Breast Feeding

[SyberBitch]

Syber, while I think 2 is a bit old for BF'ing. 4 is just way beyond.

I agree. Most babies, when allowed to wean themselves naturally, wean between the ages of 1 and 1.5 years. I just 'assumed' that my son would do that as well, however it turned out that for some reason, he had more trouble eating solids than most children and he was a bit behind in that area, so naturally he has nursed longer.

I would feel more awkward about it if I had not done a lot of research myself into the issue, and discovered (as I said earlier) that it's recommended that they do nurse until at least 2. Truthfully, it's simply our culture that makes it into a 'bad thing'. I tried my best to find arguments against 'extended breastfeeding', and finally had to concede that I simply couldn't find any... aside from the obvious fact that eventually they ARE 'too old'.

Even for people who accept the idea of toddlers nursing (usually only at nap/bedtime by this age), they generally agree that nursing beyond toddler-hood is a getting weird.

I read that after 6 months breast milk no longer enhances the immune systems of babies.

I won't list a bunch of facts, but here is a link if you're interested

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

There are also many many more sources of information available on the internet if you're curious.

You do what you feel is best for your child. I will say that both of my boys are perfectly healthy and always have been and they were bottle fed from day one.

Of course, it's a private decision that each person has to make based on a lot of different factors. There are many aspects of the reality of being a mother that are quite different from what I had 'planned' to do as a mother. One never really knows what is going to work for them until they get there.

It's difficult to argue the benefits of breastfeeding (when possible) when even the companies who manufacture formula recommend breastfeeding over formula. I've seen sickly and stupid breastfed children and healthy, brilliant formula fed children. There are no guarantees, but generally speaking, like it or not, 'breast is best'.