Breastfeeding Older Children

Is long-term breastfeeding nature's way or an unhealthy practice? Is it a form of sexual abuse? Do controlling mothers coerce children into continuing, or are they meeting the child's innate need? Does sustained breastfeeding impact negatively on child physical and emotional health, or does it have a positive effect? Do mothers pay a price? Does the practice affect the couple relationship? Does truncated breastfeeding leave emotional wounds, and do men especially suffer? When did early weaning become established practice in the western world? Is sustained breastfeeding a feminist issue?

Drawing on child development theories, neuroscience research, archaeological and anthropological findings, Breastfeeding Older Children explores the myths and reality of this taboo practice. In survey questionnaire extracts, from 48 countries, the voices of mothers, fathers and children also speak out.

Breastfeeding Older Children will appeal to all concerned with infant feeding and child health, as well as those with an interest in prehistory and the origins of western culture.