I'm just curious...totally not judging...

TommysGirl56 · December 2009

So no flames, please! Smile

Why do some women choose to BF past 1 year, since you can start offering cow's milk at that time? It seems like it would be difficult, especially if you are looking at tandem nursing.

Tabby2727 · December 2009

I never understood this either. I do know my girlfriend said she did it to releive engorgment. I guess it's really painful if you don't get the milk out and the best thing to get it out is the baby. Pumps are good but babies are better.

TimsMayBride · December 2009

Enjoying the bond, health benefits (immunity), believing that letting the baby wean is better for emotional development

RandZB · December 2009

Breast milk is just better for babies than cow's milk. Like formula, it is tailor-made for babies. I myself will wean at one year, but I can understand why some women would choose to continue to breastfeed. Some cultures breastfeed for three or four years, and that is normal to them.

clipposmagnificos · December 2009

Why not? Just because you CAN start cow's milk doesn't mean you have to. Just because you CAN feed your child formula doesn't mean you have to.

To each her own.

C.Mo · December 2009

RandZB:
Breast milk is just better for babies than cow's milk. Like formula, it is tailor-made for babies. I myself will wean at one year, but I can understand why some women would choose to continue to breastfeed. Some cultures breastfeed for three or four years, and that is normal to them.

This. I plan to let DD nurse as long as she darn well pleases. If she starts getting too big for my liking at the breast, then I'll pump and give her the bottle.

SoonToBeTabor · December 2009

For all the reasons people listed about. I know some women who breastfed till 4 and that was just creepy. I think 2 is a good age to think about weaning.

MrsNnr · December 2009

clipposmagnificos:

Why not? Just because you CAN start cow's milk doesn't mean you have to. Just because you CAN feed your child formula doesn't mean you have to.

To each her own.

I think she was asking an honest question and wanted other people's experience and advice. The OP was very clear that she wasn't judging, just curious.

beckytr · December 2009

plan to wean at one year (I hope I can make it that long!) but I heard that this flu season esp. women are choosing to bf longer for the immune benefits, which is something I might have considered also.

Chrysallys · December 2009

A child still benefits from his/her mother's milk by gaining immunities. The WHO and Unicef both recommend BF until 2. The AAP is shifting their statement from one year to 18 months. I guess if people want to continue doing it BM is better than cow's milk because BF is meant for people and easily digestible by humans. Cow's milk is, in reality, for cows.

https://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breastfeed%20a%20Toddler.asp

TommysGirl56 · December 2009

Thanks, girls! I was planning on following the current AAP guidelines...but just wanted to hear reasons for going longer.

TimsMayBride · December 2009

Chrysallys:

A child still benefits from his/her mother's milk by gaining immunities. The WHO and Unicef both recommend BF until 2. The AAP is shifting their statement from one year to 18 months. I guess if people want to continue doing it BM is better than cow's milk because BF is meant for people and easily digestible by humans. Cow's milk is, in reality, for cows.

https://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breastfeed%20a%20Toddler.asp

Do you have a source for the new AAP guidelines? (not trying to be argumentative, I'm honestly interested in reading it! )

Chrysallys · December 2009

TimsMayBride:
Chrysallys:

A child still benefits from his/her mother's milk by gaining immunities. The WHO and Unicef both recommend BF until 2. The AAP is shifting their statement from one year to 18 months. I guess if people want to continue doing it BM is better than cow's milk because BF is meant for people and easily digestible by humans. Cow's milk is, in reality, for cows.

https://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breastfeed%20a%20Toddler.asp

Do you have a source for the new AAP guidelines? (not trying to be argumentative, I'm honestly interested in reading it! )

Sadly, I don't but at least two women in the last couple days have mentioned their pedis talking about the changes. I figure they have some secret pedi info that we don't know about yet. Sadly we aren't in California with our former pedi anymore (sob) or I'd call him and ask. He would be jumping up and down with joy.

TimsMayBride · December 2009

Chrysallys:
TimsMayBride:
Chrysallys:

A child still benefits from his/her mother's milk by gaining immunities. The WHO and Unicef both recommend BF until 2. The AAP is shifting their statement from one year to 18 months. I guess if people want to continue doing it BM is better than cow's milk because BF is meant for people and easily digestible by humans. Cow's milk is, in reality, for cows.

https://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breastfeed%20a%20Toddler.asp

Do you have a source for the new AAP guidelines? (not trying to be argumentative, I'm honestly interested in reading it! )

Sadly, I don't but at least two women in the last couple days have mentioned their pedis talking about the changes. I figure they have some secret pedi info that we don't know about yet. Sadly we aren't in California with our former pedi anymore (sob) or I'd call him and ask. He would be jumping up and down with joy.

That's very interesting. I'll ask my pedi at our next visit and pass along any info I can find.

kes3237 · December 2009

TimsMayBride - that quilt in your siggy is adorable! I stare at it every time I see a post from you! Where from?

mdk1971 · December 2009

I weaned my first 2 children at 12 months because I didn't understand the benefits of breastfeeding beyond that. It never really dawned on me that cows milk is the perfect milk for a calf, but not a human. My pediatrician told me that when my 3 year old refused to drink cow's milk and I was upset about it. He explained that cow's milk is actually one of the hardest forms of calcium for a human to digest. I had never realized that before. The vitamins that are in cow's milk are actually added to it. So....needless to say, when I had my 3rd and 4th child I did nurse beyond 12 months and let them wean themselves.

The hardest part of breastfeeding is actually the beginning. It get's so much easier after that. A 12 month old still eats normal food and drinks other things....they just nurse a couple times a day. Most of my friends and family didn't even know we were still nursing beyond 12 months. It was usually first thing in the morning and before bed. Definitely not the same committment that it takes to nurse a newborn...thank goodness!!

Mysterious_Mama · December 2009

mdk1971:

I weaned my first 2 children at 12 months because I didn't understand the benefits of breastfeeding beyond that. It never really dawned on me that cows milk is the perfect milk for a calf, but not a human. My pediatrician told me that when my 3 year old refused to drink cow's milk and I was upset about it. He explained that cow's milk is actually one of the hardest forms of calcium for a human to digest. I had never realized that before. The vitamins that are in cow's milk are actually added to it. So....needless to say, when I had my 3rd and 4th child I did nurse beyond 12 months and let them wean themselves.

The hardest part of breastfeeding is actually the beginning. It get's so much easier after that. A 12 month old still eats normal food and drinks other things....they just nurse a couple times a day. Most of my friends and family didn't even know we were still nursing beyond 12 months. It was usually first thing in the morning and before bed. Definitely not the same committment that it takes to nurse a newborn...thank goodness!!

dar. ::headwallbang::

breastmilk is for babies

cows milk is for calfs

ice cream is for me.

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I'm just curious...totally not judging...

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