Breastfeeding older kids (over 12mths old)

janejellyroll

sweetjay92 wrote: »

Chef_Barbell wrote: »

VeronicaA76 wrote: »

Christine_72 wrote: »

VeronicaA76 wrote: »

Every child is different, every parent is different. So long as the child is happy and healthy, how long or even if, they are breastfed is no one's business.

I didn't mean to hit a sore spot, was just curious is all

"One" of the things that prompted this thread, was i have read so many times of mothers complaining about lack of sleep and walking around like zombies due to getting up for night feeds multiple times a night, only to then find out their kids arent newborns, but older toddlers. I was wondering if midwives are now pushing this to new mothers??

You didn't. What bothers me is when people that don't know someone or thier child insist that they know better. While breastmilk is healthiest for most children, if they are breastfed for 5 months or 5 years is irrelevant, so long as the child is happy & healthy.

Exactly this.

But that's exactly the point that peckchris3267 is trying to make, that may not be "healthy", not talking physical, we are talking about mental and emotional healthy. Speaking from my education experience as an early childhood educator, breastfeeding a 5 year old when he doesn't need to be bf. This may start an unhealthy attachment issue. Totally agree and completely understand with what you're saying Chris, but when you're talking about moms breastfeeding their kid they're going to be super defensive.

Who determines that a child doesn't "need" to be breastfeeding though? What if it's just something that a parent and child enjoy and isn't causing a problem?

Children don't "need" much when you come right down to it, but the rituals between parents and children (things like breastfeeding or reading to a child or playing a game with them or listening to their stories) build relationships and help them develop.

Are there studies that show worse outcomes for children that breastfeed for an extended period of time? Or is this just based on your individual observations as an educator?

HealthyBodySickMind

peckchris3267 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

peckchris3267 wrote: »

And yes, I have children. I have two daughters, 15 and 18 years old. I have raised them by myself because their mother is a deadbeat egg donor who lives 1500 miles away. And no, she didn't breastfeed them because she said it was too difficult.
My youngest is an exception athlete and an all A student. My oldest got her LNA before she even graduated high school and is going to college for nursing next week.
Neither we're breastfed.

Literally nobody has said that one has to be breastfed in order to be a successful adult. They're just challenging your (unsupported) statements that breastfeeding will lead one to be unsuccessful.

That argument for breastfeeding has been thrown around here both directly and within the linked articles that have been provided.

It has, which is why it's so blatantly obvious that you have failed to offer any support for your claims that breastfeeding past a certain undefined age is bad. Or I should say the only support you've offered is an out of context picture of your nephew that is some how supposed to prove your case?

Nova

Dear posters,

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