Regarding the recent posts on extended nursing - I think that even in
LLL/LC/BF advocate circles breastfeeding is only accepted in an older child
until a certain age. It has been my personal experience that this age seems
to be about 4 years. If the mother/child dyad continues to nurse after
that, it does raise some eyebrows.

This is just my opinion/observation. I am personally nursing my youngest
child who is 6.1 years old. I only know a very few people who have nursed
this long. I am reluctant to mention it to many people (wow, now over 1000
people on Lactnet know!) because of people's reactions. I am thrilled to
hear that Kathy Dettwyler's research indicates that humans were really
designed to nurse until 6-7 years old.

Even books supportive of long-term nursing like "Mothering Your Nursing
Toddler" don't really speak much to nursing a child over five. How many of
us, even though we are BF advocates, are totally comfortable with the idea
of a 6 or 7 year old still nursing?

Just my .02.
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Kim Balzer, LLLeader, Area Communications Coordinator LLL of N.CA/HI
The Milkie Way, Breastpump Rentals/Sales, Breastfeeding Accessories
Sebastopol, CA USA
mailto:[log in to unmask]     http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9068
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