On Thursday, September 20, 2007, Lori Passwater wrote:  I am really
interested in the topic of mothers breastfeeding their toddlers.  As a
former breastfeeder of three children, I was always told to wean my children
off the breast around the age of one because there was no added benefit to
breastfeeding past that age.  After much research, boy was I wrong!  In one
article on the kellymom.com website it stated that breastmilk continues to
provide substantial amounts of ket nutrients well beyond the first year.
Also, it discussed the fact that children that wean off the breast before
the age of two are at a higher risk for illness and developing allergies.
In doing this research, I was astonished to see that the American Academy of
Pediatrics only recommends breastfeeding while the WHO recommends a minimum
of two years.  Is it our culture that isn't able to accept breastfeeding
toddlers?

 

Lori, many of the pediatricians in my area tell moms that there is no value
in continuing breastfeeding (BF) after 6, 9, 12 months; take your pick.  The
AAP actually recommends exclusive BF for at least 6 months and, after
starting solids, continuing to at least one year or beyond.  It is our
culture that cannot accept BF in general, and yes, especially BF toddlers.
On this issue, the AAP Section on Breastfeeding is considered radical by
most in our culture.  I remember the reaction of the media when the AAP
first came out with these latest recommendations.  The media made it seem as
if any exclusive BF was impossible; 6 months of exclusive BF was crazy;
modern women could not BF for a year; etc.

We have research indicating that many of the BF benefits are dose related
(i.e., exclusivity, number of years) but members of our culture do not know
that; many find it hard to believe/do.  The majority of women in the USA do
not exclusively BF their newborns, let alone 6 month olds.  Almost none of
the moms BF beyond a year. 

You may be upset that you weaned your children when continuing to BF would
have benefited not only them but yourself as well.  The dose-related
benefits also apply to lower risks of breast and ovarian cancers for the
moms and the female children.

Now that you have the research indicating the benefits of BF a toddler, you
may want to educate your physicians/family/friends/classmates by sharing the
research with them.  Think of all the moms and children you would be
helping.  You certainly will be doing that in your class when you report
your findings.  Good luck in your studies.

Warm regards,

Lee

 

Lee Galasso, MS, LLLL, IBCLC, RLC

Lactation Specialist

Lactation Center of Westchester/Putnam

Westchester County in NYS, USA

 

914-245-2206

[log in to unmask]

 

Vice-President

Westchester/Putnam/Rockland (WPR) Lactation Consortium

 

"Children are Born with the Right to be Breastfed"

 


             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]