Breastfeeding my 2 year old...what do you think of that?

Question

I'm a stay at home mom and have all the time in the world for my little one. I even still nurse my son. My in laws and my sister are giving me a hard time, saying that I need to quit nursing. Why should I when I know breastfeeding is perfectly healthy and natural. And I feel that he can nurse as long as he wants. I do what to wheen him off by the time is 3. In just curiosity, what you think when you see a 2 or even 3 year old nursing still?

Thanks everyone for giving your opinions. I enjoyed them very much. I was just curious to see what people had to say about it. Please, go ahead and leave comments.

Answer 1

I was pressured to quit nursing at 13mths with my daughter (it started when she was just a few months old but got more and more intense the older she got). I always look back at that with regret, stopping before I was really ready. I think you're awesome for continuing. It's your decision, and you're doing the best thing for your son. You wean him when you want. I've never seen a 2 or 3yr old nurse, the oldest child I've seen was at a LLL meeting and the little girl was maybe 14 or 15mths old. I would probably feel like I was invading a private moment even if I don't feel that way for a baby I see nursing. I'm all for nursing on demand a baby in public, no blanket needed. I would be uncomfortable seeing a +2yr old though, to be honest.

Answer 2

I say good for your son!

My children both nursed well into toddlerhood, and I'd do it the same way again if we had another little one.

Breastmilk doesn't mysteriously lose it's nutrients the minute the baby turns six months old, rather, it changes constantly to meet the nutritional needs of the nursing child.

And what, exactly, would be wrong with a child remembering being nursed at his mother's breast? It's what is supposed to happen! My children remember, and they certainly aren't damaged by it! They do wean themselves off when they no longer need it...although sometimes it does take some encouragement from Mommy :-)

Anyway...ignore the relatives.....it's YOUR baby, not theirs!

Answer 3

I think it is wonderful and feel that more women should do it. Take the time to educate yourself to the benefits and you will see that they do NOT stop at a year, or even two years. My son is 29 months and still nurses 3-4 times a day. Yes, he also eats solid foods, drinks milk (rarely), juice, tea, koolaid (though I try and limit this kind of stuff), and water from an open cup with no lid. He also has days where he won't eat much, and that is fine too. He still gets plenty of nutrition and immunities from nursing. So, why would people rather drink the breast milk of another animal? Human milk was made for humans. Cow's milk is made for baby cows.

Answer 4

I think its great! I firmly believe in child-led weaning, as it is the way humans evolved.

Michael Jordan was nursed until age 4!

My daughter nursed until age 40 months. My so is 34 months and nurses once or twice a day.

I think it is sad when a child is prematurely weaned. I also think it is odd that our culture thinks that cow's milk is somehow suddenly more nutritious than human milk after some random age.

Breasts around here are not mystical or sexual, they are for feeding babies. Therefore, my kids don't think its weird at all. It doesn't disturb my 11 year-old to know she was nursed. She sees a lot of nursing babies and toddlers. She also knows its why she has an amazing immune system!

Answer 5

I nursed my son until he was almost 2 and I'm really glad I did. But I would definetly work on weaning him before he turns three just because I think you will feel so much more free. Like I said I am very glad I nursed my son as long as I did but once I was all done it was nice to let my son stay the night with his grandma every once in awhile and have a night with just my husband and I, very relaxing. Its kind of good to know hes a little bit more independent. So I personally think 3 is a little to old. But its your child and I'm sure your doing just fine so whatever you feel most comfortable with will be fine

Answer 6

Good for you! There's absolutely nothing wrong with nursing a 2 year old. In fact, the "terrible twos" can be a whole lot easier for nursing moms and toddlers.

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBextended.html.

Answer 7

Don't talk to your family about breastfeeding. Don't bring it up.

Obviously *I* don't have a problem with it seeing as I just nursed my 25 month old to sleep.

Answer 8

You rock! your baby is very lucky to have such a devoted mother who has his best interest nutritionally and emotionall at heart. Don't worry about what others say. We live in a society full of ignorant people who have bought into the formula manufacturers and popular TV cultures mumbo-jumbo. Humans were meant to breastfeed for 2+ years... like most primates.

Answer 9

I nursed my first child til he was almost 4 and yeah... people thought it was weird. He is 14 now. Weening him was so hard! You'd have thought I was torturing him. Anyway - I think as long as it is not in public it is ok. You can do that for an infant in public but not toddlers and preschoolers. My second child weened himself at 7 months old - THANK GOD. It's just whatever works for you at the time. Heck - in some countries it is considered weird to ween before 3 years old. So I guess what I am saying in my ramble (lack of sleep here) is that you just do what seems to work for you and your kid. It is not anyone elses business.

Answer 10

I nursed my son until he was 2, I weened him just because hes was eating all right without breast milk, plus it was embarrassing when he would scream out "Mama I want milk" and tugged at my shirt in public.