Posted by onceupon on January 3, 2009, at 21:46:55
In reply to Re: I wish my Mom breast-fed me for a long time, posted by Maria01 on January 3, 2009, at 11:28:07
You know, I started to write a response to this, but then I figured it was getting too personal, so I started over.
FWIW, the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 2 years of breastfeeding, and the worldwide average age of weaning is 4. That's not to say that women who can't or choose not to breastfeed are doing anything wrong or harmful.
I'm curious as to whether there is any evidence that prolonged nursing disrupts kids' ability to form "appropriate" boundaries. IME, nursing my 2-year-old has not in any way interfered with his process of differentiation (but of course, I might be biased about that). I don't have any plans to nurse him until he's 6, but it makes me sad that I feel the need to defend my choice (made jointly with my son who has not yet chosen to wean) to continue breastfeeding him past his second birthday. And I should clarify that when I say I feel the need to defend my choice, it's mostly with my husband and his family, not anyone on this board.
At any rate, I certainly understand that there are other sources of comfort for babies, and for toddlers and older children as well.
I apologize if this is not the place for this discussion - just felt compelled to respond.
poster:onceupon
thread:872044
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20081219/msgs/872180.html