need good resources on info re: nursing toddler!

[edamommy]

HELP! I'm tired of the innuendos being sent my way via my husband and MIL who think there is no physical or emotional reason my toddler (22months) still needs to be breastfed. I am HOPING that someone here can give me valid articles and/or studies to support extended breastfeeding. My son was a preemie and was on oxygen for 3 months at birth. He's not been sick since, etc. and I feel that has to do w/ breastfeeding. I'd like to prove that it increases a toddlers' health/smarts/etc. to continue to bf until self-weaning. And WHY self-weaning is more gentle on the emotional make-up of a baby than just weaning. THANKS!

[Milakais]

Here's a few for starters...

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html
http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-..._exclusive.htm
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/bf_toddler_01-03.html
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBMarApr02p49.html
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug90p99.html
and other articles from this page... http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBextended.html

[velcromom]

A few more:


·According to Sally Kneidel in "Nursing Beyond One Year" (New Beginnings, Vol. 6 No. 4, July-August 1990, pp. 99-103.):

"Research reports on the psychological aspects of nursing are scarce. One study that dealt specifically with babies nursed longer than a year showed a significant link between the duration of nursing and mothers' and teachers' ratings of social adjustment in six- to eight-year-old children (Ferguson et al, 1987). In the words of the researchers, 'There are statistically significant tendencies for conduct disorder scores to decline with increasing duration of breastfeeding.'"


Dr. Jay Gordon, pediatrician and board certified lactation consultant:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/links/BF/extended.htm

article from a board-certified lactation consultant
http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/dw_wean.htm

Dr. Jack Newman, pediatrician and UNICEF consultant:
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com

"Breastfeed a Toddler, Why On Earth?" by Dr. Jack Newman:
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/21.html

[southerngul]

Too much in common?

Wow- when I read your post I got chills!
I have a 22mo old also- Ryleigh will be 2 April 9th. She was born at 30weeks and was in the NICU for 7 weeks. She is also still nursing, has never been sick and I attribute that to BFing. I don't have any other resource info to add- lots of great info in the other replies. I just thought I'd say hi since we have so much in common! I nursed my 2nd child past her 2nd birthday as well (she weaned due to lack of milk during my pregnancy with the 3rd) so this is not new to me. Ryleigh will nurse as long as she wants to. My MIL questioned me alot with #2 but now she knows she's wasting her time so we don't even talk about it. She actually recently told me she thinks Ryleigh's poo stinks worse because she's still BFing but that's the first thing she's said in a couple of years. I just try to remember that she's ignorant when it comes to BFing and I have the priviledge of educating her She does recognize that my kids are never sick whereas her other grandchildren are all the time. It's a start. Anyways- feel free to contact me if you want to chat.