NO DEBATE. Poll opinions only: Extended breastfeeding

[Tacey]

I'd just like to reassure those who are worried about getting independence back etc. that nursing an older toddler/child is nothing like feeding a baby. In my case, DD has been down to once a day for a long time (my decision) but regularly goes to stay on her own with family without any mention of milk. It's a case of if I'm around she enjoys it, but she's fine without. It just fits into our lives.

 

[Celesse]

Anyone else shocked that 2 people thought there were no benefits....really?! Heads in the sand I think!

I was not shocked but interested to see if they answered.

I was tempted to click "no benefits".... as there are no benefits to breastfeeding as its the normal natural way to feed a baby/child and its normal and natural to feed them into childhood. There are only risks to not breastfeeding. ..... but then I decided voting this way might be a little pedantic.

I personally stopped BFing my daughter just before her 3rd birthday. I was getting a lot of nursing agitation from her nursing and she wanted to nurse every time the baby did. I felt ready to stop nursing her and also felt the only reason she was nursing with the pattern she did was because I broke away from nature and went back to work, reducing the time we were together and causing me to get pregnant earlier than I would have done if I'd have let her nursing guide my fertility. I think her nursing pattern would have been different if I'd got pregnant when she was a little older.

I don't know when I'll stop nursing DS or future babies. Each child is different, each nursing relationship is different.