Why do people feel BF beyong 12 months is more about the mother than the baby - genuinely interested.

[fruitstick]

Someone said this to me recently - that feeding beyond a year has more to do with the emotional needs of the mother than the needs of the baby.

I didn't particularly question it at the time as I've heard it so often over the years but really - why do people think this?

I am still BF DS2 at 11 months. I BF DS1 for 7 months then stopped. I planned to do the same with DS2 but just carried on. I intended to carry on until 12 months but I may carry on again.

But why would that be for my benefit not DSs?

It may not be about nutrition at that point but so little of the food we consume is (I wouldn't eat nearly so many biscuits if that were so).

And also, even if it were true, it implies that mothers are only allowed to do things that involve an element of self sacrifice.

This isn't intended to be a 'aren't they awful' thread. I am genuinely interested why people think that breastfeeding beyond 12 months no longer benefits the child.

yes, i agree, there just aren't enough doing it to study its effects.

definitely
or that it was explained that common sense says it has roughly the same benefits at 2.5 years as at 18m/2y.
But it's seen as an upper limit after which it's just plain WRONG

pushmepullyou, so I was right you were over reaching in your original post. As a couple of mothers swapping tips at a support group on overcoming nursing strikes in older nurselings are not the same as a mother being "...desperate to get them to continue" to nurse.

LeninGrad, StealthPolarBear & Squiglet,
I agree there is a lack of studies looking at the benefits for older nurselings.

Has anyone read Ann Sinnott's book yet. I am waiting for my copy, I wonder if this book will be anything to alter attitudes or encourage discussion about older nurselings ?

Oh a quote from Ann Sinnott from this website page, re comments at the bottom.

"There have been only two studies on longterm breastfed children. One to see if they matched non-beastfed children in nutrional status (the thinking being that because they are bfdg they aren't getting enough nutrients) ? they matched. The other is Karleen Gribble's study in Australia of 100 + children (the oldest 7yrs) - her study showed that mother motivation is an awareness of the child's wish to continue."

LeninGrad, Lucky you meeting GP Like you I have a nursing 3 year old and I have no idea when she will wean. She did mention it recently and missed one feed, before asking for milk again.

I remember reading something (in Politics of BF I think) that once periods return and you are still bf then your luteal phase (the fertile part of your cycle) can be shorter- thus it can be more difficult to conceive.