My impression from literature and anecdotal data is that for at least 100
years the norm in many parts of the U.S. and Europe has been around 9 months
to a year. In "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", written early in the century, I
think, there was a boy who refused to wean at what was presented as the usual
age of 9 months.  His character as a nursing toddler was presented in a very
grotesque, absurd way.

My mother (turning 83 next month) told me that she was nursed "until I was
walking around" becaue her birthday was in October and "you didn't wean a
baby in the summer".  So, I don't know if that means she was around a year or
around two.

I was amazed to find out that my husband's grandmother bottlefed all her
babies, who are now in their 80's - my MIL was born around 1915.  And this
was in a small town in Missouri.  It's been going on a long time!

My impression is that it's been a long time since the normal course of
nursing was standard in western countries, at least in urban areas.

Miriam Levitt RN, IBCLC

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