This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sugarman, M. Articles by Kendall-Tackett, K. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sugarman, M. Articles by Kendall-Tackett, K. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Weaning Ages in a Sample of American Women who Practice Extended Breastfeeding

Department of Child Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett

Perinatal Education Group, Henniker, New Hampshire

This research examined age and method of weaning in a sample of 179 women who practiced extended breastfeeding. The average age for weaning was between 2 years 6 months and 3 years 0 months and ranged from 1 month to 7 years 4 months. Fourteen women had each weaned at least three children, and the youngest children were significantly older at the time of weaning than were their older siblings. Weaning was described as being "gradual" and "child-led" by the majority of women. A smaller, but substantial, percentage of women cited reasons for weaning related to a subsequent pregnancy. Weaning ages for women who practice extended nursing were substantially older than were those of more typical North American mothers and were similar to those in traditional cultures with similar parenting practices.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Goldfarb Extended Breastfeeding in the United States Clinical Pediatrics, December 1, 1995; 34(12): 648 - 649. [PDF]