I really do believe that babies fit the "bell" curve also in this - and I
had one of those who weaned early - there was no reason for Larry to stop
breastfeeding early - he was breastfed "on demand", NEVER sucked his thumb
or a pacifier, slept in our bed and later in our room, I was not pregnant,
I didn't work,  I attended La Leche League meetings from the day I learned
I was pregnant until long after he weaned, I had NO family or peer pressure
to wean.  I don't have an exact weaning date for him, but he did stop
completely before his first birthday.

But - he really seemed to want to nurse to EAT, not for comfort.  He
crawled at 6 months, walked at 9, and was so active that solids were
introduced by my putting them out on the coffee table and he would "graze"
rather than eat meals with us.  (I found him on top of the refrigerator at
age 1 1/2...)

Probably today he would have been considered "hyperkinetic" and would have
been put on Ritalin.  However, he's 28, VERY affectionate, gentle, still
needs very little sleep, and has climbed mountains (Mt. Washington at 13
with a Boy Scout Leader - I'm NOT athletic), gone kayaking, taken up
fencing, cross country running, and plays any sport he can take the time to
do after work and on weekends.  

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA
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