Your take on this breastfeeding question?

I would agree with your friend. However I would still pump and give my child breast milk rather than cow milk, just because its best for a calf doesn't mean its best for people.

Neither. Way too much 'should' in both your opinions. Those are choices you can't make for other people.

Yes, I am very much in favour of breastfeeding. And frankly jealous of those who are able to. And I can't understand why someone who is able to would choose not to breastfeed.

But unless I am asked for my opinion by the mother who makes that choice, I have to realize that if it's HER child and HER breasts, it's not MY reasons that matter. Her choice, for her own reasons.

And if I am asked: I applaud ANY breastfeeding. Whether it's two weeks or two years, that mother gave her child something very valuable from her own body. It does not start counting only when a minimum time is reached, and it doesn't become 'embarrassing' or an inferior option just because your child has reached a certain age.

You're both right. If you want to nurse past age one/two/three, by all means, do it. If she doesn't want to, she shouldn't feel pressured to do so. However, by her standards, an early walker/teether shouldn't be breastfed, which doesn't make any sense.

Breastmilk obviously continues many benefits past a year but that doesn't mean they NEED it. And one major thing in your statement is incorrect - doctors do not agree that age two is "the best time to stop breastfeeding." It's until age two and beyond. There is no recommended age to STOP breastfeeding, only recommended minimum times.

eta - It would be nice if elaeblue actually knew what he/she was talking about. Breastfeeding does not "make them not so hungry for real food." After a year it's treated as a drink, not a meal replacement. It's no more likely to stifle hunger than offering cow's milk with dinner. I assume elaeblue doesn't deny his/her children (or doesn't plan to deny future children) a beverage with their meals. Children over a year breastfeeding are still eating a wide variety of foods, and actually statistically speaking they're more likely to have a wider range of foods they like because they've grown so use the fluctuating flavors of breastmilk rather than the flat, single flavor of formula.

All scientific evidence indicates that children should breast feed longer than age one. The WHO recommends breast feeding until a *minimum* of age two. Longer is fine. Your friends reasoning is just not scientifically sound - the child is most certainly not embarrassed by breast feeding past one. How would they have any reason to be embarrassed? Embarrassment is a socially trained response, not a natural one. And some babies have teeth long before one, and some walk before then too. Tying breast feeding to teeth or walking makes no sense at all.

Ultimately, every mom should breast feed as long as they are able and comfortable, given adequate resources and education so that they can be successful. It is very clear that breast feeding continues to be beneficial to the child as long as it continues, and that is has health benefits that make it worthwhile even past the age of two. Most babies left to their own resources will self-wean between two and four years old. No one is in a position to prescribe to another mom what they should do, although we can try to educate and support others.

How about leaving it up to the child after the age of 1??? Some toddlers do not want to breastfeed and I don't see the point of trying to force it upon them if you want them to continue till the age of 2. Of course breast milk is wonderful stuff but stopping breastfeeding at anytime still means you gave your child the best possible thing and any mother should be happy with themselves that they were able to succeed at all.

I don't think its anything to be ashamed of, you should stop whenever it feels right. I don't think any one is wrong though. Each to there own

I agree with your friend but for a different reason- I believe by the time a child is one year old they need to be eating a variety of different foods and breast feeding makes them not so hungry for real food.