Extended Breastfeeding

"The very same health and developmental benefits that breastfeeding provides in infancy, continue throughout toddlerhood. A toddler who is breastfed will have additional immune system support, nutritional support, and will be at a greatly reduced risk for illness in comparison to a child who is no longer receiving breast milk in their diet. A mother's risk for cancer, arthritis, and osteoporosis is reduced by breastfeeding, and that risk reduction increases with the amount of time that she nurses her child. Nutritional value of breast milk does not reduce simply because the breastfeeding child reaches a certain age, nor do the specific health benefits that come from breastfeeding suddenly expire at a baby's first birthday. "

- From "Breastfeeding basics: benefits of extended breastfeeding"

Extended breastfeeding is the practice of breastfeeding a child beyond one year of age. Although there is a great deal of social stigma and cultural unawareness of the practice in the United States, extended breastfeeding provides excellent health benefits for toddlers and mothers. The average weaning age of children worldwide is approximately 4.5 years, whereas in the U.S. that age falls (on average) to somewhere between 6 and 12 months.

Other Sources:

"Extended Breastfeeding" - La Leche League International

"Extended Breastfeeding - handling the criticism" - AskDrSears.com

[http://www.babycenter.com/0_extended-nursing-is-it-for-you_8496.bc "Extended nursing: is it for you?" - BabyCenter.com]