What does your nursing toddler call your boobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows that BF is more than just feeding, it's bonding, nurturing, etc. But....there are better ways for a 2 year old and 3 year old to get that feeling of security that are age appropriate and don't require a boob!

I agree there are other ways to bring comfort at that age, I agree it's important to start developing them and not rely solely on nursing, but I disagree that that means nursing is no longer appropriate and must stop at any particular set age. Transition on the schedule that works for you and your kid.

[Anonymous]

instead of plugging them up with a breast...it's for your own comfort or convenience, just as much!

why so hostile? its not your breast "plugging them up."

[Anonymous]

And anyway - why do people who are not/have not nursed toddlers reading and posting to this thread? OP asked a simple question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:vomit. vomit vomit vomit

ditto

And grody. Don't forget grody. Just stop bf'ing before they start to talk. Yuck.

Eeew.

[Anonymous]

Jesus - I will admit that I find the idea of nursing a toddler pretty gross. Nursing an infant is one thing, but a toddler - I am creeped out by it.

BUT - I recognize that my discomfort with that is a matter of social norms. It's not something I'm accustomed to seeing. Kind of like someone seeing a gay couple and being somehow uncomfortable with it. Both are the same though, in some ways - a relationship between other people that has no bearing on me.

I often wish that people who were against gay marriage or whatever because they found it repulsive would just mind their own damn business (no one forces anyone else to participate in same-sex relations) and deal with their feelings of revulsion privately.

So, in order to not be a hypocrite, I think that it's important that I do the same when a mom decides to nurse for a longer period of time than what I consider "normal". (Of course, i think a 15 year old nursing would be per se disgusting and probably child abuse, but I don't think that anyone here has advocated for a nursing relationship that lasts nearly as long as that...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows that BF is more than just feeding, it's bonding, nurturing, etc. But....there are better ways for a 2 year old and 3 year old to get that feeling of security that are age appropriate and don't require a boob!

I agree there are other ways to bring comfort at that age, I agree it's important to start developing them and not rely solely on nursing, but I disagree that that means nursing is no longer appropriate and must stop at any particular set age. Transition on the schedule that works for you and your kid.

I agree with this. Each day, my baby -- and she really was a baby through her toddler years -- was only one day older than she had been the previous day. There wasn't any day that we woke up and I thought, "Now she's all grown up!" We weaned gradually, with me following her lead about how much she liked/needed each nursing session, combined with setting limits for my sanity.

I planning on fully weaning when my desire to not nurse was greater than her desire to nurse. That finally happened when I got pregnant and could not deal with the feeling of nursing while pregnant.

And, sure, nursing was easier than the alternative, which was (for example) to have a grumpy, tantrummy start to the day, or a baby who took much longer to settle down at night. We're not talking about giving a kid a cupcake every time she asks, we're talking about something that has no ill effects. Sometimes, there's nothing wrong with doing what's easier for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If they are old enough to ask, they are old enough to drink cow's milk. At that age, in our modern society, toddlers don't need nursing for any kind of immune system development at that age, unless these same women are the ones who aren't vaccinating their kids.

Is your child potty trained? If they are old enough to talk, then it's just icky for them to still be in diapers. Really, they aren't babies anymore!

Agreed PP. And while we're at it, your toddler who is old enough to drink cow's milk, should not be allowed to use a stroller. If he can walk, then stop treating him like a baby, right? Incidentally all people I know who are not Americans, find it ridiculous the huge number of old kids who ride in strollers in DC. But that's another topic entirely...

My kid is heavy and when we're out for they day I prefer not to end up carrying him. And just because they can walk doesn't mean they are mature enough to walk with you, hold your hand and not try to bolt away. Seriously, raise your own children and let me raise my children the way I want to. Don't you have anything better to worry about?

I've been to South America and Europe and BOTH places have older children in strollers, not to mention Asia/Africa where they are still WEARING older children in wraps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid is heavy and when we're out for they day I prefer not to end up carrying him. And just because they can walk doesn't mean they are mature enough to walk with you, hold your hand and not try to bolt away. Seriously, raise your own children and let me raise my children the way I want to. Don't you have anything better to worry about?

I've been to South America and Europe and BOTH places have older children in strollers, not to mention Asia/Africa where they are still WEARING older children in wraps.

I think this was exactly the point the pp was making -- just because a kid is old enough to walk doesn't mean that he's too old to get the comfort/ease of a stroller. Similarly, just because a kid is old enough to eat other food doesn't mean that he's too old to get the comfort/ease of nursing.

[Anonymous]

"I've been to South America and Europe and BOTH places have older children in strollers, not to mention Asia/Africa where they are still WEARING older children in wraps. "

What is your point?

[Anonymous]

The Benefits of Breastfeeding Beyond One Year
Reasons for Continuing to Nurse into Toddlerhood

Jul 8, 2008 Maria Alexis Rodrigo

While extended breastfeeding is not a common practice in North America, evidence shows that, when it comes to breastfeeding, more is better.


Even though the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding "for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired," extended breastfeeding is not a common practice in North America. Some even frown on the practice, saying it spoils the child or keeps the child from gaining independence. However, there are many benefits to breastfeeding beyond one year.

Immune System Protection
Even though toddlers receive most of their calories and nutrition from food other than mother's milk, only breastmilk can provide antibodies against diseases. This reason alone is enough to motivate some women to continue breastfeeding after their child's first birthday.

Emotional Attachment
Still other mothers continue breastfeeding their toddlers because of the emotional attachment that breastfeeding has forged. Nursing gives the toddler an easy way to calm down and regroup when over-stimulated. A toddler who is still breastfeeding can easily be comforted when hurt or ill. Many mothers also enjoy the convenience of nursing a wound-up toddler to sleep.


Greater Protection Against Allergies
A study published in 1995 found that children in Finland who were breastfed the longest had lower incidence of allergic reactions, such as atopy, eczema, food allergy and respiratory allergy. By age 17, 65 per cent of those who received little breastfeeding had respiratory allergies, compared to 42 per cent of those who were breastfed the longest.

Higher Intelligence
Many already know that breastfed children tend to out-perform non-breastfed children in measures for intelligence. In addition, at least two studies have found that the differences were greater among children who were breastfed longer. Children who were breastfed longer had higher test scores than children who were not breastfed at all or for a shorter duration.

Human Nature
Anthropologists believe that humans are designed to be breastfed for longer than the recommended 1 year. Katherine Detttwyler, after studying breastfeeding patterns in primates, concluded that the natural length of breastfeeding among humans is anywhere from 2.5 to about 7 years.


Breastfeeding Improves Lung Function
Extended Nursing Improves I.Q. and Social Skills
If you are breastfeeding an infant, consider following the AAP's minimum recommendation of 1 year. After that, decide if you and your child are willing to continue nursing still. Some women breastfeed their toddlers because it simply feels right to them. However, there are also objective, scientific reasons for extended breastfeeding.

References:

Saarinen UM, Kajosarri M. Breastfeeding as a Prophylactic Against Atopic Disease: Prospective follow-up Study until 17 years old, Lancet 346:1065-1069, 1995.

Mortenson EL, MIchaelsen KF, Sanders SA, Reeinisch JM. The association between duration of breastfeeding and adult intelligence. Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;287:2365-2371.

Daniels M C, Adair L S. Breast-feeding infuences cognitive development of Filipino children. J Nutr. 135: 2589-2595, 2005

Dettwyler, Katherine PhD. A time to wean. Breastfeeding Abstracts. 14,1: 3-4. 1994


Read more at Suite101: The Benefits of Breastfeeding Beyond One Year: Reasons for Continuing to Nurse into Toddlerhood http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_benefits_of_breastfeeding_beyond_one_year#ixzz0xilBEk5x

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I've been to South America and Europe and BOTH places have older children in strollers, not to mention Asia/Africa where they are still WEARING older children in wraps. "

What is your point?

Not PP, but it's pretty clear that the point is that older children in strollers is not something unique to DC/US.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe I am entering this debate because it is just stupid (I don't give a rat's %&*$ if you think my nursing my 13 month-old is disgusting), but I have to correct a misconception. It simply is not true that there is no nutritional value to nursing a toddler beyond a year. Ladies who find nursing a toddler gross: the reason you give whole (cow's) milk is because toddlers need sufficient fats and proteins for brain growth and development. Because you are not nursing, you need a substitute. Breastmilk has lots of fat and proteins for the toddler. Sure, you don't have to breast feed to ensure your toddler gets his nutritional needs met, but by the same token, you don't "need" to when they are infants either (because there is formula). (I'm not saying cow's milk or dairy is bad or evil - I give it to my son - but I also think you should realize why it is recommended you give cow's milk when you wean.)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

May I also point out that the AAP recommends breastfeeding for AT LEAST one year?

[Anonymous]

Ladies who find nursing a toddler gross: the reason you give whole (cow's) milk is because toddlers need sufficient fats and proteins for brain growth and development. Because you are not nursing, you need a substitute. Breastmilk has lots of fat and proteins for the toddler. Sure, you don't have to breast feed to ensure your toddler gets his nutritional needs met, but by the same token, you don't "need" to when they are infants either (because there is formula). (I'm not saying cow's milk or dairy is bad or evil - I give it to my son - but I also think you should realize why it is recommended you give cow's milk when you wean.)

Again, it just depends on the child. My son is 13 months and he doesn't particularly like to breastfeed anymore, and isn't a big fan of cow's milk or formula, although he will take a little bit. His doctor says that is fine, because he's eating a lot of meat, yogurt, and other "grown up" foods that give him fats and proteins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I've been to South America and Europe and BOTH places have older children in strollers, not to mention Asia/Africa where they are still WEARING older children in wraps. "

What is your point?

If you hadn't left out the quoted portion of my response you would know what my point was. I responded to someone else's nonsense.

[Anonymous]

I was just about to post the kellymom info. Here are some snipets for those that don't want to click on the site: Of note are the nutritional value, the INCREASE in being independent adults, and the prevention of breast cancer in mom.

In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:
29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements

The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness (AAFP 2001).
Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986).

"Antibodies are abundant in human milk throughout lactation" (Nutrition During Lactation 1991; p. 134). In fact, some of the immune factors in breastmilk increase in concentration during the second year and also during the weaning process. (Goldman 1983, Goldman & Goldblum 1983, Institute of Medicine 1991).

Per the World Health Organization, "a modest increase in breastfeeding rates could prevent up to 10% of all deaths of children under five: Breastfeeding plays an essential and sometimes underestimated role in the treatment and prevention of childhood illness." [emphasis added]

"Research reports on the psychological aspects of nursing are scarce. One study that dealt specifically with babies nursed longer than a year showed a significant link between the duration of nursing and mothers' and teachers' ratings of social adjustment in six- to eight-year-old children (Ferguson et al, 1987). In the words of the researchers, 'There are statistically significant tendencies for conduct disorder scores to decline with increasing duration of breastfeeding.'"

Baldwin continues: "Meeting a child's dependency needs is the key to helping that child achieve independence. And children outgrow these needs according to their own unique timetable." Children who achieve independence at their own pace are more secure in that independence then children forced into independence prematurely.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that "As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2008)