My personal thoughts on this, would be until the child is about 2 years old. Honestly after this. I don't see any additional benefit. It is not like you can not still cuddle close with your child after breast feeding has stopped.

One cuddles during bedtime stories and on the couch watching cartoons. So the emotional and security aspect, benefits and bonding for both the child and the mother can still be met.

Perhaps if food were limited and this was the most efficient way to nourish the child I would be for nursing longer. But presently we are fortunate in the country where these women were photographed, and a child can be placed on solid more adult like foods and still be properly nourished.

Just my opinion. Every case would be individual and every child different. I just wonder if it is more for the mother then the child. I don't know.

Remember if one wants their child still on breast milk for nutritional reasons (which is reasonable), there are breast pumps, and bottles and sippy cups available.

As an anthropologist, breast feeding a child at this age really offers me no shock content whatsoever.  Within many tribes, breastfeeding a child even to the age of 10 is not that unusual, although the child obviously eats other things as well. 

Secondly, what difference is it to you or I how long a specific woman may choose to breast feed?  It's not like she's robbing a bank or something.  Thirdly, in many places in Europe and also in Israel, openly breast feeding a child is simply no big deal, although I do admit I haven't seen it done in public with a child that old. 

Finally, I have long tended to feel that Americans have more hangups than a large closet.

May 11, 2012 -- 4:57PM, vra wrote:

As an anthropologist, breast feeding a child at this age really offers me no shock content whatsoever.  Within many tribes, breastfeeding a child even to the age of 10 is not that unusual, although the child obviously eats other things as well. 

Secondly, what difference is it to you or I how long a specific woman may choose to breast feed?  It's not like she's robbing a bank or something.  Thirdly, in many places in Europe and also in Israel, openly breast feeding a child is simply no big deal, although I do admit I haven't seen it done in public with a child that old. 

Finally, I have long tended to feel that Americans have more hangups than a large closet.

First, I agree with you that Americans are way too uptight. Personally, I think we need to have a "National Naked Day" every year.

However, I would also argue that the reasons for not breast-feeding past a certain age are biological, not purely social. And because some small cultural groups might go against that, does not change the underlying facts.  

May 11, 2012 -- 5:42PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

However, I would also argue that the reasons for not breast-feeding past a certain age are biological, not purely social. And because some small cultural groups might go against that, does not change the underlying facts.  

There is no harm in giving a child mother's milk after a certain age. Cows milk yes. That is bad for people, but not the natural Mothers milk.