Is breastfeeding beyond Age 2 acceptable?

1. 69

   ithabiseposted 12 years ago

   Is breastfeeding beyond Age 2 acceptable?
   
   

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2. 70

   pitzeleposted 12 years ago

   Yes.  And remember that the word 'acceptable' is to others - not what you are comfortable with!  Is it acceptable to you and your family?  That is up to you.  I find it perfectly acceptable and so do many of my friends who have nursed beyond the two year mark.

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3. 58

   mathairposted 12 years ago

   Breastfeeding beyond the age of two is acceptable. Some people may be shocked because they are not used to the idea but this does not make it unacceptable.
   However the question that the parent must ask themselves is why they are still breastfeeding. Is it to meet their own emotional needs or is it to meet the needs of the child.
   Children who are over two years of age should be eating the same food as the rest of the family and should be recieving the majority of their nutrition from these foods. They are old enough to drink from an open top cup. Therefore they no longer have the need for breastmilk for nutrition. Many children will self-wean at this stage, no longer having the nutritional need for breastmilk.
   Sometimes a child can continue to breastfeed at night as a way to soothe themselves to sleep. This can be comforting for both the parent and child. However if this is the case, the parent must ask themselves if they are just prolonging the inevitable time when the child must learn to go to sleep by themselves.  It can also lead to disturbed sleep for the parent and child which may not be a good habit to get into. This is just my personal opinion.

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   1. 70

      pitzeleposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I like your opinion.  However, I would also like to comment that it depends upon the child.  Some children self-wean younger, some older.  I have had a child who was done at 1 1/2 and one who wasn't ready until 2 1/2 (so I weaned her myself).

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4. 89

   Denise Handlonposted 12 years ago

   In the light of the very controversial Breastfeeding Mother who was posed on the cover of Time mag with her 3 1/2 yr old son at her breast, this is a very timely question.   In fact, Nightline News (I think) did a recent update on her, because she will be posing (or has posed already) for the cover of another mag: Pathway to wellness I believe.   She is a huge advocate for breastfeeding until the child is ready and supports the toddler aged child breastfeeding. 
   
   So, I was contemplating this and actually had thought of posing this question myself.  I'm glad to see someone has already asked this.  In the United States, it is so unusual for the older child to be breastfeeding that it makes people uncomfortable.  But, I believe that this is between the child and mother.  It isn't anyone else's business or place to judge, although this occurs continuously.
   
   If our culture was not so caught up with the use of the breast as a sexual object it may become more natural and accepted.  Other countries don't have this same hang up and realize breastfeeding for what it is-a natural part of the cycle of pregnancy.

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   1. 69

      ithabiseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Your point on the breast as a sexual object is good.

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   2. 89

      Denise Handlonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks 

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5. 74

   tiffany deliteposted 12 years ago

   Absolutely! I personally only nursed my kids for 3 - 6 months. I pumped for another 3 months or so afterwards. My babies were healthy and got a good start in life, and because I worked and was going to school, I made the decision to not breast feed any longer than I did; however, if a mother can breastfeed for longer - and wants to - then by all means...go for it! It is completely a personal preference.

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