My sister in law lives with my in laws. Both her kids have been mostly taken care of by my mother in law. My sister in law had good supply of breast milk during her lactation period. The kids were weaned at perfect age. But they continued to breast feed at night for a very long time. The elder child has stopped. But the younger kid 3 and 1/2 years old still continues to comfort breast feed at night. Even my mother in law encourages her by giving the child to latch on her breasts at night. She did so with the elder one also and she thinks there is no harm in it as it is a way of show love tot he child. Sometimes the younger one, the daughter, used to grab on to my breasts even when and would demand feed secretly to me as i was very close to her. I was not pregnant at that time and i felt very uncomfortable so i distanced myself a bit from her after that incident. I don't know my feelings and my behaviour towards her were right or wrong.
A couple of months ago i met a friend of mine whi has a 3 yr old son who is also used to comfort feeding at night to fall asleep. My friend had a sore and wounded nipple so asked for help. I asked her to gradually wean the child completely of this habbit. And advised her to take good care of the nipple by applying glycerine and taking vitamin e capsules for somedays. She continued to feed the baby from other side at nights. She gradully healed.
So i want to know upto what age a mother should breast feed her child without affecting the psyche of the child? And beyond what age or time of breast feeding does it become strenous for the mother's body? Because beyond lactation also a mother has various roles in her child's adult life which should be taken care of by her. She should be strong enough at that time also to be able to support her child's needs.
@Dr Shilpitha Singh @DrShilpa Singhal @Dr. Mamta Goel @Dr Payal M @Rebecca Prakash @Revauthi Rajamani