There are so many reasons to nurse a toddler but what I tend to focus on when talking to parents is the immunological boost it gives to a crawling/walking kid who sticks everything in his mouth and is now being exposed to any and everything. The simplistic message: Physiologically speaking for the first year the nutritional benefits are of primary importance, beyond that the daily immunization takes precedence.  Obviously both nutrition and immunization are important throughout breastfeeding and don't change significantly.  What does change is the kid, he begins to take in complementary nutrition, breastmilk is no longer the sole diet and he becomes exposed to more "germs" requiring that daily booster.  The light bulbs really go on when presented in this way.  I don't know whether duration is actually increased but I do get hearty buy-in at the prenatal visits.

Janie Akerlund RN IBCLC



  

Date:    Mon, 8 Dec 2003 12:58:17 EST

From:    Cheryl Parrott <[log in to unmask]>

Subject: about the article in Lakeland Paper : toddler nursing



I enjoyed this article, but something struck me.  Perhaps the reason, well,

one of the reasons, so many look down on the toddler nursing is our (THE LC

community) description that it is so comforting and will stop when the child is

ready.  So many see this just as one more way to let that little child

manipulate and rule the roost.  Perhaps we should emphasize the nutritional aspect a

bit more.  I am certainly not agreeing with 'those' people, but I want them to

understand, I don't plan on nursing my little one into toddlerhood (or for

that matter why I put breastmilk in my 4yrs old cow milk at times) just for

comfort...I do it because they NEED the nutrition!



Just musing today!...

Cheryl Parrott RN, BSN, IBCLC

Kokomo, Indiana

mom to Lexie, almost 5, and Leah, nursling at 10months 

  

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