Hello, Jeanne.
       You wrote:  "Not that breastfeeding will affect his sexual
development, but that breastfeeding keeps him more dependent."
       I was really surprised to read that you felt that way.  I have been a
member of La Leche League for pushing 24 years.  During all those years, I
have known quite a few long-term (3-6 years) nursers.  I was always impressed by
how all but one of these children were very confident,
take-the-world-by-the-tail-and-shake-it children.  It seems to me that because they are allowed to
touch base with mom whenever they need to, they then have the confidence to take
on anything life brings them.  Even the one exception was really just a late
bloomer.  He nursed past his 6th birthday, though I don't remember exactly
when he weaned.  Even at six, he would hide behind his mother whenever I came to
his door.  (Which was often, so he really did know me, and was still
incredibly shy.)  But one day, when he was 8, I knocked on his door.  To my shock, he
answered the door, smiled at me, very maturely said hello and invited me in,
and said his mother would be right down.  I almost fell down, I was so
surprised!  So he really did turn out to be an outgoing lad, it just took him a bit
longer to get there.
       Dee

Dee Kassing, BS, MLS, IBCLC
Collinsville, Illinois, in central USA

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