Breastfeeding at 2 1/2 years???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all,

A friend of mine and I are in a little disagreement about breastfeeding. She is still breastfeeding her 2 1/2 year old children. The AAP and WHO recommend breastfeeding exclusively to 6 months, and breastfeeding to a year if possible, while introducing solid foods. They also state that you should continue breastfeeding as long as it's mutually acceptable to the child and mother.

My feeling on the latter part of that statement is that if, for example, the child no longer wants to breastfeed around 9 or 10 months, then you should no longer force the child to breastfeed. Her feeling on that statement is that if the child is 5 years old and she and the child still want to breastfeed, then it's acceptable. Her reasoning behind this is that children in third world countries breastfeed to 5 or 6 years old, so why shouldn't we? I tried to counter with the fact that children in third world countries have to do this just to survive, because there are few other food choices in most cases.

I also believe that breastfeeding to this age can possibly cause psychosocial problems (see Freud's oral stage of development and Erikson's autonomy vs. shame and doubt). She stated that "everyone has an oral fixation" because "everyone likes to eat" (???). I'm not sure what eating has to do with an oral fixation.

Granted, I'm "just a man" and because of that fact, I don't know anything about these types of issues :rolleyes: , but I just don't think that there's any medical or psychological reason to be breastfeeding a 2 1/2 year old child. Am I wrong here?

One point of clarification -- she does not breastfeed exclusively. Meaning, the children do eat solid food, along with breastfeeding throughout the day.

Specializes in Peds.

I'm not against breastfeeding at all. I did it with my kids. However, our family was at a reunion....I have a relative that has always nursed until the next kid was born but this last one is in kindergarten.... come on, it's a little odd for a kid in school to (in front of a lot of other people) plop down in front of mom, say "it's nursey time", expose mom's breast and go at it.

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Specializes in cardiology-now CTICU.

viva la boob! great to see all the BF support here! to the OP- as miranda suggested, i would be careful how i handled this issue with your friend. breastfeeding is a very personal decision and you could easily lose your friend over this. maybe it is a growth opportunity for you to break out of some of american society's restrictive view of women and our bodies/sexuality. just a thought/challenge

my son is 10 months and going strong!

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Specializes in EMS, ortho/post-op.

I agree with the other posters - stay out of it. This isn't your wife or your child so it's not your business. Confronting your friend about her nursing practices may earn you one less friend.

I nursed my first child to 2 years 9 months and my second child to 2 years 6 months and I think both would have nursed longer if I hadn't been ready to wean. Neither of them were affected negatively by nursing for "so long." The benefits for mom are also well worth spending the "extra" time nursing. Why are we so anxious for our children to grow up quickly? They're only babies for a very short period of time. A 2 1/2 year old is still a baby, no matter how someone else may justify it. They may be old enough to go to preschool, but they are still babies.

Christina

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I nursed my first for 2 months, second for 7 months, third for 15 months (had to quit due to milk drying up because I was pg with fourth), and the fourth until he was 2 1/2 years. My only regret is not nursing the first two longer.

But, as much as I will advocate breastfeeding, I don't like women who don't breastfeed, for whatever reason (except *maybe* misinformation), being made to feel "inferior" or like a bad mother (not that anyone here in this thread has done that, but I have friends IRL that have).

It is a very passionate subject, like many child-rearing topics are.

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Specializes in cardiac.

Just thought I'd give my 2 cents. I breast fed my son until he was 3 months old and am currently breastfeeding my daughter who is now 13 months old. She refuses to be weaned. My son took to the formula without a problem. My daughter on the other hand is having no part of taking a bottle of milk if I'm around. I don't have a problem with breast feeding her at this point. My parents and inlaws do though. They think she should be weaned by now. I listen to their opinion, but, pretty much decided that I will do what I feel is best for my child. I never had to worry about spit up, constipation, allergies, common colds, measuring, temp of the milk, etc. I think that if a mother is comfortable with her choice to breast fed at any stage of the child's development, it's ok with me. It's the best thing a mother can do for her child. It creates a special bonding between baby and mom. And, when my daughter no longer wants to breast feed, then I think I will probably miss those special moments of closeness with her. I really don't understand why society puts a time limit on this issue. OK, if your still breast feeding when your child is in school, then that might be a little weird right? LOL!:jester:

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

I nursed my first son until he was 6 months old and it became hell afterwards as I weaned him per the health department and doctors so called opinion "that's when weaning should occur". He subsequentially developed so many food allergies the allergist resorted to Apple juice for his formula. Hospitalized over 6 times by the time he was 3 years. Never so much as an ear infection or a sniffle until I took him off the breast. Wish I had used my own judgement and kept on nursing!! My second child I nursed till he was 2 years old then placed him on soy milk. I never used cow's milk in thier diet. My second child never had any illness with exception of chickenpox when he was 5 years old. Not so much as a cold even. I attribute this to the lengthly breast feeding personally as does his physician. He is now 18 and healthy whereas the oldest is now 26 and constantly getting sinus and other upper respiratory infections. He still has problems with his gi system time to time. I also became involved with the La Leche League with my second child and so glad I did. It's a personal choice and imo go for it but like others have said once they are in school then yep that's getting abit wierd for me lol.

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Specializes in cardiac.
I nursed my first son until he was 6 months old and it became hell afterwards as he developed so many food allergies the allergist resorted to Apple juice for his formula. Hospitalized over 6 times by the time he was 3 years. Never so much as an ear infection or a sniffle until I took him off the breast. My second child I nursed till he was 2 years old then placed him on soy milk. I never used cow's milk in thier diet. My second child never had any illness with exception of chickenpox when he was 5 years old. Not so much as a cold even. I attribute this to the lengthly breast feeding personally as does his physician. He is now 18 and healthy whereas the oldest is now 26 and constantly getting sinus and other upper respiratory infections. He still has problems with his gi system time to time. I also became involved with the La Leche League with my second child and so glad I did.

Yes, Lacie, I can relate. My don developed ear infections and becames ashmatic after he quit breast feeding. Now, I can say for sure that this was the root cause of it. But, I suspect it may have contributed to it.

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Specializes in cardiac.
Yes, Lacie, I can relate. My don developed ear infections and becames ashmatic after he quit breast feeding. Now, I can say for sure that this was the root cause of it. But, I suspect it may have contributed to it.

OK...lots of grammer errors. LOL! What I meant to say was, my son developed ear infections and developed asthma after he quit breast feeding. Now, I can't say for sure that this was the root cause. But, I suspect it may have contributed to it. THERE.....MUCH BETTER, LOL!!!!!

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Specializes in PCU, Home Health.

ha- as i am reading these posts i am pumping to try to get a stock of milk in my freezer for when my little one when i return to work. my first daughter nursed until she was 2.5 and then she weaned herself. she actually tried to nurse a week after she weaned herself and there was none to be had. she said "oh! milky a broke!"

i think it is good that the op asked questions instead of just quoting erikson to this mom and undermining her confidence. i can't tell you the crap i had to put up with just to pump the first year for my first dd. (i worked at a mental hospital and the staff:eek: would stand at the door and tease me). babies definitely need breastmilk or formula the first year- no straight cow's milk.

also for working moms- bf is a way to reconnect with baby after that long day at work- i hope 12 hours is not too long.

also - pumping only takes me about 15 minutes- and i know of several staff in the icu that take several 15 minute smoke breaks a shift:smokin:- so i see no problem with pumping. actually statistically a breast fed baby has fewer illnesses so there are less call in days for mom- i am doing them a favor.

(sitting down now- bf is a topic that i am passionate about- after i get my 'floor experience' i will probably go on to be a lactation consultant):typing

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Specializes in cardiac.
ha- as i am reading these posts i am pumping to try to get a stock of milk in my freezer for when my little one when i return to work. my first daughter nursed until she was 2.5 and then she weaned herself. she actually tried to nurse a week after she weaned herself and there was none to be had. she said "oh! milky a broke!"

i think it is good that the op asked questions instead of just quoting erikson to this mom and undermining her confidence. i can't tell you the crap i had to put up with just to pump the first year for my first dd. (i worked at a mental hospital and the staff:eek: would stand at the door and tease me). babies definitely need breastmilk or formula the first year- no straight cow's milk.

also for working moms- bf is a way to reconnect with baby after that long day at work- i hope 12 hours is not too long.

also - pumping only takes me about 15 minutes- and i know of several staff in the icu that take several 15 minute smoke breaks a shift:smokin:- so i see no problem with pumping. actually statistically a breast fed baby has fewer illnesses so there are less call in days for mom- i am doing them a favor.

(sitting down now- bf is a topic that i am passionate about- after i get my 'floor experience' i will probably go on to be a lactation consultant):typing

sounds like the staff at the mental hospital were a little mental themselves. what a horrible thing to happen. that just showed extreme immaturity on their part.:lol_hitti :lol_hitti

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

Just wanted to say I'm another mom who is for extended nursing! :)

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Yeah foe extended nursing. That being said, the majority of moms I know including myself (14mths w/daughter and had to wean because of preterm labor with son's pregnancy and unfortunatel a year with son due to stress did me in), are very discreet when the nurse and usually it is those trying to get a rise out of the general public who encourage older children to nurse wherever or just whip it out for all to see. Many of my aunts nursed children till they were 3 or 4 and by this they generally nursed a few minutes before nap or bedtime. They were not asking to nurse 6-10 times a day as one does with a small child and they NEVER allowed tyhe children to just pull their shirt up n public. I say it is a very personal choice and pasing judgement on that is the same as trying to force your vews of religion, sex, drinking, or abortion on another person.

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