Many children nurse well into toddlerhood. If a toddler suddenly stops nursing altogether, there are two possible causes: (1) a toddler nursing strike triggered by an illness, teething, or emotional event, or (2) self-weaning. How can you tell the difference, and what can be done to end a toddler nursing strike?

Welcome to the May Carnival of Breastfeeding! This month participants share stories related to breastfeeding (see entries at the end of this post). My story represents the end of the story — how it turns out when a mother practices extended breastfeeding.
When I had my first daughter, I fumbled my way around until I found my parenting style. It happened naturally. I couldn’t stand to hear my baby cry; what mother can? So I breastfed her on cue, wore her in a sling, and co-slept with her in my bed. Those things worked for me, my husband, and my baby. …read more

This Friday, December 12, 2008, ABC’s 20/20 will run a piece on “Extreme Breastfeeding: When to Stop?” You can see a preview video of the interview that features lactation consultant Robyn, who breastfeeds her 5-year-old kindergartner. Robyn is very well-spoken and I want to commend her for doing the interview and presenting a positive image of extended breastfeeding!
The segment also includes renowned anthropologist Katherine Dettwyler, Ph.D. Kathy has written several fascinating commentaries on extended breastfeeding, including “A Natural Age of Weaning.”
Watch the preview video, watch the full program tomorrow, and please come back and leave a comment to share …read more

On Thursday, July 3, 2008, the Tyra Banks show will feature Veronika Robinson (author of The Drinks Are on Me), who will share her experience with breastfeeding her children until they were ages 7 and nearly 8. She has written about her experience before, in an essay entitled Extraordinary Breastfeeding.
Here’s the blurb from the Tyra Banks show about the episode “Motherhood Controversy”:
With her audience filled with mothers, Tyra hosts a no-holds-barred conversation about the pressures they face today. Tyra speaks with a woman who defends her controversial decision to breastfeed her kids until they were 8 years old, and a …read more

A study for the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases revealed new ideas about the ability of breastfeeding to prevent rheumatoid arthritis. BBC News reports:
They found women who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis as those who had never breastfed. Those who breastfed for between one and 12 months had a 25% decreased risk. The study also found that simply having children and not breastfeeding did not seem to protect the women against developing rheumatoid arthritis.
More study is needed in this area to determine exactly what role breastfeeding and lifestyle choices play …read more

Cancer is the topic for this month’s theme day here at the Health and Wellness Channel at b5media. I have written a lot about how breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in the mother. This time I want to focus on cancer and the breastfed infant. The good news is that breastfeeding reduces the risk that a child will develop leukemia. Unfortunately, it can still happen. In that case, imagine what comfort a child with cancer could take from nursing at his mother’s breast, not to mention the potential benefit of the promising anti-cancer properties of …read more

My youngest daughter turned three this past week. Her birthday brought a rush of emotions for me. Amazement: how could she be three already? Surprise: where did that growth spurt come from and how did she suddenly (but right on schedule) fit into her 3T clothes? Pride: she is so much fun, even as she grows more independent and tells me, “No! I like it the way I like it!” Trepidation: I remember when my first daughter turned three. That was the age when breastfeeding really became suspect. Up until then, the people around me generally supported the nursing relationship. …read more

There’s a fascinating and positive article in the Boston Globe today about how more and more women–mainly highly educated women (thank you very much)–are choosing to breastfeed their toddlers, preschoolers and older children. Barbara F. Meltz wrote “Supply and demand: Evidence suggests more women are breast-feeding their children until they’re toddlers and older — and they’re not just earth-mother stereotypes.” (March 31, 2007). The article is very well researched and it contains quotes from top academicians, authors, La Leche League leaders and even my recent interview subject, Dr. Jane Morton.
If you’re interested in discussing this topic, join parenting writer Barbara …read more

The daycare that prohibited a Michigan mother from breastfeeding in her son’s room at the center responded by posting a comment today. Rainbow Child Development Center stated:
The Rainbow Child Development Center team would like to make a statement in reply to your concerns. Parents choose to enroll their children at our centers with the understanding that we will provide care and activities to stimulate social, emotional, and physical development. One aspect of this service includes providing programming that provides opportunities for children to reach developmental and academic milestones. Rainbow Child Development Center is supportive of breastfeeding. We adhere to the …read more