex organs. They are glands specifically made to produce food for humans until they LOSE THEIR MILK TEETH!

Answer 6

I think it is AMAZING. We live in an anti breastfeeding society. When you're in public you see babies eating that powder crap in their bottles all the time. Why??? It's stupid.

The world health organization reccomends breastfeeding for at least two years and LLL reccomends breastfeeding for as long as both parties agree. There is nothing wrong with nursing a toddler. It is not sexual.

Answer 7

Nursing is completely normal.

I nursed until my son was 24 months old. You should nurse as long as you and your child want to. Most mothers and children who nurse for an extended period and don't fall for the formula marketing naturally stop nursing between ages 2-3.

People who do not think nursing is normal and who are disgusted by this are completely ignorant.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics currently 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.." The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two years."

Answer 8

I say good for you! I nursed until my son was 2 because I have allergy issues, and I knew that this would help him. The closeness was good too. He started solids when he was 6 months. By the time he was 18 months old we did cut down, and I stopped before bed feedings so he wouldn't equate nursing with sleeping. But I nursed on demand on weekends, and worked through the week...

He's 7 and still likes to rock when he is upset -- I really cherish our closeness.

Answer 9

Nursing a child at ANY age (provided they're not school age) is between the nursing parent her partner if she has one and the child. It's NO ONE else's business whether the child is 2 months or 2 years.

Answer 10

I think there is a time and place everything. And to each is own. I also thing Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing you an do for your. I wish I could have done it longer, however there is a line. Just like the bottle there is a time to stay enough is enough. It doesn't mean your any more or less of a mom, just trying to do what best for your child.