It hardly seems common today, but for most of the world it was the norm. Breastfeeding into the second, third, or even forth year was just a part of raising toddlers. Despite the newer trend to wean sometime within the first year, some mothers are choosing to continue breastfeeding for as long as it takes.
The World Health Organization recommends that mothers breastfeed for at least two years, and beyond that for as long as both mother and child want. The American Academy of Family Physicians says that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years, and that children weaned before this are at rick of illness. According to many experts, breastfeeding into this second year of life provides many nutrients that a picky toddler may not be getting otherwise.
With all of this professional support, many people still balk at the thought of a mother breastfeeding a child over the age of 12 months.
My youngest child is now 15 months, and still breastfeeding strong. She comes from a long line of breastfeeding toddlers, with both of her older brothers nursing well into their toddler stages. I was lucky to be armed with information, a wealth of supportive friends, and a lifestyle that allowed me to parent in a way that felt natural to me. Weaning was something we explored when we felt ready, not when we had to.
Supporting breastfeeding mothers gives them a chance to breastfeed for longer periods of time. Education on the benefits of extended breastfeeding, to both mother and child, are very important. As are workplace policies and state laws that protect and encourage women to continue breastfeeding. But the most important support may be to just accept that breastfeeding a toddler is normal.
When a recent survey found that many mothers felt pressured to wean before they were ready, and many childless women felt breastfeeding should be done in private and only for a few months, it was a glance at the culture that denies breastfeeding toddlers is acceptable. Despite the health benefits of continuing, despite the health risks of weaning too early, when the general culture is one of weaning early many mothers will do just that.
So, we have to change the culture.
Which is a huge, big, mind boggling step. How do you change an entire culture to see that breastfeeding toddlers is normal? I mean, to make the change away we had companies throwing money around and doctors throwing their attitudes around. They certainly didn’t give a shit about offending people because the aim was to shame women into doing what they wanted.
But I don’t want to shame anyone, and I do care if they are offended (sometimes). I just want people to see breastfeeding for what it is, just another part of motherhood/childhood. We have to tread lightly, while still giving the correct information. We have to balance not wanting to offend others, with those who are offended by the idea that breast is best. And we have to resist the urge to smack anyone that proclaims breasts to be sexual only. That’s a hard line to walk.
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