I've heard that some women breastfeed until their child is 3 years old or more? I find that somehow disturbing. Shouldn't the child be weened way before that? By age 3 the child is old enough to form a sentence. Do you really want him/her telling their little friends about how mommy feeds them? That's just my two cents worth.

I would think the time to stop is when the baby is fully on solid foods.

I am a solid supporter of child led weaning. My son nursed to almost 3. My allergist when I was pregnant actually told me to nurse him til college, when I laughed, he said "I'm only half joking". The older your child gets your milk changes to meet his needs. Just because s/he can eat solid foods does not mean s/he is getting all the nutrition s/he needs. The bottom line is there are health benefits to nursing even if it makes others uncomfortable.

Of course seeing a non-infant nursing can unsettle people because it's just something the american society has lost touch with. People would constantly ask me when I was going to stop nursing my son, and I would constantly tell them "when he weans himself". When they'd start trying to insinuate things I would not-so-politely tell them to bugger off.

I believed and believe that what I was doing for my son was in his best interest, and he's weaned now for almost a year, and just like other babies that weaned at an earlier age he still wants to rub my boobies, call them his, hug them. I'm sure he'll mention boobies to other kids, but so would a child who was weaned earlier. They don't forget it. It's not something I feel the need to be embaressed about. In fact, I am very proud of how long we lasted.

I breastfed all three of my children for the first year, I did pump some after that to mix in with their food, but all 3 caught on fairly quick with baby food, so it was not that much an issue for us.

I breastfed my child for the first month, the switched to pumping & bottles. It gives me sometime to rest, and also I agree on the comfort issue that was mentioned. I am sensitive, and I guess thats why it didn't last long. :)

I was always told that formula was healthier. So that's what I raised my babies on. They are all in great shape. I don't see any need to breastfeed at all. So I really disapprove of doing so when the baby is old enough to talk.

The World Health Orginization reccomends exclusive obreastfeeding until 6 months, that means nothing else, including formula. After 6 months they reccomend breastfeeding until at least 2 years and beyond. Being on solids doesn't stop the benefits, immunilogical and otherwise.

It's interesting to know that north america is the only continent to wean early as an average. In most countries, nursing up to and past age 5 is common. If you take the average age of weaning for other species based on developement and maturity, we should be breastfeeding until the age of 7.

Now I have to admit, the thought of a 5 year old nursing is odd, but that's only because I grew up in an anti breastfeeding society. It has gotten much better in recent years, but there is still a long ways to go.

I love that my kids know they were breastfed. It's not something to be ashamed of.

MomX3angels, you are my hero! The WHO states that breastfeeding should continue for as long as both parties want it to. I intend to allow my daughter to wean when she is ready, I will not force it. The benefits continue as long as you nurse, it is not a wasted activity.

I will not take that from my daughter just because I live in a society that has sexualised breasts.