This is an excerpt from my publication "Evolutionary Medicine and
Breastfeeding: Implications for Research and Pediatric Advice"
In the following, any weaning prior to 2.5 years of age is defined as
"premature," based on my research that 2.5 to 7.0 years is the normal
duration of breastfeeding for our species.

"For mothers who decide to wean prematurely, health care professionals must
provide education and support to help relieve the negative health
consequences. This might include discussion of various types of formula,
and advising parents to avoid whole cows' milk until the child is at least
2.5 years old. It might include making sure all immunizations are complete
and up-to-date, and that parents understand the necessity for prompt
treatment of all illnesses. Dietary supplements of docosahexanoic acid and
arachidonic acid might be advised for optimal brain growth in the child who
has been weaned before brain growth has been completed. Parents should also
be educated about the possibility that their child's instinctive need to
suck (which can be very strong in some children up to and beyond seven years
of age) should be respected and met in another way, if not at the breast.
Thus, pacifier use and thumb-sucking through age seven, at least, should be
considered normal behavior for prematurely weaned children. While pacifiers
and thumb-sucking are less healthy alternatives for meeting a child's
sucking needs than at the breast, they must still be recognized as meeting
legitimate needs. If thumb-sucking is leading to orthodontic problems, then
alternatives need to be found. Never should the child, or the parents, be
criticized for behavior that is normal for the circumstances and meets real
needs. “Extended breastfeeding” should not be viewed as pathological or
evidence of sexual abuse, or even of an overly-attached mother-child pair;
it should be viewed as normal. Finally, education and support from health
care officials will be necessary to counteract any negative health
consequences to the mother of curtailed lactation, such as increased risk of
breast cancer and osteoporosis, and a need for birth control."
So, for example, using the most recent Yale study just published that says
that formula-feeding doubles a mother risk of breast cancer, you might want
to be sure that the mother realizes she really must be diligent in doing
monthly breast self-exams, getting her yearly mammogram starting at age 40,
etc. And she needs education about how to get sufficient calcium and
exercise to offset the increased risk of osteoporosis from not
breastfeeding. And on and on.
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Nutrition
Texas A&M University
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