it is not true, KD notwithstanding, that all babies were nursed for several
years in the 1920s in the us. according to my interviewing of several female
relatives, the norm was to breastfeed for one year, unless the baby's first
birthday came during summer. if so, weaning was delayed due to concerns about
"summer complaint" which was usually waterborne illness that was more common
in summer.

this seems interesting to me in light of my family, and perhaps most others
of the time period, being either farm families or one generation removed from
farming. why is it that no one would consider early weaning of an animal with
a short nursing time (pigs) while it seems okay to force early weaning of
other animals with longer normal breastfeeding times (cows)? it seems
utilitarian. but is that the case with human babies?

carol brussel IBCLC

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