[angelic_ky]

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/toddler.html

this is what i've been looking for:

Originally Posted by Australian Breastfeeding Association

But the truth is that it's entirely normal and natural to breastfeed an older child. In Australia, 21.2% of children are still breastfeeding at 12 months (Donath and Amir, 2000). The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that the world average for breastfeeding is 4.2 years. WHO recommends that children be breastfed for at least two years. Anthropologist, Katherine Dettwyler estimated the natural age of weaning to be between two and a half and seven years, based on developmental factors and comparisons with other mammals.

read this bit about the average world age in a magazine yesterday and thought it was interesting

[twinzplus3]

The stuff by Katherine Dettwyler is fascinating. I do think that there are cultural influences though. . .and while I think that weaning before 2 years is too early, I think that there are ramifications for nursing well past "the norm". . . what those are I'm not sure but I'd be interested to see someone study say, 5yo in America who are still bfing. . .if there are any.

[oweirdo]

I have seen one, mainly 3 and under though

[twinzplus3]

Do you happen to know where or by whom? I'd be interested in reading it. I'm mostly interested in studying the cultural and social effects of nursing a child that is school aged.

[angelic_ky]

that would be interesting; i think, with most bf mothers in the developed countries stopping by 12 months, it would have an impact on the child as they would understand at 4-5 yrs old that they are probably the only child amongst their friends being bf, plus there's media that has breast labeled as sex objects

[twinzplus3]

Yeah. . .I don't know. I'm not really sure that it would. . .I've had two children that have bf almost to the 4 yr mark and they were not negatively effected. Of course we homeschool but they have friends. It's just not something that they would talk about with their buddies--KWIM?

I guess it's moderately relative. . .I mean we homeschool and on numerous occassions we've gotten comments and sometimes they bother my kids but we wouldn't stop hsing just bc of that. The twins are 2 1/2 and still nurse and I've had some fairly rude people say something but they could care less. Anyhow, I think it would be interesting to study.

[deegie]

I breast fed my daughter till she was almost 41/2 years. She's 61/2 now. She's perfectly normal socially. She turned out just fine. Healthy too. Almost never gets sick. She just about weaned herself. She stopped soon after I became pregnant, I think the flavor of the milk must have changed. But by then, she was only doing it once in a while, not even every day. Mostly just for comfort, I guess.

[deegie]

I also meant to add, that her doctor thought it was a good idea to breastfeed as long as she wanted to, and she would naturally wean herself, which she did.

[1stTimeMomOf2]

Wow - I guess I'm just new to the whole mommy thing. I really didn't realize that your breasts could produce milk that long. I've heard of bfing until 12 months, but I seriously didn't think anyone did it longer than that. Well, I guess I could understand the benefits and I say to each their own. I just don't think I'd be personally comfortable emotionally with bfing that long.

[twinzplus3]

Of course your breasts can produce milk that long! That's what they're supposed to do. If you're interested. . .I would encourage you to research it. I was a little surprised to find how many benefits there are to nursing toddlers. WHO (and most other health organizations) recommend a minimum of 2 years.

You OTOH, will probably have a very different experience than the 'normal' person though.