The trouble I have with these answers is that a "long" time breastfeeding
for many people is not something we could call long at all! Even when you
look at research "long-term" breastfeeding is described as from >5 months up
to 18 months depending on the study. I think that there is real benefit in
letting others know that real, ordinary, intelligent women breastfeed their
children for long times ie 2,3,4,5+ years.  Women gain confidence to
continue breastfeeding when they know that others are doing it also (how
many lay counsellors have had calls from mums wanting to wean their toddler
to discover in the conversation that they don't want to wean but are feeling
really pressured to wean because they don't know *anyone* who has breastfed
a child as old as their child?). Being cagey about it can give the
impression that it is something that you are embarrassed about/ashamed of.
It's easy to say, "I breastfeed my child for X years because that suited
us....probably the minimum recommended age of weaning is 2 years" No need to
set up competition but real need to get out accurate information.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

> Other good answers are: "A little longer with each baby," "As long as we
> both enjoyed it" or "For my family, and for me personally, it worked out
> well for me, and I was able to breastfeed for a long time." Another
> possibility is to simply reflect the feelings of the person asking: "I
> know it can be surprising to see people breastfeeding toddlers and older
> children, but this is actually quite common." "It sounds like you're
> interested in talking about duration of breastfeeding. Ideally, babies
> should be exclusively breastfed until they're about six months old, and
> then continue to be breastfed as long as they want, and as long as it
> works out for the mother to continue."
>

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