Expert: ruth kraft - 7/23/2009

Question
I just have one question. I am wondering if there are any known disadvantages of breasteeding a child or "too long"? My daughter is 2.5 and she still is feeding at night, and or naps, but only when she is with me. She goes to daycare all week, and has no bottle or sippy cup when she lays down. Also, she is with her dad and stepmom on weekends, and she tries to nurse off of her stepmom at night. we both tell her that it is something only mommy can do, but she still wants too. It seems that this is a disadvantage, and also I heard that it can be bad for her teeth, and separation from me. If you could list all of the disadvantages of breastfeeding past a certain age that would be wonderful! thank you so much Sue!

Answer
All of the disadvantages I know of are all situational and change from family to family. I nursed my son until he was 4 years old. Natural child weaning age is between 3 and 5 years. Some cultures nurse until the child is 7. So too long is all perspective also... The situational things happen as yours with your child wanting to nurse from someone else, this is really rare. Most kids when offered to nurse from someone else at her age will refuse outright. However, My guess is your daughter is doing it more to see what reaction she will get ( as that is why most 2 year olds do anything. LOL ) and it is probably a topic of discussion or she gets a reaction from them or you and she likes the reaction. Next time she tries nursing from her step mother, tell her " weve said no before and will no longer discuss it." and then ignore the behaviour. This is teaching boundries. If she insists and throws fits etc, then there should be a small consequence, like the step mother wont put her down to bed unless she listens to the rules etc. this is more a behavioural issue rather than nursing. although nursing is involved.  It can be bad for teeth just as much as if you give her a sippy or juice or milk or anything before bed. the actual act of nursing isnt bad for them. and actually is better than a sippy etc. If you clean her teeth, the effect of tooth decay is decreased dramitcally. If she nurses to sleep, brush or clean them before you nurse and again when you get her up in the am. THe bottle mouth syndrome where kids also get buck teeth tends to be more from sippys and bottles than breasts because of the hard plastic and rubber.  I can't think of a negative to breastfeeding longer really other than situational issues. I suggest nursing until you or the baby is done. however long that is. It becomes negative when one of you wants to stop and the other one doesnt. but until then, there is no downside, only a hundred upsides. ( except the situational that varies from person to person )

Good luck! and good for you for nursing this long ;)
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