Extended Breastfeeding

Many people are puzzled about the term extended breast feeding, but simply put it is when a mother breast feeds a child who is over the age of one year. Extended breastfeeding is very common in some countries especially underdeveloped countries though in westernised countries it can be frowned on as something which is not quite very nice!

Some people find the sight of a toddler who is drinking from his mother's breast distasteful and very often these mothers can become the butt of undeserving comments and remarks. It can be very difficult to put up with public ridicule and comments if a mother breastfeeds her toddler in public.

There are advantages to breast feeding a toddler and these include travelling (you don't have to worry about sterilising bottles or cups),

Another advantage is the knowledge the toddler is still receiving antibodies from his mother's milk, a fact which is proved by the undisputed knowledge these toddlers are less frequently ill than their non breast fed counterparts.

What is surprising is that the decision not to breast feed toddlers is a fairly recent innovation only introduced since the advent of formulae milk. Before this time, it was usual and preferred for toddlers to be breast fed by either his mother or a wet nurse. and children were very often breast fed until the age of two.

Reasons not to continue with breast feeding can be many and the main one is usually the advent of another baby. It would be very demanding and tiring for any mother to be able to breast feed both a toddler and a new baby.

Some toddlers can become slightly dependent on the breast, and his mother may find it difficult to wean him away from it, he may not go to sleep until he has been breast fed, which can tie his mother down slightly. Or he may become very demanding and jealous of any other new baby who is now being breast fed by his mother.

If the mother decided to breast feed her toddler in public, she may become the victim of comments from people who don't agree with extended breast feeding. Many people feel they have the right to make rude and thoughtless comments to mothers who are breast feeding in public, despite the fact their baby is hungry, and if they see a toddler being fed it adds fuel to their feeling. Many mothers have been driven underground by these people when wanting to breast feed their toddlers because of the unwarranted remarks and comments.

Another reason many mothers give up breastfeeding at this age is

Toddlers have teeth!!!!