Replies to '10/07 The Latest Debates'

Yes I have and have lots of friends that attend these meetings.... 

Why is this offensive to you?. Is this act haulting your life somehow? Does the fact that a woman chosing to BF her child beyond the age of 1 somehow harm your life in any way.? I think that people these days need to be more open minded. Did you realize that this act does still occur in places other then the US. Certain tribes in Africa practice this method. Its called child lead weaning.  

What is it to you really that these men and women choose to live a natural lifestyle and not abstain to how you view how things should be done.  

And for the record, NO i do not still BF my children, I choose not to.  

In the future do not be so judgemental of others and maybe  you will reflect something good onto your children about how to treat people and stop the predjudceness. 

I don't understand what teeth have to do with breastfeeding?    Did your 12 month old not have teeth? I think mom's who breastfeed older children are very wise and caring women.  Breast milk is ALWAYS a benefit,  please do some research on the topic. A very long time ago, women who were lactating would nurse the elderly, so they could keep up their strength. That is Unconditional Love. America has made breasts sexual objects instead of what they truly are.  The Le Leche League is a wonderful organization and one I'm proud to be part of.  These are groups of strong, supportive women who help mother's give their babies the best.  I understand you have something against 5 year old being breastfed, but to each his own. Turn your head and walk away, you don't need to stand and watch something you are not comfortable with. Try to support your fellow woman and you will see that we can change the ignorance surrounding breastfeeding.   

"And that's not funny, but they have that Le Leche Club thing and some woman either culturally or for whatever reason go beyond what is necessarily.  At least in my opinion.  Anyone else ever hear of this?" 

Well MissJane...... 

I have heard of "this."  

What do you mean go beyond what is necessary? I will tell you what the Surgeon General and American Academy of Pediatrics say............ 

It is recommended that a child be breastfed for the first 12 months.  

So, what do you mean? 

It's unfortunate, but you obviously don't know what the latest research in the medical community is. As it stands now the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends nursing a child for a MINIMUM of a year. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends a MINIMUM of two years. So nursing a baby for more than a few months is far from "unnecessary" as you seem to think. 

I have one child, a daughter,13 months, and I breastfed for 6 weeks by pumping becasue she would not latch correctly. I don't feel there is anything wrong with breastfeeding in public as long as you are covered.  However, I completely agree with you on the age at which a child should NOT be breastfed. I feel that when a Dr. or nurse tells you to begin weening your child from the bottle, the breast should be included. Most physicians will tell you to be using a sippy cup,or trying to transition to a cup, at the age one one year.  Why would you continue to breastfeed a child that can ask for juice or a hotdog. To me, that is totally unnecessary and strange. I find it disgusting to see a woman in public breastfeeding a child that can walk, talk, and eat food beyond a jar. 

Dr. Phil should address this issue for a real debate! 

Ok, I couldn't let this comment go... I am wondering if you can post any links to some valid, scientific research, giving an age for when a woman should wean her child from bresatfeeding, and also some evidence for the point at which breastfeeding becomes unnecessary.   

I don't think you can, but in the true spirit of a fair debate, I'm willing to read any links you can give me that are scientifically based and that support your views.  And I hope you will check out these links... Essentially, they state that there is no age at which you should force your child wean and that there are health/nutritional and emotional benefits that continue beyond one year of age. 

American Academy of Pediatrics' Policy Paper: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (see point # 10 under "Recommendations on Breastfeeding for Healthy Term Infants".   

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496#SEC2 

Nursing After the First Year 

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html 

Extended Breastsfeeding Fact Sheet 

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

Extended Breastfeeding Myths 

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

Signed, 

One-half of a happily nursing duo (the other half being my nearly 20 mo. old son) AND the Librarian for my local La Leche League chapter (www.lalecheleague.org) 

PS: La Leche has no policy pushing anyone to breastfeed any longer than they want to (1 mo., 6 mos., 3 yrs., or whenever)- they only are there to support women in an otherwise horribly unsupportive culture, to do what our bodies were meant to do (feed our children).