so, anyone have any helpful links

[groovynaturemama]

that show that extended nursing is beneficial to my 30 m/o dd? a family member (who is less than educated on the matter) claims that dd is no longer benefiting nutritionally from my nursing. i say that's a load of *bleep*, and that she's getting my immunities (i am also nursing her 5 m/o brother), the comfort, etc. i know i read somewhere online that toddlers still benefit from nursing, but can't remember where. can anyone give me some resources that refute my family member's statement? i'm afraid i've become somewhat of a closet nurser w/ dd b/c this family member went to great lengths to make sure i knew how "strange" she thought it was, and tried like heck to get me to feel like it was wrong and i should wean- obviously didn't work, but it did put us in the closet around her and her family; they all think we weaned

[spitbath]

gosh, why do people think this stuff is ANY of their business?

subbing this thread, bc DH and i had an interesting discussion about this (he's more on the weirded out side, but is open-minded) and i want legit info to show him.

good luck with your family member..

[SantaCruzDoula]

Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Bumgarner (Amazon link) has a whole chapter on the benefits of extended breastfeeding, and (my personal favorite) what our natural weaning age would be if we were to apply other animals' natural weaning ages to humans (i.e., take out the societal factor).

After the AAP's recommendation of 1 year and the WHO's recommendation of 2 years, here's some more ammunition that the book gives:

* The Jewish Angle: In ancient Israel, prophets, merchants, and shepherds alike nursed for two years. Sarah and Abraham weaned Isaac at two, but Moses was nursed for three years.
* The Primate Angle: Large primates wean when the young has either tripled its birth weight or is a quarter of its adult weight (for humans, that translates to between 2 years and 6 years, respectively). Or, large primates nurse for around six times the length of gestation of their young (six times 9 months = 54 months, or over 5 years for humans). Or, weaning in primates can be predicted is when the first permanent molars come in (in humans, that happens around 6 years old).
* The Health Angle: A human child's immune system is mature around 6 years old. Until then, children continue to benefit from the antibodies present in breast milk.
* The Average Angle: A 1989-91 study of La Leche League conference participants in the United States reported an average weaning age of 3 years. That's the same as the minimum natural weaning age in cultures that allow self-weaning.

Good luck!

[groovynaturemama]

thank you for the link to that book!