How long do other cultures bf?

[gardenmom]

I'm curious, but does anyone know how long women bf their children in other cultures?

I'm especially curious about cultures where the family and traditions have not been affected (too much, yet) by Western civilization and our ideas, commercialism, education, etc...

No need to go into great detail, but I'd love some links if anybody has them. TIA

[Angierae]

I thought the book, "Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape The Way We Parent" by Meredith Small was an awesome resource for this topic.

[sadkitty]

Although the statistics are a few years old i loved "The Politics of Breastfeeding" Lots of good info.

[katja]

I just finished reading Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives.

I loved it! Lots of other interesting bf-related topics too. I think the answer to your question is 2-7 years, usually in the 3-4 year range.

[loving-my-babies]

here are some numbers..

http://www.lalecheleague.org/cbi/bfstats03.html

[TiredX2]

Here is an article about the suggested age of weaning based upon weaning age in other primates:
http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html

Breastfeeding: Biocultrual Perspectives would *definately* answer your question (I sold my copy on the TP, or I'd look it up). I do remember that in some cultures the children still regularly nurse 4-7 years (Inuit was one...)

[zealsmom]

Originally Posted by gardenmom

about cultures where the family and traditions have not been affected (too much, yet) by Western civilization and our ideas, commercialism, education, etc...

It seems this kind of culture doesn't really exist anymore. sorry to burst your bubble. Even deep in the central valley of Irian Jaya (where we spent two years) where they are still living in huts, wearing little more than grass skirts and penis gourds, they are VERY influenced by "civilization". Luckily, they are still nursing as long as the nursling needs it. But with formula companies working their ways into developing countries we may just be seeing the demise of it. Sadly.

And when we recently went back to India to, among other things, see dh's sitar teachers new baby we were sad to see them already supplementing with formula (babe was only a month old) because it is defintely a status thing and often it is only "poor" women who still "need" to nurse their babies.

[feyfollow]

Makes me sad that my entire family lost a generation of BF'ing. However, my generation is making up for it. My grandma BF all 7 of her children, including tandem feeding, for 3 years. Unless, they weaned themselves earlier. I am nursing my adopted son w/a supplementer & donated milk. My cousins and I are doing what we can to rekindle that tradition. My grandma's family has been here since the 1600's, and she was a midwife/wetnurse in NJ. So, it was a familial thing with us. She also worked on Wallstreet, fought for a woman's right to vote, and was one of the first female accoutants in her firm. BF'ing our babies was strong, even when we had to fight to do it in today's culture. I thought that might cheer someone up.

**oh, there are 108 of us cousins on both sides. Even our male cousins discuss bf'ing with their wives**

[weebitty2]

I know when I was little my mom went by my great grandma's advice - we had the birth year, walking year, nursing year, weaning year .. although my youngest two sisters nursed til 6.

[gardenmom]

Originally Posted by zealsmom

And when we recently went back to India to, among other things, see dh's sitar teachers new baby we were sad to see them already supplementing with formula (babe was only a month old) because it is defintely a status thing and often it is only "poor" women who still "need" to nurse their babies.

Yeah--sadly, I've heard this story before. A friend's dp is from Russia and it's also status symbol to use formula--only poor people bf their babies where she's from, so she couldn't bring herself to do it here in NY, I guess. It's too bad, and especially weird (to me) when an otherwise educated person makes this choice when I know that she knows better, and just can't do it...

Thanks, everyone, for the info...

[uzra_hashmi@rediff]

How long do other cultures bf?

An interesting question though country and family specific differences too are equally significant.

Among Muslims, 2-year period is an accepted norm. In practice, in Indian subcontinent 3-4 years would seem to be the average period. Two opposite trends are also visible. Some women because of their job needs and exposure to modernity try to wean babies early or as soon as they attain the age of 2 years. On the other hand, in reaction, several women practice and advocate child-led weaning that sometimes might cross 4 years. There are instances in which babies have continued through the pre-teen ages (dry bf included if otherwise the mother did not produce milk through other pregnancies). But such instances are rare and not generally mentioned by mothers.
Uzra.