[CholeraJoe]

There is no medical reason to breast feed beyond six months of age. This is the most perverted thing I've heard in the last 15 minutes.

[chance33_98]

My wife still breast feeds our daughter at 14 months. And our daughter is very healthly and has not been sick once. She feeds me too :)

[hobbes1]

Actually, in eutrope, lots of women nurse well into preschool years, but 8 ?!?!?!??!

I saw some scandinavian woman in IKEA nursing what looked to be about a 5 year old...

As to the 6 months, some women prefer to nurse till they can go straight to milk (10-12 mos?)

[Aggie Mama]

Where did you get that from? Most peds recommend to AT LEAST one year, and a good portion of those are suggesting self-led weaning.

Also, there are benefits beyond the nutritive. Nothing calms an upset baby like nursing.

Granted, 8 yrs old is extreme. Most children wean themselves by 2-2.5 years.

[xsmommy]

well you know i disagree with you on the breastfeeding thing, it is a sourgrapes thing because it was not en vogue to breastfeed back when they invented formula, so you are still feeling deprived over what you missed out on.

i do agree that age 8 is perverted and if they are talking then it is not quite right. xsboy enjoyed his 2 years.

[Wondervixen]

I breastfed all three of my girls until they began cutting teeth...Trust me, that's entirely long enough!

[William Terrell]

There is no medical reason to breast feed beyond six months of age. This is the most perverted thing I've heard in the last 15 minutes.

Why does there have to be a "medical reason" to breast feed? And what possible business of your's is it?

[capt. norm]

"There is no medical reason to breast feed beyond six months of age."

Oh NO! In a manner-of-speaking, I never did stop breast feeding.

[Askel5]

With the exception of her first (during which the stress of a move, etc. dried her up), my sister has breastfed each of her kids unto their first birthday.

I understand your point about the medical need but I think a year's about the time they're ready to move on anyway -- and get the green light from the Doc for all kinds of Exciting Foods.

But, almost more importantly, that extra six months provides some valuable down time -- in peace and quiet together in a rocker somewhere -- for both the child and the mother ... most stay-at-home Moms going round the clock as a rule without the luxury of state-mandated breaks or lunch hours. =)

[gunshy]

The most perverted thing is that we are a nation where many people, of all ages, have been sucking on the government's teat for most if not all their lives.

[luckystarmom]

Actually, the longer you breast feed reduces your chance of breast cancer.

A friend of mine has breast fed her 3 boys until they are 2 to reduce her risk of breast cancer. Her mother had breast cancer.

I couldn't breast feed mine, but wish I could have.

[Texas Mom]

There is no medical reason to breast feed beyond six months of age. This is the most perverted thing I've heard in the last 15 minutes.

Really Doctor, I have known mothers who have nursed till the child is one or one and a half or two. Does that make them preverted as well? I don't think so.

My daughter in law nursed her youngest till she was almost two, with the doctors blessings. The child had been premature and has some medical problems such as a hole in her heart, among some other things and very tiny and she had enough milk so why not? I think that is between the mother and the childs doctor.

My personal preference was until they got teeth, which was between 9 months and one year. Then the ouch factor made the decision.

[SarahW]

Children should be breast fed for the first year of life, if you can manage it. And yes, nursing longer, into toddlerhood, is perfectly normal and has benefits for child and mother.

I don't think anyone would agree that nursing past age four is a good thing for either mother or child.

[avenir]

This is the most perverted thing I've heard in the last 15 minutes.

LOL!

[Terriergal]

Oh come now, six months? My kids were all more interested in other things by about a year, but six months? Sheesh.

[palacios2]

I don't see it as perverse at all. Neither the child or mother get any arousal from breastfeeding. I breastfed my son till he was 4. He told me on his 4th birthday that was it. I spoke to 3 doctors before I continued to breastfeed. All 3 of them told me to let him feed until he no longer wanted to. They said the longer you breastfeed the better. My son had no behavioral problems. He didn't have a terrible 2's stage. He never got sick, no ear infections. He is the smartest boy in his class. Breastfeeding is very beneficial to your children.