All of you will think I'm a little nuts...

I breastfed my twins until they were one. The girl twin did not stop until she was 1-1/2 which was when I got pregnant and I guess the taste changed or something, so she stopped.

At the hospital, a lactation specialist call me a "Dairy Mom". Funny! I chose to nurse my youngest as well.

My youngest child is now 18 months old and STILL breastfeeds at night. She cries and cries, tugs at my shirt and says, "Pweesh?" and I can't turn her down. I am really tired of this, but I don't want to force her to stop because I think it should be her decision like it was for the twins. The WHO states that babies who breastfeed for longer do better health-wise, which is great for her, but is this really weird? All my colleagues, friends, and family think it's weird because she walks, talks, runs, etc., so I don't talk about it. I think that there is a biological need for it and that it is going to make her immune system very strong and I'm secretly proud of her ongoing nursing.

What do you think?

Melody.. I wanted to try to write you a more lengthy reply, but for the moment, let me write you this short one..

-- It doesn't sound like you or your daughter want to wean, and that since you two are the only ones in this little dyad, I say it's no one else's business.

-- NO it is not weird. Like you, many don't talk about it. I nursed my first to 18 months and wish it had gone longer. My second turns three Monday and still still nursing a couple times a day. You are not REMOTELY alone.

-- Yes, it is healthy for her. As long as you want to do it and she wants to do it, go for it. I understand the feelings of ambivalence.. I have a couple articles on my site in the extended breastfeeding area about that.

Let us know how it's going!

Nicki :-)

Thank you for your reply and your support. I felt like I was really weird!

I am going to read the articles you have there. Thank you again.

Good for you! As you say, the WHO recommends 2 years minimum and round the world its normal. We have just divorced ourselves from nature by living in cities with all the facilities to enable ourselves to make bad choices and get away with it, most times.
Children don't just get nutritional benefit from it but also emotional development and she needs you. The more you give the less she will need!

In my opinion, if both you and your child are still comfortable with breastfeeding, it's not anyone else's business. My younger grandchild is also 18 months and still nursing. She gets a lot of flack as well from those who think she "supposed" to wean her daughter by now. I never weaned either of my daughters intentionally. The older one grew less interested as soon as she could hold a cup and weaned herself before she was quite a year old which was three months into my second pregnancy. The second weaned herself right around a year as well, but all babies are different. My granddaughter cannot tolerate cow's milk or goat's milk. My daughter and I don't see much point in forcing weaning to something that's a poor substitute for milk. Recently a substitute for their regular pediatrician told her that this perfectly healthy and happy child "should" be weaning and sent them home with a sample can of formula- based on corn syrup! Fortunately my daughter is both knowledgeable and strong willed. This visit has encouraged her to volunteer for La Leche League. Follow your head and your heart.