UNDATED – The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding until at least one year. The World Health Organization (WHO) at least two years, exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months and thereafter breastfeeding with complimentary foods at least until age two and thereafter for as long as both the baby and mother wish to continue.
Amanda Hurst lives in a small village in the UK. She's a mother raising two children, both of whom she's breastfeeding, one of whom is six years old. Rather than tell her six year old ‘no,' or ‘to have milk from the refrigerator,' Hurst is perfectly OK with breastfeeding her school age son and his five month old brother at the same time.
When Jonathan was three and the only child Hurst told him he was too old to breastfeed. His baby brother was born and his interest returned. Ironically, it was Hurst's husband who encouraged her to keep going with both children 'if she wasn't ready to stop.'
According to WHO about 20% of babies give up breastfeeding after six months. Many critics argue the time to wean a child from breastfeeding is six months, no longer than the age of one.
What do you think? When is a child too old to breastfeed? Take our KTRE.com web poll.
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