One popular technique is “Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse”. For this weaning method, you don’t nurse unless your baby has requested to nurse. You may already be doing this without having even considered that it is a weaning technique. If you had previously been nursing at specific times in your daily routine (such as upon wake-up, or before nap time), try seeing what happens if you don’t automatically nurse. Does your baby request to nurse, or get upset? During the distractible/ disinterested window, she might not notice that you haven’t nursed. You may be able to wean during this phase without much or any protest.

Distractible Sweets

For moms who would like to continue nursing, that is also possible. When Sweets went through this phase, she was about 14 months old. For me though, weaning at 14 months was not something I was interested in. It was my priority to nurse her until at least 2 years old.

If you are not interested in weaning, be careful not to fall into the “Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse” pattern.  Consider “Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse” a gentle weaning technique, and don’t use it if you are not interested in weaning. You will really need to continue to offer nursing through this phase. There were many times when I knew that if I did not offer, Sweets would not have asked to nurse. If I was interested in weaning, I would have just gone along with that – but I wasn’t, so I continued to offer. Once I offered, she would nurse, though maybe not for a long time.

I was also working out of the home through this, and while I considered quitting pumping (due to her age and that she could drink cow’s milk at daycare), I decided to continue pumping at work to keep up my supply. I wanted to make sure that there would be milk for the times when she DID want to nurse.  So that she wouldn’t ask to nurse one day and end up frustrated at the breast due to no milk.

I also continued to co-sleep and night-nurse during this time. Though I considered at least night-weaning her during the disinterested phase, I was afraid that if she wasn’t nursing at night that she would stop nursing all-together because she seemed to nurse the best and longest at night.

After about 6-8 weeks or so, the phase passed and she started to be more interested in nursing again. I successfully nursed her past her 2nd birthday, and she is still nursing once or twice per day most days now at almost 3 years old.

It’s that time again! You might remember the great post in December 2011 that highlighted the Natural Parents Network Volunteer’s most popular or favorite posts from the year. Well, we are back and this time we are bringing you a collection of posts that focus on Do It Yourself projects, How To’s, Tutorials, Recipes, and anything related to a step by step guide or informational how-to.

There are a lot of really wonderful posts here and I hope that this serves as an excellent resource that you can pass on to your friends! Enjoy!

Jorje of Momma Jorje.com shares her Family Cloth Tutorial in pictures. She includes step by step photos with some tips for making very neat family cloth. You can find Momma Jorje on Facebook, too!

Lani at Boobie Time Blog shares “How to Help a New Breastfeeding Mom.” This post provides some tips on helping a new mom while she is learning to Breastfeed. You can also find Boobie Time Blog on Facebook and Twitter.

Amanda at Let’s Take the Metro shares “How I Make Cloth Wipes.” This post details how Amanda made all of her cloth wipes. You can also find Let’s Take the Metro on Facebook.

Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy shares “Lessons in a Picture Book.” A Lesson plan for pancakes and how to make your own butter! You can also find True Confessions of a Real Mommy on Facebook and Twitter.

Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction shares “Tips for Road Tripping with a Toddler.” A long car trip with a young child can be a great way to make some wonderful memories if you are prepared to meet the challenges. You can also find Monkey Butt Junction on Facebook and Twitter.

Abbie at Farmer’s Daughter shares “Maple Cinnamon Swirl Bread.” This recipe tutorial shows you how to make a sweet whole wheat bread with beautiful cinnamon swirls in each slice. You can also find Farmer’s Daughter on Facebook and Twitter.

Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares “How To Consume Coconut Oil Plus Coconut Oil Candy Recipes.” This post provides some tips on how to get your daily dose of coconut oil down the hatch. It also provides some very tasty recipes for coconut oil candy! You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Alicia at Lactation Narration gives some ideas for how to accomplish Partial Weaning for moms who would like to cut down on nursing without completely weaning. You can also find Lactation Narration on Facebook and Twitter.

Cynthia at The Hippie Housewife shares “A Learning-Rich Environment.” This post provides a number of suggestions for creating a learning-rich environment and incorporating learning into everyday life, with a particular focus on the preschool age. You can also find The Hippie Housewife on Facebook, Pinterest, and Google +.

Kelly at Becoming Crunchy shares “Kale Chips = Awesome!“ This post shares a super easy recipe for making a super easy (and surprisingly tasty) snack from one of the most healthful greens around. You can also find Becoming Crunchy on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares “How to Move to California.” A silly how-to she wrote while she and her then fiance were driving to their new home. You can also find Shannon on Pinterest, Flickr, and Google +.

Gretchen at That Mama Gretchen shares a recipe for “Homemade Fruit Leather.” It’s easier than you ever thought and the perfect snack for you and your family. You can also find That Mama Gretchen on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Julia at A Little Bit of All of It shares “How I Cloth Diaper (Part 1).” This post details the way Julia has cloth diapered her daughter along with the products she uses. You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Joella at Fine and Fair shares “Our First Sensory Bins.” In this post, she shares how she made a “Scoop, Measure, and Pour” themed sensory bin, as well as an “In the Garden” themed bin. She also shares some tips for making your own sensory bins! Fine and Fair can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

For all of you breastfeeding mamas, Dionna at Code Name: Mama has the ultimate DIY experience with the main ingredient being your breastmilk! 58 Medical, Costmetic, and Other Alternative Uses for Breastmilk includes a cradle cap remedy, an anti-itch salve, weaning jewelry, lotion, and more. You can also find Dionna on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings offers several ideas for “Keeping a Toddler Happily Busy on a Long Flight.” The list includes handmade felt activities, among many other things. You can also find Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Shannon at The Artful Mama shares “Preparing Toddlers for Birth.” This post features MamAmor dolls and shows some alternative ways to talk to toddlers about pregnancy and birth. You can also find The Artful Mama on Facebook and Twitter.

Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World shares her “Family Binder DIY.” This post shows how to put together a family binder, to help organize cleaning, meal planning, shopping and budgeting all in one convenient location!

Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares “5 Green Living, Spring Cleaning Tips.” This post provides easy ways to keep the toxins out of your home and to freshen up your home for spring. You can also find I Thought I Knew Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings shares “Daily Bread: My Favorite Whole Grain Bread Machine Recipe.” This recipe is easy, highly adaptable, and a great starting point for creating your own daily (or almost daily!) homemade bread. You can also find Intrepid Murmurings on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares “10 Tips for Toddler Carseat Woes.” Check out these ideas of dealing with toddler carseat issues without resorting to punishments. You can also find Living Peacefully with Children on Facebook.

Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares “DIY Mom’s Night In.” A somewhat humorous solution, this post provides exhausted Mamas the recipe for the perfect way to recharge!

Stacy at Sweet Sky shares “Ways to Bring More Mindfulness Into Your Days.” This post provides tips and tricks to bring yourself back to the present moment, so you can be the parent you want to be. You can also find Stacy on Facebook.

Amy at Anktangle shows us how to make your own popsicle stick puzzles, a fun and simple “busy bag” activity for toddlers and preschool aged children. You can also find Amy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Lauren at Hobo Mama shares “How to sew a mei tai baby carrier.” The mei tai is Lauren and Sam’s favorite carrier for baby Alrik: as comfortable and simple as it is beautiful. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry shares “How to Make Rainbow Coloured Rice (Without Alcohol) for a Toddler Sensory Bin.” This post provides a step by step tutorial for making vibrantly coloured rainbow rice for sensory play, includes a printable PDF. You can also find African Babies Don’t Cry on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Luschka of Diary of a First Child shares “How To Send A Hug In An Envelope.” This post is a creative way to send more than just the standard card to love ones. It literally is a hug in an envelope! You can also find Diary of a First Child on Facebook, and Twitter.

So, you are an expectant mom, you plan to breastfeed, and you wonder what products you should have on your list to buy before baby arrives? As breastfeeding regains popularity in our society, more and more products are available on the market for nursing moms. Here is a list of things you may want to put on your shopping list. Or not. You may not need to buy many of these after all.

1. Nursing bras - These bras allow you to unclip one side for easy access to your boob at feeding time. They are pretty useful, but not necessary for everyone. I have one friend who doesn’t wear a bra ever – nursing or not! My regular bra has enough elastic, and my breasts are small enough, that I can just pull one side down under my boob for access, without the need to use specialized bras. Also consider nursing tanks instead, which also cover your tummy.

2. Nursing pads – Put them in your bra to catch the milk you leak. These come in washable or disposable varieties, as well as LilyPadz. I liked the contoured pads best and felt like they didn’t show as much through my shirt as the flat variety. I actually started wearing these when I was still pregnant and started leaking colostrum, but not everyone leaks. They are most helpful for the first few months with baby, and you probably won’t continue to need them later on in your nursing career. If you are crafty, you could also make these yourself pretty easily using scraps.

3. Nursing shirts/dresses – These clothes are designed with openings underneath so that you can nurse very discreetly in public. I found them really essential in the beginning, when I was not very comfortable with nursing in public yet. I bought some online from Motherwear and Expressiva, but I found them to be quite expensive. I got the rest of mine at consignment sales, usually mixed in with the maternity clothes, where they were much cheaper! As time went on, I got better at nursing in public and felt fine just pulling up my regular shirt without needing special nursing clothes. I do still wear specialized nursing dresses though. Most of my regular dresses are not nursing friendly though, and obviously I can’t just pull them up to nurse the way I do with a shirt! Some styles of dresses are more nursing friendly though, where you can pull them down from the top.

4. Nursing covers – These are typically a sheet of fabric that covers the baby while nursing and attaches around your neck so that it doesn’t fall off. These are also meant to ease nursing in public if you are uncomfortable with others seeing baby nursing. Some people love them, others hate them. Personally, I never used one. This is another item that you could probably easily make yourself.

5. Breastfeeding pillow- The Boppy and My Breast Friend are the most popular examples of breastfeeding pillows. They are designed to prop the baby close to your breast to put baby in a comfortable position for feeding. Some people find these very helpful. They are completely optional though. You can get the same effect from a few throw pillows under your elbow. I used it with my first, but never did with my second.

6. Lanolin – You put lanolin on your nipples if they hurt. It’s like ultimate chap stick to heal the cracks. It is particularly useful in the first few weeks, when your nipples are still adjusting to nursing. Some people use a ton of it, but I only used a tiny bit and found I had lots left over. I never actually purchased it. You can email Medela and Lansinoh and tell them you are an expectant mother and ask if they have any free samples they can send. They both sent me free tubes of lanolin, and it was way more than I ever needed. One thing to consider is that lanolin can promote thrush, so be aware that not all nipple pain should be treated with lanolin. There are non-lanolin nipple cream options too, for those looking for an alternative.

7. Breast Pump – Are you going to be separated from baby, ie work or school? If so, you probably want a quality, double electric pump. The most popular brands for this are Medela, Ameda, and the newer Hygeia. If you are not planning to be separated from baby, you do not need a pump unless you want one. It is in no way true that all nursing mothers need to have a pump. It is your choice. For occasional pumping, I’d say once per day or less, I would recommend just a manual or a cheap electric – you don’t need an expensive pump in this situation. Now, if you end up dealing with an unusual circumstance, such as prematurity or cleft palate, then you will want to use a high quality pump. You don’t need the pump in advance though. I think it is fine to wait until baby is born and see what your situation is. Even if you do use it, it likely won’t be until several weeks out with a healthy baby if you do not plan to be separated.

8. Hands-free pumping bra – If you will be pumping more than once per day, this may be useful for you. I never used one when pumping at work for my first, but I did for my second and thought it was really helpful just so I could do other things while pumping, such as writing, typing, or turning the pages of a book. If you will only be pumping once per day or less often, I probably wouldn’t bother with this though. The more common style can only be used for pumping, but I needed one that could be used for nursing or pumping, because I pumped at work, but nursed on my lunch break, and didn’t want to change my bra several times per day! You could also make your own DIY hands-free pump setup using hair-ties, as demonstrated on Kellymom.

9. Bottles and bottle nipples – If you do use a pump, you will also likely use bottles. If you don’t pump, then you may not need bottles at all – not all babies use bottles! If/when you do buy bottles, I recommend only getting the smaller 4-5 oz size, and not the big 8 oz size. Formula fed babies typically do need the larger bottles eventually, but breastfed babies rarely take more than 4-5 oz in a bottle (mine never took more than 3oz). Along with bottles go nipples. Use the slowest flow nipple you can find to prevent nipple preference; there is no need to ever increase the flow as your baby gets older. Keep in mind that some brands of “slow flow” or “stage 1″ nipples are slower than others. And some babies are picky and will only take certain brands. I made the mistake of buying a bunch of one kind, and then not being able to use them. I say wait and see what you need; you don’t need this in advance either.

10. Milk storage bags – Most people who pump end up freezing milk too, and most freeze milk in special storage bags. I preferred the Lansinoh brand for this, personally. Some other brands were hard for me to seal properly and leaked on me. Don’t freeze in too large of amounts. Just because the bag can hold 8 oz, doesn’t mean you should freeze 8 oz – then you have to thaw 8 oz! If your baby only drinks 3 oz servings, then you’ve just wasted the rest. If you freeze in smaller amounts, you can always thaw another bag if needed. I didn’t freeze in bags at all for my second baby; I used ice cube trays. They freeze in nice 1 oz portions, which I can then pop out and store in plain ziplock freezer storage bags. No expensive milk bags to buy, and always easy to thaw the number of ounces that I want.

Bottom line: none of this stuff is essential for every nursing mom. All you really need to breastfeed are your baby and your boobs. Some products can help ease the process, but it’s optional. Pumping is not required for breastfeeding, and half of these products are irrelevant if you never pump.

When I was pregnant with my first, we ended up buying all sorts of things that seemed so essential at the time, but that we never actually needed at all (a bottle warmer that plugs into the car for my baby who never even took a bottle!). When I was pregnant with my second, I really wanted to buy stuff (I guess I was “nesting”), but couldn’t find anything that I needed! You really don’t need all the stuff at all!

**Disclaimer: No links are affiliate links and I have received no free products or monetary payment in exchange mentionimg or linking any products. Product mentions and links are simply for illustration and examples for readers’ convenience. Product preferences mentioned reflect only my personal opinions of products with which I am familiar.**

***

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants!

• The Pregnancy Happiness List — That Mama Gretchen is half way through pregnancy number two and is spilling the beans on her pregnancy must-haves!
• What A Pregnant Woman Really Needs — Jennifer Hybrid Rasta Mama reflects on what items she could not live without during her pregnancy as well as those she wishes she had.
• Cravings of Another Kind — When reflecting on what made her pregnancy enjoyable, Adrienne at Mommying My Way discovered information is what she craved most of all.
• The Pregnancy Necessities — Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World shares her top ten must haves for pregnant women.
• The Expectant Mom‘s List of Breastfeeding Stuff to Buy, or Not — Alicia at Lactation Narration shares a list of 10 breastfeeding products that the expectant mom might want to have on her shopping list, or not.
• Pregnancy Necessities with a Toddler In Tow — Amyables at Toddler in Tow lists several simple things that make pregnancy while parenting an older child much less stressful and more enjoyable.
• Ten Tips That Helped Me During Pregnancy — Kat at {Almost} Every Moment shares ten things that helped her get through her three pregnancies!
• First Trimester Staples — Megan BB from The Memoirs of Megan shares her first trimester “must haves”
• The Pregnancy Must Have — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy shares the ONE thing she used almost daily, through all three pregnancies and suggests to all pregnant moms.
• Where to Find Cute Maternity Clothes — Lauren at Hobo Mama reviews which maternity clothing stores to hit or miss.
• My Pregnancy Support System — While there are many material things that are nice to have during pregnancy, Dionna at Code Name: Mama’s true essentials were her family.
• Ten Essentials for a HAPPY Pregnant Mama — Sarah at Parenting God’s Children is half way through her third pregnancy! She shares the things she‘s found to be essential to a happy pregnant mama.

Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life, and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.

There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.

This was a very supportive statement for those of us who nurse beyond infancy, and even beyond toddlerhood into the pre-school years. I have pulled out this AAP statement many times to defend myself from those who would call breastfeeding beyond infancy not just un-beneficial, but actually harmful to children.

I have also used the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) statement from its 2008 position paper:

NURSING BEYOND INFANCY
As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer. Mothers who have immigrated from cultures in which breastfeeding beyond infancy is routine should be encouraged to continue this tradition. There is no evidence that extended breastfeeding is harmful to mother or child. Breastfeeding during a subsequent pregnancy is not unusual. If the pregnancy is normal and the mother is healthy, breastfeeding during pregnancy is the woman’s personal decision. If the child is younger than two years, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned. Breastfeeding the nursing child after delivery of the next child (tandem nursing) may help provide a smooth transition psychologically for the older child.

and the AAFP 2007 policy statement also states:

Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired.

The AAP has released a new and updated document today on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. The new 2012 version does not say much about extended breastfeeding, only the following:

The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant, a recommendation concurred to by the WHO and the Institute of Medicine.

Mothers should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding through the first year and beyond as more and varied complementary foods are introduced.

While this is still supportive of breastfeeding beyond infancy, I wonder why this topic was not covered as fully in this revision? Was it an oversight? I would have appreciated more on this topic from the new AAP statement, not less.

She provided a Medela Symphony breast pump for the mothers in the study, but I found that it didn’t really work for me to pump. Sweets is over 2.5 years old now and it’s been a year since I pumped at work. She typically only nurses 1-2 times per day, so I don’t have a lot of milk anymore, and the pump just wasn’t doing anything.

I decided to hand express instead, and I did get a little milk that way, but only about 6 mL. For reference, there are about 30 mL to an ounce, so that is really not very much milk!

The researcher let me watch as she centrifuged my milk sample, which separates the fat to the top of the sample and the cells to the bottom with the liquid portion of the milk in between. Then she removed everything except the cell pellet, washed the cells, and centrifuged them again. After the cells were washed, she looked at them on a microscope to count them. This is what we saw.

A photo of the cells from my breast milk sample

And from that little 6 mL, she was able to get 7,850,000 cells! That is 1.3 million cells per mL, which would be almost 40 million cells per oz! She had several experiments she wanted to do with the cells, and while this was enough for one experiment, it would not be enough for all of them. She encouraged me to come donate again if I was willing and able.

I went back two more times, with pretty similar results. The second time I had 6,160,600 cells in 5 ml of milk. The third time I had 9 million cells in 7 mL of milk.

Not too bad for 2.5 years out! Next time someone tells you that there are no benefits to breastfeeding past a certain age, don’t believe it!  Most of the mothers who donated to the study had about half as many cells per mL than I did (though of course they had more milk volume too).

Another photo from my third milk sample

So the next question is, what are all those cells?

Most of the cells in milk are mammary epithelial cells.  The research study I donated to is investigating mammary stem cells in this subset.  Total leukocyte (white blood cell) counts are reported to be 4 million/mL in colostrum and 0.1-1 million/mL in mature milk. These are comprised of about 55-60% macrophages, 30-40% neutrophils, and 5-10% lymphocytes. Of the lymphocytes, about 80% are T cells and about 5% are B cells. Of the T cells, both CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells and CD4+ (helper) T cells were present, and most were activated memory cells.

In short, a whole variety of live cells are present in breast milk. Milk is more than just a source of food for the infant. These cells can be absorbed by the infant through the mucosal membrane of the intestine, where they continue to carry out their normal functions. (One interesting side-effect of this is that it is postulated that kidney transplant recipients who were breastfed as infants and receive a half-matched kidney donated by their mother are less likely to experience rejection than those who were not breastfed, or those who receive a half-matched kidney donated by their father.) The maternal immune cells continue to  support and influence the child’s immune system.

It is an amazing gift that I give to my child, of my own body. Truly.

But on weekdays, I often have to wake her up to get her ready for daycare.

This morning, I went to wake her up at 7:15, and she was grumpy!

Sweets, 2 years

She didn’t want to get dressed, she didn’t want to eat breakfast. But she did ask to nurse.

Sweets hasn’t been nursing in the morning every day lately. She used to always nurse twice per day: in the morning when we get up and when we got home from work. But lately, she skips one or even both of these some days. She skips the morning nursing more often, and I’d say she only nurses in the morning about 60% of the time lately.

But this morning, she wanted to nurse. And she didn’t want to nurse in this seat, it had to be in that seat.

THAT ONE!

I’m telling you, grumpy.

She nursed for maybe 20 minutes and got progressively happier and happier and more giggly and playful as she switched back and forth a few times between sides.

When she was done, she started just looking up at me with the most smiley, happy face! She was just so adorable!

I looked down at her and I said “Oh, I just love you!”

And she looked back at me and said “Yah Yoo Doo.”

Love You Too.

And my heart melted.

And then she happily got down and went to the kitchen to eat the waffle that was waiting for her. Then she trotted over to the door, ready to go, and said happily “Ass Doh!” (Let’s Go!)

I’m so glad we are still nursing. We can still turn a grumpy morning into a happy morning, just like that!

—–
This post has been cross-posted from my other blog, My Baby Sweets.

Let’s start with some breastfeeding advocates:

Now let’s look at the guidelines from medical sources:

Now let’s look at the guidelines from companies who make breast pumps and accessories:

And finally, let’s look at the guidelines given by formula companies:

I’m not going to tell you which of these are the “right” guidelines, but after seeing the commonalities and differences, you can make a more informed decision for yourself.

*Note that cells are blank where I could find no recommendation for this condition from this source

The volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make NPN the outstanding resource it is also spend countless hours informing and inspiring others on their personal blogs. To close out 2011, the NPN volunteers have come together to provide you with some valuable reading material. Each volunteer has selected either their most viewed post of 2011 or their favorite post and shared the link here. Please take a few moments to visit each post. Our intention is to expand our reach as bloggers and informed parents and parents-to-be who are still growing as we move through our own journeys. Each volunteer has provided links to other social media sites where you can follow them as well.

We hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as we enjoyed writing them. We are always looking for new volunteers so please, contact us if you are interested. Just a few hours per month can help other mamas in a huge way!

Abbie at Farmer’s Daughter shares her Christmas Cookie Swap Blog Hop, which is her fourth annual virtual cookie swap and most popular post of the year. Please stop by and link up your favorite holiday recipe until Dec. 31. You can find Farmer’s Daughter on Facebook and Twitter.

Adrienne from Mommying My Way shares Fear vs. Faith, one of her favorite posts about how often living a life of faith can look like a life of fear, but the two are really quite different. You can also find Mommying My Way on Facebook.

Alicia of Lactation Narration retells the story of her oldest daughter’s 5 years of nursing and weaning in her favorite post of 2011, The Weaning Party. You can find Lactation Narration on Facebook and Twitter.

Amy of Toddler In Tow shares Finding My Mommy-Zen, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, she shares her desire to balance her own self-esteem by choice in order to parent with peace and compassion. You can also find Toddler In Tow on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, and follow Amyables (Amy W.) on Google + and Ravelry.

Arpita of Up, Down, and Natural shares one of her most popular posts titled Reflections. This is a beautiful look at the type of mother she wants to be. You can find Up, Down, and Natural on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Charise of I Thought I Knew Mama shares Why Do Children Have More Food Allergies Than Ever Before?, her most viewed post of 2011. This post explains the shocking info that one unsuspecting mother discovered when she started researching why her daughter had a violent allergic reaction to eggs. This is a must read post for ensuring the health of your family. You can also find I Thought I Knew Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Stumbleupon.

Christine of African Babies Don’t Cry shares The Best First Food for Babies, one of her favourite posts of 2011. This well-researched post delves into the healthiest and most nutritious food to feed your baby. You can also find African Babies Don’t Cry on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Cynthia of The Hippie Housewife shares Gentle Discipline for Toddlers, her most viewed post of 2011. This post describes five gentle discipline tools for parenting toddlers. You can also find The Hippie Housewife on Facebook, Google +, and Pinterest.

Darcel of The Mahogany Way shares Babywearing As a Way of Life one of her favorite post of 2011. This post showcases some beautiful woven wraps that she has purchased, traded, borrowed, and sold over the years. Darcel also talks about the benefits of babywearing from the newborn through toddler stage. You can also find Darcel{ The Mahogany Way} on Facebook, Twitter, Her Community for Mothers of Color, and Pinterest.

Dionna of Code Name Mama shares 50 Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids Plus Fun Serving Suggestions, her most viewed post of 2011. Most of these snacks are quick to fix and portable, so you can pack them to send with your child on play dates, at preschool, or to just have handy in the refrigerator for when your child wants to grab a bite to eat “all by himself.” You can find Dionna on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Erica at ChildOrganics shares a post that is not only close to her heart, but also her most viewed post for 2011 titled Attachment Parenting in the NICU. This post shares her top 10 tips for parenting should you find yourself with a baby in the NICU. You can also find Erica on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Gretchen of That Mama Gretchen shares her personal experience of returning to work, expressing milk, and the ups and downs in between in her 2011 most viewed post, Mama’s Milk. You can also find Gretchen on GFC, Blog Lovin’, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Isil of Smiling like Sunshine shares how to make an autumn tree using pumpkin seeds, her most popular post in 2011. This post features a lovely craft activity that you can do with your kids! You can also find Isil on Facebook and Twitter.

Jennifer of Hybrid Rasta Mama shares 80 Uses For Coconut Oil, her most viewed post of 2011. This comprehensive post provides background information on the benefits of coconut oil as well as outlines 80 uses for it. You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

Jennifer of True Confessions of a Real Mommy shares her most popular post of 2011, Weekly House Blessing (Otherwise Known as Cleaning Once a Week). This post outlines a once per week cleaning routine for busy moms. You can also find Jennifer on Twitter.

Joella, the mama behind Fine and Fair, shares An Unusual Gripe with Bebe Gluton, one of her most popular posts of 2011. In it, she discusses the controversy surrounding a “breastfeeding doll” and offers her take on the gender role implications of dolls in general. Fine and Fair can also be found on twitter and facebook.

Julia of A Little Bit of All of It shares the story of how her co-sleeping relationship ended with her daughter, her most viewed post of 2011. This post shows how her daughter transitioned to her own bed on her 2nd birthday and the emotions involved for her mom. You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares True Blessings: White Noise and Grandparents, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, Kat talks about how she maximizes getting sleep and how grateful and blessed she is to have her parents be so involved in helping and spending time with her kiddos.

Kelly of Becoming Crunchy shares That Cup Does What?, her most viewed post of 2011. This post is one of a series of reviews and information on switching to all natural menstrual products – having heard so many different options and recommendations, Kelly decided to give a whole bunch of them a try and pull all the reviews together in one week for anyone interested in making the switch. This post in particular covers the ins and outs of the Diva Cup. You can also find Becoming Crunchy on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Kristin of Intrepid Murmurings shares a popular post from 2011, something she and her husband made for their girls for Christmas, great for open-ended play and construction: Handmade Tree Blocks. You can also find Kristin on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Lani of Boobie Time shares Helping a Fellow Breastfeeding Mom, her inspiration for starting to blog. This post discusses the importance of fellow moms supporting each other and some tips on having a successful breastfeeding relationship. Lani can also be found on Facebook.

Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door writes about finally entering “spring” when her child with special needs begins preschool. After battling post-partum mental illness (post tramatic stress disorder) after the preterm birth of her third child, she finally begins to feel healthy and whole again in “It’s Fall, Ya’ll-Again.”

Lauren of Hobo Mama shares On not having an AP poster child, her (OK, second) most viewed post of 2011. Lauren’s first child shook her certainty that attachment parenting meant babies never cried and toddlers grew independent — and that’s all right, too. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Luschka of Diary of a First Child shares Lactivism, Breastfeeding, Bottlefeeding and Mothers at War, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This post discusses how the breastfeeding/bottle feeding debate causes a division between mothers, leading to the alienation of women and babies, while divisive companies prosper. You can also find Diary of a First Child on Facebook, and Twitter.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares how With Privilege Comes Responsibility, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This compelling post explains her strong felt desire to stand up for those less privileged. You can also find Living Peacefully with Children on Facebook.

Melissa of Vibrant Wanderings shares a Montessori-Inspired Checklist for Choosing Toys, her most popular post of 2011. The article outlines some important Montessori principles and how they relate to children’s toys, translating that into some simple guiding principles. You can also find Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Melissa of White Noise shares Modern Day Wet Nurse, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, Melissa shares the benefits of human breast milk and human milk sharing. You can also find Melissa at Mothers of Change.

Momma Jorje shares Amniocentesis – What is it *really* like?, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This open and honest series offers not only the technical process of amniocentesis, but also the emotions involved in awaiting (and receiving) the procedure and a diagnosis. Momma Jorje can also be found on Facebook.

Moorea of MamaLady: Adventures in Queer Parenting shares Fluoride: Another Reason Breast Is Best, her favorite post of 2011. This post provides research on the harmful effects of fluoride in drinking water for babies and toddlers and ways to limit fluoride consumption in your home. You can also find MamaLady on Facebook and Twitter and her Parent Coaching Site.

Rachael at The Variegated Life is Calling the Muse in her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, she describes how she uses ritual to help her tap into her creative spirit. You can also find Rachael on Twitter and The Variegated Life on Facebook.

Rebekah and Chris from Liberated Family shares Using Cloth In a Disposable Society, their favorite post of 2011. This extensive post provides a lot of information regarding the varied uses of cloth as well as the many benefits. You can also find Liberated Family on Twitter.

Sarah at Parenting God’s Children shares her most viewed post: Confessions of a Breastfeeding Advocate: I Couldn’t. She confesses her struggles with breastfeeding her daughters, but shares why she’ll continue the good fight. You can also find Sarah on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Seonaid of The Practical Dilettante offers a science- and reverence-based meditation on The Living Earth, her most viewed post of 2011. This meditation was originally written for Earth Day, but it provides a way to reconnect with your place in the living breathing planet at any time of year. You can also find Seonaid on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares I Recommend (But Moira Likes This Book Too), her most viewed post of 2011. This post is a review of a wonderful book that talks about all the different ways that families can be made up, along with some of why this topic is so important to her family.

Sheryl at Little Snowflakes shares her experiences with tandem nursing in Tandem Nursing – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, her most viewed post of 2011. You can also find Sheryl on Twitter.

Stay tuned for some amazing posts from all of these tremendous bloggers in 2012!

My pumpkin

International Breastfeeding Symbol, for reference

Did anyone else carve advocacy pumpkins? Please share!

The only reason I can think of why someone would link the ability to ask with the appropriateness of nursing is that they associate nursing only with infants. It has nothing to do with a biological indicator of readiness to wean being connected to the ability to speak. The act of a child asking for something can’t possibly have anything to do with a parent not giving it to them. Nobody thinks “if he’s old enough to ask for juice then he’s too old to drink it.” That makes no sense.

Sweets showing off her teeth at 2+ years

What she is really reacting to here is just her perception of “what babies do,” and talking/asking is apparently her cutoff between babyhood and toddlerhood. It’s similar to when others say that when he can walk he’s too old. There is no actual link between walking and nursing. These things actually have nothing to do with each other! Why would a child’s ability to walk show that the child no longer needs to nurse?

The emergence of teeth at least makes a little more sense when discussing weaning age, however it is obvious that an infant with a few teeth would not be able to survive on food alone, therefore the emergence of first teeth is also not a good biological indicator for weaning readiness. A better indication, if you wanted to use teeth, could be a complete set of teeth, which may happen around 2 years old (my 2.5 year old doesn’t have all of them yet though).

Aside from the fact that different children will walk, talk, and teethe at a wide spread of ages, these factors just do not indicate readiness to wean because there is no reason to think that nursing should be restricted only to infants.  Biologically, mother’s milk is still providing needed nutrition and immunities to toddlers, not to mention comfort, warmth, and attention.

Sweets nursing at 2 years

I’ve heard some say that a toddler no longer “needs” to nurse after 12 months because at that age he can digest cow’s milk.  I would counter that humans, in fact, don’t “need” to drink cow’s milk at all!  Toddlers do still have a biological need for milk, but while they could drink cow’s milk after 12 months, cow’s milk is still just a substitute for their mother’s milk, just as formula milk is a substitute before 12 months. The age when a formula-fed baby no longer “needs” formula and can switch to cow’s milk is not actually equivalent to when a breastfed baby no longer “needs” breast milk. Cow’s milk is not the end goal. As long as a child still needs milk in her diet at all, I would say that that child “needs” breastmilk, though of course other milks such as formula milk and cow’s milk are adequate substitutes when this is not possible or desired.