[quote=“Wilbo523, post:19, topic:540607”]
What’s the longest you have witnessed a mother breastfeed their kid? I personally think 2 years is too old. QUOTE]
Just a question: Why do you think so?
Not trying to start something here, but I am genuinely curious. People seem to have all kinds of ideas about when to stop and I’m wondering about your reasoning. And no, I don’t plan to argue with you when you respond. I’m just asking.
I’m still breastfeeding at nearly 11 months and it doesn’t seem like irishbaby wants to be weaned anytime soon (we’re down to 2 breastfeeds a day plus juice or water from a cup). The plan was to wean at 1 year, because I’d rather give cow’s milk than formula, but we’ll see.
Personally I think it is best to be guided by the baby about when is best to stop, and as long as your child is drinking from a cup by the time they go to KG or pre-school you’re OK. An arbitrary time limit is daft, and since the only good alternative to breastmilk is man-made formula before 12 months, that should be the ideal minimum.
The WHO recommend feeding until at least 6 months, and in conjunction with solids up until 2 years, although that depends on whether your child weans themselves, whether you can fit this around working etc.
My plan is at least until 12 months, and perhaps morning/evening until 2 years. But we’re also hoping to have a second child fairly shortly (age, work and IVF concerns) so that might dictate when we wean her.
[quote=“thirdwarning, post:21, topic:540607”]
Beyond the kid’s 2nd b-day, just seems creepy to me. 2 year olds walk, talk, can eat with utensils, can drink from a sippy cup or regular cup in some cases.
Awesome! I always knew you were the cream of the crop! 
It does seem odd to me that the child in question said she was *hungry *and was offered the breast. Usually nursing in older children is not about hunger and thirst (unless you get stranded somewhere without supplies and their blood sugar crashes, and then it can be a lifesaver!). Maybe you’re misremembering some details?
Kathy Dettwyler, an anthropologist who studies nursing, has some interesting research indicating natural human weaning time would be from 2.5-7 years or so.
For me, it coincides with my feelings about comforting and cuddling children. If you would naturally scoop up the kid, hold them and cuddle them to comfort them, why wouldn’t you nurse a child that age? I can’t really imagine nursing my almost 7yo though - she’s heavy as hell and mostly composed of sharp pointy bits. Likewise, if she gets hurt or scared, she gets a hug, or sits next to me and cuddles - no more picking up and rocking!
You could potentially combine it with being a doula. I think that for a lot of mom’s the combination of a doula who could help make their birth plan, advocate for them at the hospital, calm their husbands, help with the baby - and a lactation consultant who could help them through the first weeks (when a doula often stops in to help with the baby anyway) would be a winning combination. And I’d think you’d make a pretty good doula.
OMG … someone on the Dope nursed longer than me! My son (who is now 4) was weaned at 3 1/2 because he had hand foot and mouth (and because I was ready for him to be done). But his little brother is still going strong at 2 years 3 months. 
Thanks Dangerosa! I have been thinking of combining it with post-partum doula work (so I don’t have to go out on calls at 3am!). I think our modern society has delivered a lot of amazingly wonderful things, but it also results in extreme isolation and hardship on new mothers, so helping out would be a career I could really believe in.
Avarie, I think there are more of us extended nursers than it appears, because we all tend to keep it on the down low. We need a secret handshake or something.
I nursed my daughter for three years, six months, two weeks and four days. Best decision I ever made for a million reasons. 
My mother has been an IBCLC for over 20 years. She finds it incredibly fulfilling, although she can get discouraged by mothers who aren’t really interested in breastfeeding (other then thinking they should). We often run into people she helped who said that they never thought they would be able to breastfeed and, thanks to her, they were very successful. I guess when you meet someone who has successfully breastfed triplets, anything seems possible.
She currently works through a hospital-run home care program, but has also worked through a birth center and had her own private practice.
Good for you!