By now, I think the vast majority of Americans have seen the cover of Time magazine with the breastfeeding three year old. I am not going to comment on attachment parenting or the ridiculous picture Time chose portraying attachment parenting. I will comment on breastfeeding a three year old though. My comment:
MOMS, BREASTFEED AS LONG AS YOU AND THE KIDS WANT!***
***But make sure kids are introduced to solid food strategically and when they are over a year old, food must take priority over breastfeeding.
I have seen older breastfed kids who are not gaining good weight because they are nursing too much. Older breastfed kids, when given free access to moms, will nurse multiple times per day. This type of breastfeeding can blunt the kids’ ability to do a good job of eating table food and therefore result in poor weight gain.
If a mother chooses to breastfeed beyond a year, I congratulate her, but offer this advice. Schedule nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day and insert nursing sessions strategically so they do not interfere with the calories, protein and fat meals and snacks provide. Too much of a good thing, even breastfeeding, can be a problem.