is three years old too old to breast fee your child?

Question

I know that with today's technology with formulas and baby food, mothers are able to stop breastfeeding long before this age, however, it is my understanding, before all this technology it was ok to breastfeed well into the third year and if the mother wished to do so could do that now as well.

Answer 1

As long as mother and child want to, nursing is healthy for both of them.

Answer 2

This is really a cultural question. There is nothing nutritionally wrong with breastfeeding to this age, but most women feel pressured to stop breastfeeding by about 12 months and certainly by 2 years. Some cultures breasteed longer as a regular practice without any negative affect, psychological or other.
It is your decision how long you want to breastfeed. Just be ready to get a negative reaction for breastfeeding a toddler. It's unfortunate, but it will happen.

Answer 3

Breastfeeding is a very personal choice for each family. In the United States, breastfeeding past 2 years old is not as typical as it is in other countries and breast feeding past 1 year is not as common as it once was when our country was first beginning. I personally do not know anyone who was still breast feeding their child at 3 years old, but I do know of people that have/do. I nursed my youngest until she self-weaned at 14 months. I would have gone longer if she wanted to. She was drinking water, juice, and whole milk from a cup plus eating most table foods by then so the breast feeding was mostly for comfort and closeness more than for nutrition. I think that if a family chooses to breast feed still at 3 years old that it is a personal matter for them and I am OK with it although our current society does not find it to be a mainstream idea.

Answer 4

Of course it is as long as both mother and child still want to do it. It is still quite common in many other countries to breastfeed into the third year. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding through the second year. The AAP recommends breastfeeding "as long as mutually desirable by both mother and child."

Also, in response to one of the other answers-breastfeeding is possible through pregnancy and even with a new baby. It's called tandem nursing.

Answer 5

It's up to the mother and baby as to what the appropriate time to stop is. There are many benefits to extended nursing. Breastmilk is the best food/drink to babies and toddlers, and changes to meet the child's needs. Most babies that are allowed to self-wean do so at about 2 or 3 years of age.

Answer 6

This is your choice and people have very mixed emotions and opinions about this subject. I know women who think it is wrong to breastfeed your child after the first 40 days. I breastfed until my son was a year old because he stopped asking for it. Then again I know a woman with a 4 year old and she still breastfeeds.

Answer 7

Heck No! The biologically appropriate time for a mammal to wean is when they begin to lose their milk teeth. usually between the ages of 4-7 years-old.

Som epeople are so dumb! Breastfeeding for a toddler does not preclude the introduction of solid foods and cups with alternative liquids.

There is far more bioavailable nutrition for human children in human milk then will ever be in cow's milk!

Answer 8

It's a personal decision that is made between the mother and child. Everyone will have their own personal opinion, and you'll probably find that most people now a days feel that is too old.

Answer 9

I never knew anyone who breastfed their kids passed the age of 1. So i wouldn't be able to tell ya. Although i think it's best to start them on solids when they're a year old. So you can introduce him/her to regular food, but reasonable amounts & textures.

Answer 10

My husband cousin breast feed her little girl until she was 5. So I think 3 is ok
My sister also breast feed her daughter until she was 2.5.