"And I get to hug him when I do it...

[When I originally published this post over at our family blog, this vintage Sesame Street video about breastfeeding was actually available. Too bad for copyrights, eh? But the title of the post comes from the video.]

I'd always planned to nurse Ezra until he was a year old. The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and "support for breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child." While I know nursing doesn't work out for all moms and babes or some moms prefer not to nurse, I found for us the reasons supporting breastfeeding to be numerous and compelling. Not to mention The Physicist and I are far too lazy to get up to mix formula in the middle of the night, or to wash all those bottles all the time!

It ended up taking much effort and perseverance for us to get our nursing relationship off the ground, but it has been one of the most worthwhile things I've ever done and the bond Ezra and I have established is simply beyond words. And once we got through that first very difficult month, nursing is an almost effortless practice.

But I always figured I'd start weaning shortly after a year and be completely finished by 15 months. However, as that 12 month marker grows ever closer, the more reluctant I am to start weaning. And the more I read about the benefits of toddler nursing, the more I want to continue. Dealing with fewer colds and other illnesses is only the tip of the iceberg. Nothing else can soothe him the way nursing does when he is upset, calm him when he's angry, comfort him when he's scared, or ease his pain when he is hurting. And I absolutely love our nursing relationship.

So as long as Ezra also continues to enjoy nursing, we will most likely keep it up at least through his second year. The Physicist is a little apprehensive about this decision, as he pictures me nursing Ezra during recess in first grade or before sending him out the door for his first day of high school. He has even threatened to steal off with Ezra to an undisclosed location on his second birthday and not return with him until he is forcibly weaned. While I don't expect to still be nursing when Ezra starts pre-school, I think these kinds of fears are common.

But the fact is, in the coming months solid foods will become more a part of Ezra's diet, and as he becomes a more proficient eater he will need to rely on breast milk less and less for complete nutrition. Eventually, nursing would be a once a day thing, or even once every other day. Perhaps he would only nurse when he was feeling upset in some way. If I go back to work before he starts school, it seems like nursing for a bit at night would be a very nice way to re-connect after being apart all day. And eventually he will decide he doesn't need it anymore, or I will decide it isn't working out for me anymore, and we will stop then. He isn't going to be some kind of weird freak because he nurses until he is 2 or so!

So I thought I would share some breastfeeding links, some related to toddler nursing, some not...

• The benefits of extended breastfeeding
• Is nursing toddlers the "new black?"
• A snarky photo montage toward criticism of public breastfeeding -- you might find this offensive if you find the covers of magazines in the grocery store offensive...
• World Health Organization's breastfeeding info -- they recommend breastfeeding until at least age two.
• Breastfeeding can boost your sex life!!

Comments

[dear wife]

Well we have decided to practice Child-led weaning so I say go for it. For me it is a no brainer why would I stop something we are both enjoying. We are planning on night weaning soon though since I would like my sleep back.

[bookgirl]

Dear Wife -- We are also doing baby-led weaning which is working out really nicely. Nighttime sleep? Hmmm... what's that?