Q:
I'm still breastfeeding my 22-month-old son. I'm OK with it, but everyone makes comments. I'm a stay-at-home mom, so it doesn't bother me to feed. I just want everyone to understand.
A:
I applaud your efforts to continue to breastfeed. In many parts of the world, it is quite common to breastfeed until your child is 2 or 3 years old. Where you live, this is much less common, and unfortunately, we live in a society that doesn't fully embrace long-term breastfeeding.
If you are comfortable with breastfeeding, making sure to eat well by maintaining a diet high in calcium-rich foods and seeing that your child still enjoys breastfeeding, you are making a healthy choice. I continued with nighttime breastfeeds until each of my children was between 24 and 30 months. Perhaps having you as a role model will help some people in your community become more accepting of long-term breast feeding.
Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition.