Re: Happy breastfeeding week.....

August 2, 1999

In a message dated 8/2/99 6:41:13 AM Central Daylight Time,

buffystem@... writes:

<<

the results are unbelievable... >>

Actually they were alot better then I expected. I don't think I would put as

long as the baby/child wanted. cause I don't think a 9 year old has any

busness nursing. Maybe some think differently. But I was sure glad to see

that the that there was such a small amount for 3 months. Because I really

think a baby needs the proper milk for much longer then that. Hopefully until

at least a year.

Amy

August 2, 1999

In a message dated 8/2/99 11:16:04 AM Central Daylight Time,

barbotto@... writes:

<< I know your is still young and it is hard to imagine nursing a

great big 3 year old. When my first was little, I planned to nurse for

12 months. I just couldn't imagine nursing longer. Well, we ended up

nursing for 27 months. Keep in mind that an older baby is not nursing

as frequently as an infant. Both of mine were only nursing before

naps/bedtime and once in the AM. Once they get older, you really

treasure those special moments. >>

isn't that little he is 18 months and I can understand the feeling when

I was pregnant and ever right after was born I planned on Breastfeeding

for just 6 months but soon learned alot about breastfeeding and how wonderful

it was and never looked back.

I have been on a message board and one women was telling about nursing her 9

year old and another was telling baout nursing her 7 year old. So it does

happen.

I have no problem nursing a 3 year old. If that time comes and he is still

intrested but at some point it HAS to stop. And if he isn't the one to do it

then it's gotta be me. So to say until a child decited isn't a good idea alot

of mother say there baby weened themselves at 9/10 months when really all

they were doing was showing intrest in the outside world and they didn't know

how to handle it. So I do think a baby sometimes needs to be helped to either

continue (as in the 9/10 month old) or to stop (in the case or a 5 or 6 year

old)

Amy

August 2, 1999

In a message dated 8/2/99 12:05:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

heather@... writes:

<< and he

said his aunt is a social worker and they had a case where a 17 year old

male was still

breastfeeding >>

i dont buy it

August 2, 1999

Talk about not wanting to let go of your baby :-)

In a message dated 8/2/99 2:05:33 PM Central Daylight Time,

heather@... writes:

<< A guy I work with was sitting here and I said about the 9 year old still

nursing and he

said his aunt is a social worker and they had a case where a 17 year old

male was still

breastfeeding. His mother said he never wanted to stop so they didn't. >>

August 2, 1999

Amy,

I'm not aware of any documented cases where a child has nursed for 9

years. Those of us who believe in child led weaning recognize the

" natural age of weaning " falls somewhere between 2 and 5 years.

According to Dettwyler, most children naturally wean between

2.5 and 4 years if given the option.

I know your is still young and it is hard to imagine nursing a

great big 3 year old. When my first was little, I planned to nurse for

12 months. I just couldn't imagine nursing longer. Well, we ended up

nursing for 27 months. Keep in mind that an older baby is not nursing

as frequently as an infant. Both of mine were only nursing before

naps/bedtime and once in the AM. Once they get older, you really

treasure those special moments.

--- Feb98@... wrote:

> From: Feb98@...

>

> In a message dated 8/2/99 6:41:13 AM Central

> Daylight Time,

> buffystem@... writes:

>

> <<

> the results are unbelievable... >>

>

> Actually they were alot better then I expected. I

> don't think I would put as

> long as the baby/child wanted. cause I don't think a

> 9 year old has any

> busness nursing. Maybe some think differently. But I

> was sure glad to see

> that the that there was such a small amount for 3

> months. Because I really

> think a baby needs the proper milk for much longer

> then that. Hopefully until

> at least a year.

>

> Amy

>

> ---------------------------

August 2, 1999

In a message dated 8/2/99 7:50:03 PM !!!First Boot!!!, barbotto@...

writes:

<< I personally know three women who have nursed until 4.

Do you have a friend who has nursed longer? >>

my lc's son is 5 and last I knew...still doing bed time nursings.

August 2, 1999

Amy,

As far as I know there isn't any documented cases of a child nursing past 7

years. Children eventually have this intense desire to be like adults and

they know that adults don't nurse.

Wendi

Re: Happy breastfeeding week.....

From: Feb98@...

Actually they were alot better then I expected. I don't think I would put

as

long as the baby/child wanted. cause I don't think a 9 year old has any

busness nursing. Maybe some think differently. But I was sure glad to see

that the that there was such a small amount for 3 months. Because I really

think a baby needs the proper milk for much longer then that. Hopefully

until

at least a year.

Amy

August 2, 1999

Barbara,

Although Dettwyler says that women who nurse toddlers around the

world nurse as often as 4 times per hour. This is the natural nursing

pattern even in older children. This is one way that women around the

world delay ovulation for so long. The frequent continued nursing helps to

keep ovulation gone for a long time. The American practice of only nursing

occasionally is not the pattern around the world. Also tandem nursing is

virtually unheard of anywhere but in America which she feels is due to our

pattern of infrequent nursing not keep ovulation at bay. I got all this

during the virtual La leche league conference while chatting with her.

Wendi

Re: Happy breastfeeding week.....

Amy,

I'm not aware of any documented cases where a child has nursed for 9

years. Those of us who believe in child led weaning recognize the

" natural age of weaning " falls somewhere between 2 and 5 years.

According to Dettwyler, most children naturally wean between

2.5 and 4 years if given the option.

I know your is still young and it is hard to imagine nursing a

great big 3 year old. When my first was little, I planned to nurse for

12 months. I just couldn't imagine nursing longer. Well, we ended up

nursing for 27 months. Keep in mind that an older baby is not nursing

as frequently as an infant. Both of mine were only nursing before

naps/bedtime and once in the AM. Once they get older, you really

treasure those special moments.

August 2, 1999

Feb98@... wrote:

> I have been on a message board and one women was telling about nursing her 9

> year old and another was telling baout nursing her 7 year old. So it does

> happen.

A guy I work with was sitting here and I said about the 9 year old still nursing

and he

said his aunt is a social worker and they had a case where a 17 year old male

was still

breastfeeding. His mother said he never wanted to stop so they didn't.

Yes, there is a point at which it has to stop. 3 is still a baby. 9 is a bit

old IMO, and

17 is downright weird.

~

EDD 2/8/00

August 2, 1999

> A guy I work with was sitting here and I said about the 9 year old still

nursing and he

> said his aunt is a social worker and they had a case where a 17 year old

male was still

> breastfeeding. His mother said he never wanted to stop so they didn't.

>

> Yes, there is a point at which it has to stop. 3 is still a baby. 9 is a

bit old IMO, and

> 17 is downright weird.

This isn't exactly an example of child led weaning, it's parent led control!

I think it's the same way with a 9 yo too, the parent doesn't want it to

stop so they continue....JMO

Gazley

Mom to (Oct 8, 1998)

http://members.tripod.com/~MysticMom

August 2, 1999

I think 9 yrs and 17 yrs is nasty! I think it might be physical! JMO

Sue;)

On Mon, 2 Aug 1999 15:08:27 -0400 " Gazley "

writes:

>

>> A guy I work with was sitting here and I said about the 9 year old

>still

>nursing and he

>> said his aunt is a social worker and they had a case where a 17 year

>old

>male was still

>> breastfeeding. His mother said he never wanted to stop so they

>didn't.

>>

>> Yes, there is a point at which it has to stop. 3 is still a baby.

>9 is a

>bit old IMO, and

>> 17 is downright weird.

>

>This isn't exactly an example of child led weaning, it's parent led

>control!

>I think it's the same way with a 9 yo too, the parent doesn't want it

>to

>stop so they continue....JMO

>

> Gazley

>Mom to (Oct 8, 1998)

>http://members.tripod.com/~MysticMom

>

>---------------------------

August 2, 1999

Wendi,

Your post got me thinking...

Do you think that one of the reasons children in developing nations

nurse more frequently is the lack of the abundance and variety of foods

American toddlers have access to?

I didn't deter my toddlers from nursing, they were only interested when

tired or needed comfort. Imagine how different (please don't read

better) life must be for a toddler in Mali rather than Marin.

One other thing: I've noticed (even with the availability of birth

control) that many (most?) American women have their children close

together. In your experience, don't most of the women you meet have

children close to or even less than 2 years apart? I find that to be

true. A spacing as wide as yours (around 5 years, i think) is much

less common. This might be influenced by bearing children later in

life, a desire to return to the working world as well as early weaning.

What do you think?

**PLEASE NOTE: This is not a criticism of any woman's decision to have

her children close together. It is just an observation and a question.

Please don't take this statement the wrong way.

--- Wendi wrote:

>

> Barbara,

>

> Although Dettwyler says that women who

> nurse toddlers around the

> world nurse as often as 4 times per hour. This is

> the natural nursing

> pattern even in older children. This is one way

> that women around the

> world delay ovulation for so long. The frequent

> continued nursing helps to

> keep ovulation gone for a long time. The American

> practice of only nursing

> occasionally is not the pattern around the world.

> Also tandem nursing is

> virtually unheard of anywhere but in America which

> she feels is due to our

> pattern of infrequent nursing not keep ovulation at

> bay. I got all this

> during the virtual La leche league conference while

> chatting with her.

>

> Wendi

>

> Re: Happy breastfeeding

> week.....

>

> Amy,

>

> I'm not aware of any documented cases where a child

> has nursed for 9

> years. Those of us who believe in child led weaning

> recognize the

> " natural age of weaning " falls somewhere between 2

> and 5 years.

> According to Dettwyler, most children

> naturally wean between

> 2.5 and 4 years if given the option.

>

> I know your is still young and it is hard to

> imagine nursing a

> great big 3 year old. When my first was little, I

> planned to nurse for

> 12 months. I just couldn't imagine nursing longer.

> Well, we ended up

> nursing for 27 months. Keep in mind that an older

> baby is not nursing

> as frequently as an infant. Both of mine were only

> nursing before

> naps/bedtime and once in the AM. Once they get

> older, you really

> treasure those special moments.

>

> ---------------------------

August 2, 1999

I think this must be one for the urban legends page!)

Seriously, when we continue to discuss these things that we don't

actually know to be true, we just add fuel to the -bf an older child is

disgusting-bf an older child is sexual-bf an older child is

abnormal-fires. Let's not give bf haters more ammunition.

I personally know three women who have nursed until 4.

Do you have a friend who has nursed longer?

--- Phawxsee@... wrote:

> From: Phawxsee@...

>

> In a message dated 8/2/99 12:05:38 PM Pacific

> Daylight Time,

> heather@... writes:

>

> << and he

> said his aunt is a social worker and they had a

> case where a 17 year old

> male was still

> breastfeeding >>

> i dont buy it

>

> ---------------------------

August 2, 1999

barbara otto wrote:

> I think this must be one for the urban legends page!)

Actually that 17 year old still nursing is the honest truth and can be looked up

in court

records in La Plata, MD (they were from Waldorf where I grew up) because the

mother was

sent to court (I don't know what the outcome was) for abuse. So since it is in

public

records... doesn't sound like an urban legend to me!

~

EDD 2/8/00

August 2, 1999

Amy,

You are absolutley right about the 9/10 mo. old. This happened to

three women I know. None of them wanted their bf relationship to end

so soon. I often wonder, if these babies had never had bottles, WHAT

WOULD THEY WEAN TO???

--- Feb98@... wrote:

> From: Feb98@...

>

> In a message dated 8/2/99 11:16:04 AM Central

> Daylight Time,

> barbotto@... writes:

>

> << I know your is still young and it is hard

> to imagine nursing a

> great big 3 year old. When my first was little, I

> planned to nurse for

> 12 months. I just couldn't imagine nursing longer.

> Well, we ended up

> nursing for 27 months. Keep in mind that an older

> baby is not nursing

> as frequently as an infant. Both of mine were only

> nursing before

> naps/bedtime and once in the AM. Once they get

> older, you really

> treasure those special moments. >>

>

> isn't that little he is 18 months and I can

> understand the feeling when

> I was pregnant and ever right after was born I

> planned on Breastfeeding

> for just 6 months but soon learned alot about

> breastfeeding and how wonderful

> it was and never looked back.

>

> I have been on a message board and one women was

> telling about nursing her 9

> year old and another was telling baout nursing her 7

> year old. So it does

> happen.

>

> I have no problem nursing a 3 year old. If that time

> comes and he is still

> intrested but at some point it HAS to stop. And if

> he isn't the one to do it

> then it's gotta be me. So to say until a child

> decited isn't a good idea alot

> of mother say there baby weened themselves at 9/10

> months when really all

> they were doing was showing intrest in the outside

> world and they didn't know

> how to handle it. So I do think a baby sometimes

> needs to be helped to either

> continue (as in the 9/10 month old) or to stop (in

> the case or a 5 or 6 year

> old)

>

> Amy

>

> ---------------------------

August 2, 1999

> You are absolutley right about the 9/10 mo. old. This happened to

> three women I know. None of them wanted their bf relationship to end

> so soon. I often wonder, if these babies had never had bottles, WHAT

> WOULD THEY WEAN TO???

A cup! My 10 mo old takes a cup with juice or BM if I'm away somewhere (a

rarity!)

A few weeks ago I could have sworn that was weaning himself (I just

kept nursing him even tho he didn't ask) and then a week later, he got a

fever for 3 days (wasn't sick) and wouldn't eat ANY solids, so we nursed

constantly (it's all he wanted) and now we are back at the solid level he

was at 3-4 mos ago! He will only eat lunch now and other things only if he

can feed himself, he hates to be fed! Anyway the moral of my story? that

even a 9-10 mo old can seem that they want to wean, but if you push thru,

you'll go back to normal !

Gazley

Mom to (Oct 8, 1998)

http://members.tripod.com/~MysticMom

August 2, 1999

I know of a woman who nursed her dd until age 5. Her dd had frequent throat

infections and wouldn't eat when she had them, and that was mostly when she

nursed.

I am going to practice child-led weaning with Emma, but I may do the don't

offer/don't refuse thing if/when I decide to get pregnant again. We are

going to make it to a year either way!

and Emma 3-30-99

August 2, 1999

Barbara,

I do think it is the difference of lifestyles. Many parents around the

world don't provide their babies with many toys. They continue on with

their life to keep up their existence. The children are integrated into

this lifestyle. Americans very much change their lifestyles for their

children. I think this is the key difference. I don't know if one is

better or not but I do know that many Americans are so reliant on outside

tools that they have seemingly lost their natural ability to parent. I

have chosen to space my children far apart because I wanted to make sure I

had plenty of time for each baby. That is just my personal reason. I do

think that the cultural differences are the determining factor for

breastfeeding patterns. I think that as americans we are convinced that

something is wrong with our babies if they are nursing more frequently than

every two hours, whereas in other countries it is just the opposite. Women

think that something is wrong with their babies if they aren't nursing

several times per hour. I think that all cultures have beliefs regarding

breastfeeding, some helpful and others hurtful. I know there isn't one

perfectly correct answer but that each mother needs to be encouraged to

trust her instincts and know that she has what it takes to feed and parent

her child no matter what.

Wendi

RE: Happy breastfeeding week.....