Why are so many people against extended breastfeeding?

Question

Why, when every health organization in the world recommends breastfeeding for at least a year (and most of them even suggest at least TWO years), do people act shocked or even horrified to find that I'm still breastfeeding my 14-month-old son? I have no intention of stopping until at least his second birthday. Why are there such negative attitudes towards extended breastfeeding when we KNOW it's the healthiest thing for our children? Even if someone doesn't know that it's healthiest, why do they care what I do anyway? I don't even breastfeed in public anymore, so it isn't about public display. I don't get it!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-myths.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

As for formula and the WHO:
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/WHOcode.htm

And yes, my son has been getting solids since he was about 8 months old. He also uses a cup.

The only reason I don't nurse in public is because I'm not usualy out and about when he needs to nurse (which is usually only before bedtime and naps). But believe me, if he needed to nurse and I was out, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Pumps are for working moms who can't be with their babies or for mothers of premature babies who can't latch on yet, not for expressing milk to appease total strangers. My son has never had a bottle and wouldn't know what to do with one if I gave him one.

Answer 1

I am not against extended breast feeding,I believe in letting everybody do what they feel is best for them and their baby,now one should feel pressured to do anything that they do not want to do,that goes for formula feeding as well.Mothers should definatetly be informed of the importance of breast milk but I do not beleive in pressuring anyone to do anything.If it works for you that is great.I had such high expectations of breastfeeding my son when he was born but he unexpectedly had a very serious heart defect and was flown to the nearby childrens hospital where he had heart surgery the next day,I still tried to breast feed for the next 2 weeks that we where in the hospital but he did not have the energy so they topped him up with a feeding tube with my expressed milk,I still tried for the next 3 months to breast feed,he latched very well but would tire out in about 5 minutes so I would top him up with a bottle.At 4 weeks he had blood in his stool and started to take in about half the amount of food,turns out he was allergic to dairy and soy after many tests!So I went totally dairy and soy free.At 3 months I stopped breastfeeding because he was falling asleep after 5 minutes and it was making for very very long days!! I still continued to pump and feed so he could get my breast milk until he was 5 months.Then he did the same thing with his eating and his cardiologist told me to switch him to formula because he had to gain weight fast for his next surgery and we can boost his calories better that way.So the short of my long story,I would have breastfed my son if I could have probably till he was at least 2!Untill we both decided enough was enough.It totally breaks my heart that I can not breast feed him and I am envious to a point of others that can.

Answer 2

Baby does need more than just breastmilk at this age, but they can get that through food, not only by cutting down nursing. Also is your diet balanced and are you getting enough extra calories for breastfeeding? I know when my diet is off because my little one slims down! All doctors are different. Mine has supported my breastfeeding even with a bipolar preschooler, my husband deployed and my baby being allergic to dairy and my having to change my diet, but now that she's at 4 months, 90th percentile height and 50th percentile weight the doc wants to discuss formula even though my preschooler and I were at the same point at the same age and formula fed! EDIT I don't think enough doctors look at family history, which it sounds like could play a part here too. I seem to remember though, my first was solely on cows milk and table food at this age and dropped in weight due to the amount of activity expected of a baby who can walk and run...

Answer 3

You go girl!! Not a lot of women out there breast feed still. Its the one thing I miss most about my son being a baby. I don't know why people are against it. I breast fed my son till he was a year and a half and weaned himself. If I had my choice I would of at least waited till he was two. My son started eating applesauce when he was about a month old to help him sleep longer at night. He never used a bottle nor a pacifier. Well keep up the work and forget about what others think or say. At least hes not walking around with a bottle in his hand all day.

Answer 4

My 1 year old (just turned 1 on the 8th) STILL NURSES EVERY 1-2hours all day, more when teething.

This is likely very important to him, I started frequent nursings at 2 months because he has reflux and was throwing up stomach acid. And lately I have realised that if I don't nurse him after his nap and lunch before we go to the park. After we get home from the park he will generally spit up. Not a lot, but he hasn't spit up in ages. Breastmilk is a natural antacid, and is way healthier than any prescription for GERD. My son is also 28lbs, he's a healthy healthy boy.

And breatmilk STILL digests in 90 minutes or less so many toddler like to nurse that often.

And YES for the record he drinks from a cup (water with vitamin C + baking soda, vitamin C for health and baking soda to neutrilize acid and help prevent cavities). He snacks during the day and eats 2-4 meals a day.

Sure one day he'll slow down and eventually wean but until then breastfeeding is THE most important source of nutrition. Cow milk doesn't even come close. If it did you won't see so many moms on here asking about failure to thrive and slow weight gain in the 1-3 year old ages. You wouldn't see so many moms giving their toddlers pediasure -which is basically formula with more sugar. If these mom's had continued breastfeeding OR EVEN formula feeding for the recommended 2 years (well the only reccommendation I have seen for formula is "some time during the second year but don't be in a rush) they wouldn't have this problem.

Toddler's are notoriously bad at getting adequate nutrtion from solids, because they are not meant to be getting most of the nutrition from solids. Lactase levels (the enzyme needed to break down lactose) don't begin to decline until ages 3-4 which is a clear biological indication that until then most nutrition is supposed to come from a milk based source. And I assure you that ain't cow. Unless humans are a parasitic species that can not survive without another species.

BTW the Canadian government says that you should breastfeed for two years and I am pretty sure we have safe drinking water and food sources.

"In 2004, Health Canada revised its breastfeeding recommendations to bring them in line with those of the World Health Organization (WH0)-- exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and sustained breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods until the child is two years of age or older. This recommendation has been the global goal for infant and maternal health since the publication of the Innocenti Declaration in 1990 (WHO/UNICEF 1990)."
http://www.fls-ntf.gc.ca/en/sub_fb_10.asp

Answer 5

I have read all the posted comments so far in addition to going to the websites you posted on your questions and it has been a pretty good discussion concerning this topic. Like many of the answerers before me, many people are against extended breastfeeding because they tend to see the breast as a sexual organ FIRST and the source of a child's nutrition second. As a result of this kind of oversexed mindset, ANY exposure of the breast including nursing is linked with sexual perversion. Add to that, a child who most consider would be ready to eat on his own yet Mommy still has him on the breast, well some folks assume that Mommy or baby is trying to milk that for all it's worth sexually(no pun intended).

Like many of the responders here, I thought that prolonged breastfeeding would make toddlers overdependent on Mom, socially stunted, etc. I had a girlfriend who breastfed her daughter past a year and the little girl weaned herself off her breast around two years. The little girl is very smart, independent and well-adjusted. And mom had corrected me about the misunderstanding about extended breastfeeding. I have heard of many reasons why folks oppose breastfeeding past a year old including the baby getting his teeth and potentially injuring the mother's nipples, the baby's teeth will protrude and not sit in the mouth correctly because the sucking action pulls the front top and bottom teeth forward. And I agree with the one answerer about halting nursing at a certain age is just the formula, bottle, breast pump and nipple makers' way of lining their pockets. I remember my mom telling me that when she carried me during the early 70's, the doctor discouraged her from breastfeeding so that they could give her this drug that dried up her breast milk. He made the concept of nursing seem as a disgusting and un natural act and pushed the formula as the better alternative for me. She bought what he said, but she told me that she regretted not nursing me.

I like how the one responder said that you could tell those who do not understand the extended breastfeeding of your son that the doc said that he can't take regular milk. You don't have to explain to folks as to why you are nursing your son at the age that he is. Eventually, he may see other children his age drinking from cups and give up the breast on his own. I wondered if you have directed your critics to the websites listed in your question and let them find out the benefits of extended nursing for themselves--you didn't say. And like you said, you aren't breastfeeding in public, so that should not pose a problem. Continue to do what is best for your son in spite of the naysayers.

Answer 6

Wow, the ignorance!

Extended breastfeeding WILL NOT make a child obese... Kids drink cows milk, yes? Breastmilk plays the same role in a toddlers diet.

The reason that babies are weaned off the bottle at a year is because thats the time they can typically tollerate cows milk. I wouldnt want my child injesting formula any longer than absolutly needed. Formula was meant as a LAST resort to allow an infant with no mother to survive until they could be put on cows milk. Cows milk was made for baby cows... it is formulated to make strong little cows, not smart little children. Human milk is the best thing for human children, the benefits don't go away at a year. The sucking done at the breast has no ill-effect on development, but a bottle can cause harm... they are 2 completely different things.

The benefits of breastmilk go WELL past 4 months. WELL past 7 months even! You call yourself a breastfeeding mother, yet you have such ignorance? I would fire whoever gave you such horrible information (one would assume your doctor?)

I am also nursing my 14 mo old. I dont do it in public (though, i would if i needed to...) and pumps were NOT invented so that women might feed thier baby in public... you have obviously never had a breastfed baby on your hands!

That baby on supernanny did not need to be weaned. Jo said it herself that it was the mothers choice. And they weaned very badly... it should have been much slower!

If i missed any bad information im sure i will correct it... jeez people, get your information straight!

Breastfed toddlers do eat other foods... they drink out of cups, the play with other children... Did it ever occur to any of you that some of us are sacrficing to nurse our toddlers? That we might prefer to have our bodies back, but that we are doing the best possible thing for our children out of love?

Answer 7

I was right there with you but I gave in. I was breast feeding my son until he was about 13 or 14 months old when I stopped because everyone was always shocked when I said I was still breast feeding him at night. I don't understand why people rush to lose the special bond that comes with it. That use to be my favorite time with my son it is the most natural bonding time there is. So people need to stop pushing moms to stop or making them feel stupid for doing it. When you and your child are ready you will know.

Answer 8

Keep doing what is best for you and your child. Every child and every mother is different. I, personally, wanted to stop before they could verbally ask for breast milk (nursed both kids for 14 and 13 months). Again, that was my personal opinion that only applied from me to me.

Don't worry about what others think. Breast feeding mothers have made many great strides by making breastfeeding more accessible to more mothers through education and hospital support. Also, there is more public awareness and acceptance of public breastfeeding than there has ever been. (in the US). This is not a topic that will die down. There will always be controversy, but at the same time more headway will be gained.

Answer 9

QUOTE "Some researchers suggest that extended breastfeeding can lead to obesity. "

I would like to see the sources on that one. My wife breastfed all of our children for extended periods... and yes it is emotionally nurturing and soothing to the child. What's wrong with emotionally nurturing and soothing your child, and if it makes the mom feel better then what is wrong with emotionally nurturing yourself while you spend some quality close time with your child... I'll tell ya, not a thing!

Answer 10

The ones against breastfeeding have been brainwashed by commercial companies. Let's face it, breast milk is free. For breast feeding you need to buy bottles, the powdered milk, sterilization equipment, all this buying lines the pocket of manufactures. It is in their interest, not only for mums but for EVERYONE to think negatively about breastfeeding, and boy they've done a good job. Breast feed your child as long as you can, even past the age of two. Both of you will benefit from it, only commerce comes out the loser.