Benefits of Nursing past the Age of 1

Well, first of all it's not like the benefits of breastfeeding stop happening when the child turns 1. Your milk doesn't turn into water on her 366th day of life:) The baby still receives immunities from the mother, proper and balanced nutrition for her age, hydration, fats, etc. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for one year as a MINUMUM and then as long after that as is mutually desired. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years at a minimum.

When you really think about it-it does not make sense to wean at 1. After all you will be weaning so that you can give your child the breastmilk of a cow! Cow's milk is made for cow babies and human milk is made for human babies- that alone is enough of a reason.

Congrats on breastfeeding this far and do not let anyone persuade you to stop nursing before you and baby are ready.

Have you attended any La Leche League meetings? I really recommend that becuase you will be exposed to other women who breastfeed and many women who are very knowledgable about the benefits of breastfeeding.

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There are MANY benefits to nursing past age one. In fact, most cultures all around the world practice child-led weaning. Here are some references you give your family:
The World Health Organization recommends that babies be breastfed THROUGH THE SECOND YEAR (ie until age 2). The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends the same thing. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed "at least 1 year" - and as long as mom and baby both want to. As another poster said, it's not like your milk magically becomes useless when your baby turns 12 months old. Plus, when you abruptly wean you can have problems with engorgement and mastitis - not an issue when your child gradually decreases what she eats.

There are many health benefits - both physical and psychological - to extended nursing. It still has the same benefits for your baby's immune system even when she's a toddler. Plus, nursing is also about NURTURE - it's a special thing that only YOU get to do with her - it's wonderful bonding and suggle time. MANY moms that I know who weaned their child right at 12 months told me, when they saw me nursing my toddler, that they really had WANTED to nurse for longer but that they stopped because they felt pressured to do so.

Here's the other thing: it's hard for your family at this point to imagine nursing an older child because what they see NOW is you nursing your baby 8x/day. But your child will cut back substantially as she grows. I still nurse my 18-month old son 1-2 times per day - basically morning and night only. I quit pumping at work when he turned one and that made things MUCH easier. But if you're at home this is even simpler. It doesn't get in the way. We don't really need to do it in public anymore (not that I had a problem with that, but now he's old enough that I can say "we'll have good milk when we get home" and that's ok with him). My point is, this is not the obtrusive, all-consuming thing that it is for you right now.

And there is STILL no substitute for comfort like nursing - it's the magic trick that can fix ANYTHING. Believe me - when you're in a hotel room with your husband and daughter (or staying at your in-laws) and it's 2 AM and your daughter is having trouble sleeping in a strange place, EVERYONE will be glad that you can give her the magic boob and she'll go to sleep.

In short, stick to your guns on this one and nurse her as long as you want to. I occasionally get pressure from my husband to quit at this point, and my goal is to wean my son by March, but that's only because we're expecting another baby in June and I don't want him to feel like his milk has been usurped by the new baby.

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I'm a little sensitive about this issue because I planned to breastfeed my son until he self weaned, but got pregnant with my daughter when he was about 18 mos old and had a really hard time with breastfeeding while I was pg (very uncomfortable, ran out of milk). Then once my daughter was born, I tried to tandum nurse but my son was such a breast hog (wanting to nurse for hours at a time, throwing a major tantrum when I nursed the baby) that I ended up weaning him and have been kind of sad about it.

That said....
I don't think you owe anyone an explanation. People who have already made up their minds about breastfeeding duration are very hard to convince otherwise. So, just give some kind of answer as others have suggested like "I'm doing what I feel is best for my child" or a smart alec answer like "I'll stop before she goes to college". Being an example that is contrary to their expectations may be enough to change some minds. As your daughter grows into a healthy, normal, well-adjusted child they will see the benefits for themselves.

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I personally plan to start weaning at about a year (It has nothing to do with laziness, thank you very much.). However, this is your decision, not anyone else's.

Here's the thing. People will always find things to be critical about. If it's not the nursing, it'll be something else. As long as you're child is physically and emotionally healthy, who CARES what anyone else thinks? Just because something is different, doesn't make it wrong or bad. I've nursed all 3 of my girls and so many people freaked out. To them, breasts were toys for men and they couldn't get past that concept. But I did the right thing. And if you believe that you're doing the right thing by your child, do it.

There will always be people who want to preach at you about your kids. My problem has been my in-laws always butting in. Everyone else tells me what wonderful children I have and to hear my in-laws talk, you'd think they're going to grow up to be ax murderers. Simply because my style of discipline is different (I don't feel the need to spank over every single little infraction.)

So keep doing what you're doing. You don't need to explain yourself to family. These decsions are between you, your husband and your child's pediatrition. Anyone else can just butt out.

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I feel for you, my MIL is appalled at my nursing my 20 month old and I happened to mention that I plan on tandem nursing (I'm due in 9 weeks). I should have not opened my mouth. NOt because I'm ashamed but because it's really none of her business. I won't lie to anyone, but I don't bring it up anymore. I feel like my daughter will start to pick up on other peoples vibes, she's almost 2, and I certainly don't want her to feel bad about nursing. On the other hand, it feels good to tell people how it is and why you do what you do with your kids. Especially the stuff you are proud of. I am proud that i've made it through almost the entire pregnancy nursing a very demanding toddler, and I should be b/c there are very few people I know that do, at least her in the US. We are the minority and if we don't stand up for our parenting styles, things will never change. I don't know where this concept of "it's not necessary after one" came from but it's completely unfounded. Good luck and stand your ground. Breastfeed yor daughter for as long as you both are happy doing so.

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I personally don't think it's necessary to breastfeed beyond one year. I can only tell you what my plan was, feed her until she weans herself or until she started biting me. Fortunately, my little one was weaning herself around 5 months anyway so I never really had to worry about it. I do think the actual benefits of breastfeeding start to decrease once solid foods start, I'm not sure. I'm glad she weaned when she did, I would have liked to have had that connection a little longer, but now that she is one, there's no way she would hold still for a feeding. There's just so much more to do and see then mommy.

Breastfeed as long as you two are comfortable. Good luck

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