Tuesday, 28 July 2009
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Breast Feeding Oddness
As a pregnant mommy to be that has been put on bed rest; I tend to surf around the net for the normal pregnancy and expecting tips.
However, today I came across a myspace page were the mother had a child who was nearly three and was talking about the joys of still breast feeding him.
Now I am a total breast feeding nazi. I think every mother should at least try because of the benefits. I plan to breast feed myself, and my soon to be husband completely agrees. In our opinion the breast is the best.
However, as I was looking at this page I just couldn't help myself. I texted my Godmother and asked her if that was normal. I mean, this is my first child and even though it seemed strange to me I might have been wrong. To which she informed me that I was right it is strange. No one should breast feed that late. A baby shouldn't even be on a bottle anyone more at that point. This mother who was still breast feeding talked about how it kept her skinny, and her son happy.
I just find this odd. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe women all over, all the time breast feed that late. I just seem to think that there has to be some downsides just like keeping your child on the bottle.
I need opinions, please!
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About the Author
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- From: makeshiftsteff@xanga
- Name: Steffers
- About Me: The wifey and soon to be mommy.
Stats: This Week All Time Posts: 0 3 Views: 0 4812 Comments: 0 92 View all posts by makeshiftsteff@xanga
Comments (56)
o. m. g.
If the child can walk and talk, I'd say teach them how to use a spoon. Methinks by the time a person turns 3 years old, it's time to introduce them to the wonderful world of self-feeding. Breast feeding a toddler is a bit unsettling when I think about it...
In some countries they breast feed up until 4 years old. But to be honest, after a year they get all of their nutrients from solids so it's not neccessary to breastfeed that long.
But to each their own. =D
I think some mommies breastfeed longer because of the bonding they get to their child from it. It's sort of like it's hard to let go or something.
I think in American culture breastfeeding at that age would be odd.
Of course, that child isn't being breast fed only, but just supplementing. Probably just at bed time or whatever. In American culture, it'd definitely not the norm to be breast feeding a 3 year old, especially in public. But I'm sure it happens at home on occasion. I would say most parents who breastfeed do so for about the first 6 months, and then start weening when they can start introducing baby food. However it is generally recommended that babies be breastfed for the first year, and the world health organization actually recommends the first 2 years! Although, most babies seem to self-ween before the 2 year mark.Â
Odd to you and me maybe ... but definitely one area where I say to each her own. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, though I don't think I would do it myself. I breastfed my last two babies till around 18 months and there are those that would say that is too long ... take them off the breast at a year like you do with a bottle. Breastfeeding a child that age is not going to hurt him (and I don't agree with those that say it will scar them for life). I guess I would say that it also depends on the woman's motivations for wanting to continue breastfeeding an older child. So, IMO, a little odd maybe but there is no need to judge.
I don't necessarily think it's strange. Breastmilk is always health-ful though at that age it wouldn't be the only nutrition the child receives. I suspect it's mainly for comfort purposes. We wouldn't think it would be strange for a 3-year old to have a different comfort object so what's so weird about receiving comfort from his mother? I think many people just think it's odd because they see breasts as purely/mainly sexual objects which, obviously, they are not.
WHO (World Health Organization) recommends breastfeeding at least 2 years. Many women nurse their babies till they self wean, which happens around 3-4 years old. The longer you nurse, the more benefits.. the benefits dont just stop at 1 year like some people think.
Me personally- 15-18 months is long enough lol... then selfishly I want my body back to myself.
I would've loved to breastfeed my first baby until he was a year old, but by about 8 months all he wanted was solid food. So I think it depends a lot on the particular mother and baby. Stop when you and he/she are ready to be done. For me 8 months was a bit early, but I'd definitely want to be finished long before 3! That's waaay past babyhood as far as I'm concerned... sheesh, that's pretty much past toddlerhood even...
I breastfed until the age of 4, with 3 of my children. It may not be the norm, but it isn't as if the child is not self feeding at that point. There are many benefits and http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html has a great list of them.
@Mommy - Since I am such a new mom, not even really a mom yet, I just wasn't sure lol. I don't want to judge I just want to know whats best. Thanks!
@sidewayslife@xanga - Your right! I'm not trying to judge, because I know everyone mom has her own way of doing things that works better for her. Since this is my first baby I was just trying to figure out if it wasn't normal, but better or vise versea.
@makeshiftsteff@xanga - I agree with the moms that said it is odd only in the United States and this is only a recent phenomenon. My grandmother and great aunts all advocate self-weaning and say that most children wean themselves between 2 and 3.
It is up to the person. Like Mommy said, breastmilk still has nutrients in it so even though it is not the child's primary source of nutrients, it is still provides some of their daily needs.
Honestly, If you would have told me I would have been breastfeeding an almost two year old when I was pregnant I would have asked what planet you were from, but here I am and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I didn't even think that I was going to breastfeed.
Saying what other moms "should" or "should not" do is risky business, especially since you're a rookie. Definitely keep an open mind.
@Amarisa@xanga - I do agree. I don't want to tell any one what to do or what I think they should do. I was just curious about extending breast feeding a child, because I was told opinions on both.
The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends breastfeeding till two...at the very least. The average age worldwide for a child to wean is 4 years and 8 months. (I found that on the WHO website as well.)
Here in America, we've made breasts sexual when they DO serve another purpose. So we think it's weird to see children breastfeed. I know women who are uncomfortable seeing a mom breastfeed an infant. It's sad that our country is so sexualized (I don't think that's a word) that we mess up something as wonderful as breastfeeding.
I will breastfeed my son till he weans himself....whether that age is four months or four years.
@Erika_Steele@xanga - The US is pretty prudent when it comes to things like this. When I go advise from my mother and God mother they told me it was strange, but I wanted to know if that was them or if there was something better about extending breast feeding. I want what is best for my child like any mom. I was just confused and I appreciate all the good opinions and thats I have gotten from my post. It easy to say now that it really isn't that strange because moms all over do it, and that every mom knows what is best for her and her child.
@XxFireXboltxX@xanga - Thats good advice thank you! Since I am just learning I wasn't sure if there was something I wasn't being told and I was right I wasn't being told a lot! lol.
@OrdinaryInverted@xanga - I am finding myself agreeing with all the moms on my post! I feel like with all the good advice I am getting, I won't know until I am there. I most def want to be done by three too! Being pregnant is hard work so I know being a mommy is much harder.
@quiet_strength@revelife - I agree with that reaction.
@Traci_Ladd@xanga - You are right and thanks! I am learning that an open mind is best when encountering mother hood. I was reading all the awesome comments and advice that I am getting form all the moms on my post and I feel that when I get there I will know whats best for me and my baby. I know now that it isn't strange to extend breast feed, it just an opinion of others.
@givemecoke@xanga -
@LonerB@xanga - I feel the same as you do, but I also see now that I alot of moms do extend breast feed. Its strange to me because I didn't know much about it. lol. We're all different.
@quiet_strength@revelife -
@makeshiftsteff@xanga - ha ha, I was just kinda shocked. I have nothing against breastfeeding, but when your child can start asking for his mothers boob.....something makes you go.. uhhhh