User:Shamu04/Extended breastfeeding

Lead

 * Improve the psychological effects section (to work towards making it less one-sided)
 * not much on breastfeeding benefits beyond 1-2 years of age
 * look for a couple reviews that cover psychological benefits of breastfeeding for children and integrate in the paragraph. A note that may be important to add after you look at the reviews is the approximate age to which we know breastfeeding has benefits, and the lack of evidence (or literal lack of research) beyond those ages.

Article body
In A Time to Wean, Katherine Dettwyler states that "Western, industrialized societies can compensate for some (but not all) of the immunological benefits of breastfeeding with antibiotics, vaccines and improved sanitation. But the physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of the young child persist." Many children who are breast-fed into their toddler years use the milk as a comforting, bonding moment with their mothers. In a 1974 survey of 152 mothers, 17% said that the security their toddlers obtained through extended breastfeeding helped them become more independent, 14% said that extended breastfeeding created a strong mother-child bond, and 14.6% said that extended breastfeeding strengthened their abilities as a mother. Four mothers said that they felt their child was too dependent and one mother considered her child a poor eater. Dr. Stein said "A mother in my practice who breastfed 2 children until 2 years of age explained that she would slow down and give her undivided attention to her child several times each day when breastfeeding. Her children knew that she always had time for those moments each day. This time was also important to the mother for relaxing and unwinding.... For many nursing toddlers, the breast comes to serve the same function as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal in providing comfort and a sense of security." One issue with extended breastfeeding is the ability of the mother and the child to separate. Some say that the desire for extended breastfeeding comes from the mother's inability to let go of "her baby". Baldwin counters that the child is the one who chooses when they are weaned, as it is very difficult to force a child to breastfeed.

If possible, mothers should choose to keep their babies on breastmilk alone for six months. This allows the mother and child valuable time to bond in a unique way through skin-to-skin contact. The transition from a breastmilk-exclusive diet should occur when the child reaches the appropriate age at which they can eat solid foods. At this point, the child's diet should consist of both solid foods and breastmilk. As the child grows and is able to consume more solid foods, the food-to-breastmilk ratio will increase. While the personalized nutrients of their mother's breastmilk is beneficial to the child no matter how it is delivered (bottle or breast), being fed breastmilk through a bottle takes away some of the benefits of traditional breastfeeding. The physical contact that comes with traditional breastfeeding increases the release of oxytocin in both the mother and child's blood stream. This hormone is frequently referred to as the "love hormone" and plays an important role in the development of trust and bonding within a relationship. On top of the emotional bonding that comes with breastfeeding, it has been found that children who are breastfed develop language, intellectual, and motor skills both quicker and easier than those who are not and are less likely to contract a variety of viruses and diseases.

While many trusted sources clearly state that children should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives, none of them give a clear cut off as to when a mother should stop breastfeeding. Each of the above stated sources gave loose termination guidelines ranging anywhere from 12 to 24 months of age, stating that termination time depends largely on personal situation. Some children will naturally wean themselves while others will need the support of the mother to be weaned. While it appears that two years of age is the oldest age at which children and mothers benefit greatly from breastfeeding, it is important to note that there is both a lack of research and a lack of evidence for children beyond the age of two.

My additions:
As recommended by several healthcare organizations, if possible, mothers should choose to keep their babies on breastmilk alone for six months. This allows the mother and child valuable time to bond in a unique way through skin-to-skin contact. The transition from a breastmilk-exclusive diet should occur when the child reaches the appropriate age at which they can eat solid foods. At this point, the child's diet should consist of both solid foods and breastmilk. As the child grows and is able to consume more solid foods, the food-to-breastmilk ratio will increase. While the personalized nutrients of their mother's breastmilk is beneficial to the child no matter how it is delivered (bottle or breast), being fed breastmilk through a bottle takes away some of the benefits of traditional breastfeeding. The physical contact that comes with traditional breastfeeding increases the release of oxytocin in both the mother and child's blood stream. This hormone is frequently referred to as the "love hormone" and plays an important role in the development of trust and bonding within a relationship. On top of the emotional bonding that comes with breastfeeding, it has been found that children who are breastfed develop language, intellectual, and motor skills both quicker and easier than those who are not and are less likely to contract a variety of viruses and diseases.

While many trusted sources such as the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clearly state that children should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives, none of them give a clear cut off as to when a mother should stop breastfeeding. Each of the above stated sources gave loose termination guidelines ranging anywhere from 12 to 24 months of age, stating that termination time depends largely on personal situation. Some children will naturally wean themselves while others will need the support of the mother to be weaned. While it appears that two years of age is the oldest age at which children and mothers benefit greatly from breastfeeding, it is important to note that there is both a lack of research and a lack of evidence for children beyond the age of two.


 * Your first paragraph does not belong in this article. You will find that information in the breastfeeding article while this one is about extended breastfeeding.  Re the second paragraph, you will need to check the current page which makes much of this information not an improvement.  The sentence "It is important to note...", while true, you will need to find a source for that or it is considered your own personal opinion. If you add your edits to the article they will be deleted. Sectionworker (talk) 20:40, 7 April 2023 (UTC)
 * I understand that you are trying to do a good job but IMO it is a lot to expect of a brand new editor to make their first edit be something that will improve an article. I will be glad to help you if you open a discussion on the article talk page.  Sectionworker (talk) 12:56, 8 April 2023 (UTC)