Comments on: Adventures in Weaning: Cold Turkey in the Great American Desert http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/ Featuring insider destination guides and how-to articles from the matador travel community. Our focus is sustainable travel, cultural immersion, plus work, study, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:48:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Page http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-6736 David Page Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:07:15 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-6736 Interesting piece in The Guardian today re: mothers who breastfeed beyond babyhood (thanks Sam Leader for forwarding): http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/09/breastfeeding-older-children Interesting piece in The Guardian today re: mothers who breastfeed beyond babyhood (thanks Sam Leader for forwarding):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/09/breastfeeding-older-children

]]> By: Allison McDonell Page http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-5865 Allison McDonell Page Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:12:13 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-5865 Hi Amanda, Thanks so much for the kind words. I am with you. I think we, as mothers, need to start being able to trust ourselves and let go of some of the pressures we have around us. We need to do everything we can to make it the best experience we can. I have dedicated my life to raising my children for 4 1/2 years so far and I have loved, almost every minute of it. Now I find myself getting pressures from friends not to vaccinate when I really believe in it. Doubt is not something that is helpful when mothering and it especially shouldn't be fostered by the world around. I have one friend who did not breast feed either of her boys. It was just too painful. She was plagued with infections, etc. I don't think I am one to judge. Neither am I to judge the mothers who work 70 hour weeks. It works for them. Everyone is different. I was formula fed and I came out okay. Thanks again, Allison Hi Amanda,

Thanks so much for the kind words. I am with you. I think we, as mothers, need to start being able to trust ourselves and let go of some of the pressures we have around us. We need to do everything we can to make it the best experience we can. I have dedicated my life to raising my children for 4 1/2 years so far and I have loved, almost every minute of it. Now I find myself getting pressures from friends not to vaccinate when I really believe in it. Doubt is not something that is helpful when mothering and it especially shouldn’t be fostered by the world around. I have one friend who did not breast feed either of her boys. It was just too painful. She was plagued with infections, etc. I don’t think I am one to judge. Neither am I to judge the mothers who work 70 hour weeks. It works for them. Everyone is different. I was formula fed and I came out okay.

Thanks again,

Allison

]]> By: Amanda http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-5853 Amanda Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:54:45 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-5853 Allison, As a mother of two, first one formula-fed, second one breast-fed but at 6 months I'm ready to switch him to formula too, I have had my share of judgment. Nevermind the fact that I eat and feed my family a very healthy diet that includes freshly juiced greens, sugarless fruit smoothies, whole grains...etc. There were a lot of factors that have played into my decision to formula feed, and it wasn't an easy choice. Given all the comments on this blog I wanted to say one thing I've learned...just because you weaned abruptly does not mean your child will suffer long-term. I am sure you are raising a happy, healthy child who has long forgotten the "weaning" experience. Good for you for nursing for a year. And seriously, in my experience, in those tough times where your baby is crying whether it be for a breast, to be picked up, teething...sometimes you have to make light humour out of it, because if you don't laugh, you'll probably cry. No mother likes to see her child unhappy. It's stories like this that remind me, I'm not alone. Thanks. Allison,

As a mother of two, first one formula-fed, second one breast-fed but at 6 months I’m ready to switch him to formula too, I have had my share of judgment. Nevermind the fact that I eat and feed my family a very healthy diet that includes freshly juiced greens, sugarless fruit smoothies, whole grains…etc. There were a lot of factors that have played into my decision to formula feed, and it wasn’t an easy choice.

Given all the comments on this blog I wanted to say one thing I’ve learned…just because you weaned abruptly does not mean your child will suffer long-term. I am sure you are raising a happy, healthy child who has long forgotten the “weaning” experience. Good for you for nursing for a year.

And seriously, in my experience, in those tough times where your baby is crying whether it be for a breast, to be picked up, teething…sometimes you have to make light humour out of it, because if you don’t laugh, you’ll probably cry. No mother likes to see her child unhappy. It’s stories like this that remind me, I’m not alone. Thanks.

]]> By: Agustina http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4214 Agustina Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:32:04 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4214 Allison, due to my involvement with La Leche League, I have seen women having a very hard time dealing with the pressure in all kind of situations. Some women want to continue to breastfeed beyond the two years old (minimal age recommended by most health organizations and lactation experts in any part of the world) are treated like freaks by family, friends and drs that think the child is too old, some women didn't manage to stablish and enjoyable and working breastfeeding relationship and want to quit, but their environment pushes them to stop trying and some women were once very committed to breastfeeding and then didn't feel comfortable any more and felt a lot of guilt and lack of empathy from their breastfeeding partners. If you breastfeed for too short or not at all, people ask you why you didn't breastfeed, if you breastfeed too long people ask when you will stop. rarely people ask if your kid eats candy or vegetables, drinks soda or water, but they all feel entitled to ask about your breasts. We live in a breast obsessed culture and something very private becomes veryy public in many uncomfortable ways. Now, if this was a blog, I would have judged it as a private matter and moved on hoping it all worked out well for you all, but because it is not a blog, it was published in a magazine, responsibilities of what is being communicated come to play. Editorial responsibility, and also reader's responsibility when we feel that something is not being communicated truthfully or seems misinformed. i don't know why you didn't want to breastfeed any more, it is none of my business and I am not asking, in La Leche League many women many women come looking for support during weaning, they do it for very different reasons and they all get the support they need to make the situation the least hurtful for everybody involved. But at the same time as they get support, there is also honesty about what is going on. In every part of the world (and I suspect we are in the same part) breast milk is the best food a baby can get, when the baby is 1, 2 or 5 years old. There is no other food that equals breast milk in health and nutritional value. Abrupt and unilateral weaning is not possible without a certain degree of trauma and emotional hurt, both for the mother and the child. The mother's body and mind has to face the fact that there is nobody to eat the food we produce, and that generates stress, whether the mother decided to acknowledge it or not, it is a biological reaction that is inevitable and very real. For the child is even more confusing, every thing he used to get from the breast, that is so much more than milk and that feels so right for him, is denied to him abruptly and he doesn't understand why what feels so good now has to feel so wrong, I think that any story that denies every element involved, benefits of breastfeeding as well as the hurt of weaning for both parties, even if its done graciously in the form of a father-son trip, is just deceiving and dishonest and sends out a message that is not right. I am not judging your feelings or decision, I am judging the way the story is portrait, i am criticizing the romantic description of a very painful process, that is a true rite of passage that mother and child have to navigate together and go through it together, as best as they can. Allison, due to my involvement with La Leche League, I have seen women having a very hard time dealing with the pressure in all kind of situations. Some women want to continue to breastfeed beyond the two years old (minimal age recommended by most health organizations and lactation experts in any part of the world) are treated like freaks by family, friends and drs that think the child is too old, some women didn’t manage to stablish and enjoyable and working breastfeeding relationship and want to quit, but their environment pushes them to stop trying and some women were once very committed to breastfeeding and then didn’t feel comfortable any more and felt a lot of guilt and lack of empathy from their breastfeeding partners. If you breastfeed for too short or not at all, people ask you why you didn’t breastfeed, if you breastfeed too long people ask when you will stop. rarely people ask if your kid eats candy or vegetables, drinks soda or water, but they all feel entitled to ask about your breasts. We live in a breast obsessed culture and something very private becomes veryy public in many uncomfortable ways. Now, if this was a blog, I would have judged it as a private matter and moved on hoping it all worked out well for you all, but because it is not a blog, it was published in a magazine, responsibilities of what is being communicated come to play. Editorial responsibility, and also reader’s responsibility when we feel that something is not being communicated truthfully or seems misinformed.

i don’t know why you didn’t want to breastfeed any more, it is none of my business and I am not asking, in La Leche League many women many women come looking for support during weaning, they do it for very different reasons and they all get the support they need to make the situation the least hurtful for everybody involved. But at the same time as they get support, there is also honesty about what is going on. In every part of the world (and I suspect we are in the same part) breast milk is the best food a baby can get, when the baby is 1, 2 or 5 years old. There is no other food that equals breast milk in health and nutritional value. Abrupt and unilateral weaning is not possible without a certain degree of trauma and emotional hurt, both for the mother and the child. The mother’s body and mind has to face the fact that there is nobody to eat the food we produce, and that generates stress, whether the mother decided to acknowledge it or not, it is a biological reaction that is inevitable and very real. For the child is even more confusing, every thing he used to get from the breast, that is so much more than milk and that feels so right for him, is denied to him abruptly and he doesn’t understand why what feels so good now has to feel so wrong, I think that any story that denies every element involved, benefits of breastfeeding as well as the hurt of weaning for both parties, even if its done graciously in the form of a father-son trip, is just deceiving and dishonest and sends out a message that is not right. I am not judging your feelings or decision, I am judging the way the story is portrait, i am criticizing the romantic description of a very painful process, that is a true rite of passage that mother and child have to navigate together and go through it together, as best as they can.

]]> By: Laura Bernhein http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4211 Laura Bernhein Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:18:15 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4211 Allison: thanks for sharing your point of view. I'm sure you did what it felt right to you and your family. I have nothing to say about your choices. But since you brought the discussion about weaning and extended nursing, I'm also going to add my two cents, according to my very own experience: I know that weaning -for the mainstream parenting vision- is all about "replacing" the mom's breast for something else: pacifier, plastic bottle, glass bottle, Teddy Bears, toys, thumb sucking, and the list goes on... For me, breastfeeding is a relationship between my daughter and I. It's not something that I give to her and/or take it away from her when I feel like doing it. I can't simply take it away from her because it's not only mine: It's ours. My daughter will be 2 tomorrow, and is still nursing. Now she's old enough to understand certain things. For instance: when we all go to bed (in our part of the world we co-sleep, would this be a scandal in your part of the world? ;)) my boos go to bed too, and if she needs me at night I can always hug her. She gets it. There is no hidden anger, it's just an agreement. In fact, I'm pregnant again and I'm not planning to wean her. We're just gonna go with the flow. Yes, I'll be nursing a baby and a toddler, and enjoying it!! :) For our family, parenting is not about forcing. We believe that when children are ready to enter into another stage, they will do it. There is no need of trainings or "methods", no matter how gentle of funny or creative they seem to be. La Madre Naturaleza is pretty wise, righ? And it has been here long before all the parenting books (and looong before all the pediatricians!) I don't know how much travel you have done outside "your part of the world" (as you can tell, I love this expression!), but the average weaning age in the most of the world is four years. I'm sure that among the Matador travelers we can find some great witnesses of this. Extended nursing has nothing to do with how much your child learns at school, or what's capable to do, or how many languages he speaks...It has to do with his continuum, call it emotional security if you want. I call it "the flow". "I realize that in many parts of the world breast milk is the safest and best product for a baby and child". Allison: the World Health Organization, UNICEF and even your boys' pediatrician would agree that breast milk is the best and safest for any baby/child of any part of the world. I'm not going to write any longer on extended breastfeeding. I just enjoy it, I think it's the best I can offer to my child, and she seems to agree! Time flies, and very soon this special time with my Layla will be one of the sweetest memories for both of us. Why don't enjoy it while it lasts, instead of worrying about when and how it's gonna end? Let me know if you'd like for me to send you some links or documents about some of these topics. Peaceful parenting for a peaceful world! And peace to you all, Laura Laura, Peaceful parenting for a peaceful world!! Allison: thanks for sharing your point of view. I’m sure you did what it felt right to you and your family. I have nothing to say about your choices.

But since you brought the discussion about weaning and extended nursing, I’m also going to add my two cents, according to my very own experience:

I know that weaning -for the mainstream parenting vision- is all about “replacing” the mom’s breast for something else: pacifier, plastic bottle, glass bottle, Teddy Bears, toys, thumb sucking, and the list goes on…

For me, breastfeeding is a relationship between my daughter and I. It’s not something that I give to her and/or take it away from her when I feel like doing it. I can’t simply take it away from her because it’s not only mine: It’s ours. My daughter will be 2 tomorrow, and is still nursing.

Now she’s old enough to understand certain things. For instance: when we all go to bed (in our part of the world we co-sleep, would this be a scandal in your part of the world? ;) ) my boos go to bed too, and if she needs me at night I can always hug her. She gets it. There is no hidden anger, it’s just an agreement. In fact, I’m pregnant again and I’m not planning to wean her. We’re just gonna go with the flow. Yes, I’ll be nursing a baby and a toddler, and enjoying it!! :)

For our family, parenting is not about forcing. We believe that when children are ready to enter into another stage, they will do it. There is no need of trainings or “methods”, no matter how gentle of funny or creative they seem to be. La Madre Naturaleza is pretty wise, righ? And it has been here long before all the parenting books (and looong before all the pediatricians!)

I don’t know how much travel you have done outside “your part of the world” (as you can tell, I love this expression!), but the average weaning age in the most of the world is four years. I’m sure that among the Matador travelers we can find some great witnesses of this. Extended nursing has nothing to do with how much your child learns at school, or what’s capable to do, or how many languages he speaks…It has to do with his continuum, call it emotional security if you want. I call it “the flow”.

“I realize that in many parts of the world breast milk is the safest and best product for a baby and child”. Allison: the World Health Organization, UNICEF and even your boys’ pediatrician would agree that breast milk is the best and safest for any baby/child of any part of the world.

I’m not going to write any longer on extended breastfeeding. I just enjoy it, I think it’s the best I can offer to my child, and she seems to agree! Time flies, and very soon this special time with my Layla will be one of the sweetest memories for both of us. Why don’t enjoy it while it lasts, instead of worrying about when and how it’s gonna end?

Let me know if you’d like for me to send you some links or documents about some of these topics.

Peaceful parenting for a peaceful world! And peace to you all,

Laura

Laura, Peaceful parenting for a peaceful world!!

]]> By: Francis Macomber http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4205 Francis Macomber Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:29:49 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4205 My wet nurse was a Zulu! Golly, that Zulu milk is like liquid heroin! How else did Shaka get so mighty? My wet nurse was a Zulu! Golly, that Zulu milk is like liquid heroin! How else did Shaka get so mighty?

]]> By: Allison McDonell Page http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4203 Allison McDonell Page Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:14:58 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4203 As the woman bearing the glands Jasper was plucked away from, I thought I should add my two cents. I loved breast feeding and had a very easy time of it. No infections, no having to take my pump to work and sneak away on bathroom breaks. In fact, I could easily have gone on longer without a problem. Pediatricians in my part of the world recommend breast feeding for a year. That was my goal. With Jasper, I accomplished that goal plus a month and a half. When Jasper turned a year I thought I would start to wean him slowly, cutting down the number of feedings per day. But he did not make it easy. Suddenly, he was interested in nothing but boob when it came to me. No hugs, no cute showing off of his latest physical feats, only desperate pleadings for my breast. I was having a hard time not giving him what he wanted when it was so easy and decided not to reward the behavior and passed him onto my mammary glandless husband for a few days. I realize that in many parts of the world breast milk is the safest and best product for a baby and child. A five year old is often better off drinking from her mother's milk then eating the neighborhood food or drinking the neighborhood water. Both my children never had formula and moved from the breast to cow's milk after they turned one. However, I still have to turn away when I see a four year old in America breast feeding. The thought of my four year old--who is reading, adding, using metaphor, and riding a two-wheeler--sucking at my breast after bath time is not even fathomable to me. I also feel for the mothers who suffer from ongoing breast infections; who pump and pump only to be swollen and bleeding. The pressure is so great to breast feed that even if a mother is suffering for it she feels she cannot stop. For the mother's sake, I would certainly not suggest going cold turkey. My boobs hurt like hell for two weeks. And I wonder if it made them shrink more, but I don't dwell. As the woman bearing the glands Jasper was plucked away from, I thought I should add my two cents. I loved breast feeding and had a very easy time of it. No infections, no having to take my pump to work and sneak away on bathroom breaks. In fact, I could easily have gone on longer without a problem. Pediatricians in my part of the world recommend breast feeding for a year. That was my goal. With Jasper, I accomplished that goal plus a month and a half. When Jasper turned a year I thought I would start to wean him slowly, cutting down the number of feedings per day. But he did not make it easy. Suddenly, he was interested in nothing but boob when it came to me. No hugs, no cute showing off of his latest physical feats, only desperate pleadings for my breast. I was having a hard time not giving him what he wanted when it was so easy and decided not to reward the behavior and passed him onto my mammary glandless husband for a few days. I realize that in many parts of the world breast milk is the safest and best product for a baby and child. A five year old is often better off drinking from her mother’s milk then eating the neighborhood food or drinking the neighborhood water. Both my children never had formula and moved from the breast to cow’s milk after they turned one. However, I still have to turn away when I see a four year old in America breast feeding. The thought of my four year old–who is reading, adding, using metaphor, and riding a two-wheeler–sucking at my breast after bath time is not even fathomable to me. I also feel for the mothers who suffer from ongoing breast infections; who pump and pump only to be swollen and bleeding. The pressure is so great to breast feed that even if a mother is suffering for it she feels she cannot stop. For the mother’s sake, I would certainly not suggest going cold turkey. My boobs hurt like hell for two weeks. And I wonder if it made them shrink more, but I don’t dwell.

]]> By: Eva http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4201 Eva Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:21:05 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4201 Well this certainly added to the constructive discussion. Well this certainly added to the constructive discussion.

]]> By: Matt S. http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4199 Matt S. Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:17:20 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4199 David, enough. Just apologize for killing all those babies already...it wasn't a very nice thing to do, but if you're humble and take responsibility for your actions, some of us will forgive you. (Not me.) Also, I disagree with Laura B: the caption is not out of place. It's totally IN PLACE in accompanying this tasteless, inappropriate and misleading re-telling of a man and his wife's experience weaning their first born off breastfeeding in an honest and good-humored way that has resulted in some constructive discussion. Shame on him, the pig. I mean seriously, this is without a doubt EXTREMELY harmful to the eleven or twelve people who've read it because they--these somewhat retarded eleven or twelve--obviously lack any ability to think critically for themselves and are quite easily influenced. (If I were them, I wouldn't be offended at all at the implied condescension in some of the above posts.) Now, like a fifth grade essay, my conclusion: Can't we just all agree that breasts ARE terrific and lovely and worthy of ALL KINDS of admiration? Personally I love them, and not just because they're an integral and beautiful part of child rearing. Also, they're pretty hawt. David, enough. Just apologize for killing all those babies already…it wasn’t a very nice thing to do, but if you’re humble and take responsibility for your actions, some of us will forgive you. (Not me.)

Also, I disagree with Laura B: the caption is not out of place. It’s totally IN PLACE in accompanying this tasteless, inappropriate and misleading re-telling of a man and his wife’s experience weaning their first born off breastfeeding in an honest and good-humored way that has resulted in some constructive discussion. Shame on him, the pig. I mean seriously, this is without a doubt EXTREMELY harmful to the eleven or twelve people who’ve read it because they–these somewhat retarded eleven or twelve–obviously lack any ability to think critically for themselves and are quite easily influenced. (If I were them, I wouldn’t be offended at all at the implied condescension in some of the above posts.)

Now, like a fifth grade essay, my conclusion: Can’t we just all agree that breasts ARE terrific and lovely and worthy of ALL KINDS of admiration? Personally I love them, and not just because they’re an integral and beautiful part of child rearing. Also, they’re pretty hawt.

]]> By: Wendy http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4197 Wendy Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:53:15 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4197 I agree David, and thank you for sharing this! I would think it was much easier on the little guy in question and his mother that you were there to distract them both and make this 'not such a big deal'. I agree David, and thank you for sharing this! I would think it was much easier on the little guy in question and his mother that you were there to distract them both and make this ‘not such a big deal’.

]]> By: David Page http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4194 David Page Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:59:36 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4194 touché. :-) touché. :-)

]]> By: David Page http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4193 David Page Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:59:02 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4193 Oh dear. In fact, there's a link above. See Child Care & Culture: Lessons from Africa, Levine et al. (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1994), p. 45: "They found that some but not all of the children were distressed on the day of weaning and shortly afterward, but that their manifest distress soon disappeared and was replaced by social activity and positive emotional states that indicated no traumatic impact. They conclude that the sudden weaning of Zulu children promotes their social development in general and independence in particular, that it does not overwhelm them or constitute a trauma, and that it is not prognostic of psychological disorder.” But anyway this is not a scientific treatise, nor an effort to preach the "correctness" of one particular method of child rearing (or weaning, specifically) over another (nor of the language to be used, or the reverence of tone, nor to say anything at all about the loss of the fine art of breastfeeding). This is a lighthearted re-telling of a particular personal experience. My own. Anything else, I think (like taking responsibility for the thousands of babies dying of hunger every day), would be presumptuous. Oh dear. In fact, there’s a link above. See Child Care & Culture: Lessons from Africa, Levine et al. (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1994), p. 45: “They found that some but not all of the children were distressed on the day of weaning and shortly afterward, but that their manifest distress soon disappeared and was replaced by social activity and positive emotional states that indicated no traumatic impact. They conclude that the sudden weaning of Zulu children promotes their social development in general and independence in particular, that it does not overwhelm them or constitute a trauma, and that it is not prognostic of psychological disorder.” But anyway this is not a scientific treatise, nor an effort to preach the “correctness” of one particular method of child rearing (or weaning, specifically) over another (nor of the language to be used, or the reverence of tone, nor to say anything at all about the loss of the fine art of breastfeeding). This is a lighthearted re-telling of a particular personal experience. My own. Anything else, I think (like taking responsibility for the thousands of babies dying of hunger every day), would be presumptuous.

]]> By: Agustina http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4192 Agustina Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:36:22 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4192 I did not like this article. In a world where thousands of babies die of hunger every day because women have lost the art of breastfeeding, I don't find humorous comment about 'curing' a baby from breastfeeding are one bit funny. Those little 'funny' comments that follow themselves through the article, in combination with the text next to the zulu photo and poor paediatrician advice make this article tasteless, offensive and misinformed. On another note, despite an intensive google search I did not find what two researchers observed the zulu weaning in 1957 in such happy manner, some reference would be appreciated. I did find an article called 'The effect of sudden weaning on Zulu children' but it has nothing positive to say on the long term impact of sudden weaning in the zulu baby population, so I don't think that is the one you read. I did not like this article. In a world where thousands of babies die of hunger every day because women have lost the art of breastfeeding, I don’t find humorous comment about ‘curing’ a baby from breastfeeding are one bit funny. Those little ‘funny’ comments that follow themselves through the article, in combination with the text next to the zulu photo and poor paediatrician advice make this article tasteless, offensive and misinformed. On another note, despite an intensive google search I did not find what two researchers observed the zulu weaning in 1957 in such happy manner, some reference would be appreciated. I did find an article called ‘The effect of sudden weaning on Zulu children’ but it has nothing positive to say on the long term impact of sudden weaning in the zulu baby population, so I don’t think that is the one you read.

]]> By: Laura Bernhein http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4185 Laura Bernhein Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:09:04 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4185 Eva, I totally agree. The photo is not wrong. The words are horrible. I have a suggestion: Why don't you replace the photo for a similar one of the auhor's wife!! ha ha! Eva, I totally agree. The photo is not wrong. The words are horrible. I have a suggestion: Why don’t you replace the photo for a similar one of the auhor’s wife!! ha ha!

]]> By: Tim Patterson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4184 Tim Patterson Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:02:58 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4184 I absolutely loved this piece, but agree that the Zulu photo is in poor taste. I absolutely loved this piece, but agree that the Zulu photo is in poor taste.

]]> By: Eva http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4183 Eva Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:27:45 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4183 I should clarify, there's nothing wrong with the photo in and of itself - it's the flippant comment in combination that suggests, "Boobs! Hawt" when we're supposed to be talking about breastfeeding... I should clarify, there’s nothing wrong with the photo in and of itself – it’s the flippant comment in combination that suggests, “Boobs! Hawt” when we’re supposed to be talking about breastfeeding…

]]> By: Eva http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4182 Eva Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:22:38 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4182 Agreed. I think the photo is out of place to say the least. Mixing up children nursing and adult male sexualization of women's breasts is a big part of the reason why women get so much hassle about breast feeding in public being "obscene," "inappropriate" etc. Agreed. I think the photo is out of place to say the least. Mixing up children nursing and adult male sexualization of women’s breasts is a big part of the reason why women get so much hassle about breast feeding in public being “obscene,” “inappropriate” etc.

]]> By: David Page http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4181 David Page Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:35:17 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4181 No, I think the RV plan is still on. And yes, look forward to seeing the goat man again! No, I think the RV plan is still on. And yes, look forward to seeing the goat man again!

]]> By: Laura Bernhein http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4179 Laura Bernhein Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:45:11 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4179 I'm reading the article again, and discovered the text of the photo of the Zulu woman. It is very offensive...If your boy gave up something (it sounds to me that you kind of decided that for him), he gave up NURSING from his mom's breast, he didn't gave up the pair of boobs you're showing (and obviously enjoying from your man, machista? point of view). Laura I’m reading the article again, and discovered the text of the photo of the Zulu woman. It is very offensive…If your boy gave up something (it sounds to me that you kind of decided that for him), he gave up NURSING from his mom’s breast, he didn’t gave up the pair of boobs you’re showing (and obviously enjoying from your man, machista? point of view).
Laura

]]> By: Laura Bernhein http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/adventures-in-weaning-cold-turkey-in-the-great-american-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4178 Laura Bernhein Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:28:12 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=3504#comment-4178 Thanks for sharing this experience. I just want to remind the readers that several organizations, including World Health Organization and UNICEF, consider that babies should be breastfed for at least two years. And that the average weaning age in the rest of the world is four years. BTW: Pelé, the Brazilian soccer star was nursed for five years! Sincerely, Laura, mom of happy Layla, who is still nursing (she'll be 2 on Monday!) and will be until she's ready to move on! Thanks for sharing this experience.

I just want to remind the readers that several organizations, including World Health Organization and UNICEF, consider that babies should be breastfed for at least two years. And that the average weaning age in the rest of the world is four years.
BTW: Pelé, the Brazilian soccer star was nursed for five years!

Sincerely,

Laura, mom of happy Layla, who is still nursing (she’ll be 2 on Monday!) and will be until she’s ready to move on!

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