Eileen Slattery, CCE, our breast feeding expert, discusses when to
wean your baby.
Dear Eileen:
My daughter is 18 months and still refuses
the bottle. I love breast feeding, but I don't know if I should try to wean
her now. What do you think?
Eileen's Answer: The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently
put out a statement which affirms what many nursing mothers have believed
for years: that nursing should go on for the first year and continue for
as long as mutually desired.
The World Health Organization promotes nursing for the first two
years of life.
It's interesting to note that in many countries around the world,
mothers routinely nurse their babies well into early childhood (4-6 years
old) and think nothing of it.
Here in the US, our culture seems to encourage early separation
from our children as a sign of independence.
However, many mothers that have nursed their children for an extended
period of time have reported to have secure,happy children that have separated
themselves easily from mom's"apron strings" when they got older.
Also, it is important to note that no matter what the age your child
nurses until,you and the baby continue to receive health benefits through
the act of breast feeding. These include protection to the immune system
for your baby, nutritional support that is tailor-made for her and for you,
a lessened chance of various cancers that attack women
Listen to your heart. If you enjoy nursing your child and she enjoys
the special bond that nursing creates, sit back and relax and know you are
giving her the very best.
Get in touch with a local La Leche League group for support from
other nursing mothers like yourself-you'll be amazed at how many other "extended
nursing" couples there are in your area. For information on a local group,
call 1-800-La Lecher.
About the author: Eileen Slattery,C.C.E. (ALACE), La Lecher League
leader for LLL of Marion County Labor/Midwife's Assistant for Birth Center
of Ocala. Eileen is the mother of 7 children and resides in Belleview, Florida
and teaches preparation for childbirth classes in Leesburg for the Pregnancy
Care Center. She also leads La Lecher League meetings in Ocala at the YMCA
monthly to aid in the support of mothers who want to breast feed. You may
contact her by e-mail at
Yelena07@aol.com or call
352-245-0788.
Books Available on Breast feeding:
The
Womanly Art of Breast feeding by Gwen Gotsch and Judy Torgus.
Breasfeeding
Today: A Mother's Companion by Candace Woessner.
Nursing
Your Baby by Karen Pryor.
The
Complete Book of Breast feeding by Marvin S. Eiger, Sally Wendkos
Olds. |
