Australian actress Teresa Palmer has no plans to stop nursing her 2-year-old son, Bodhi. “It’s strange to me to think that we now fall under the ‘extended breast-feeding’ label. He still seems like such a baby to me and is still very dependent on me for so many things,” the Your Zen Mama blogger wrote on Monday, July 11. “But having his boobies is certainly his favorite activity and I assume it will be for much longer.”
The Triple 9 star, 30, and her director husband, Mark Webber, welcomed the little boy in February 2014.
In her lengthy post, Palmer noted that Bodhi also eats a wide variety of food. “I would suggest he breast-feeds mostly for comfort and a feeling of connection,” she explained. “I am personally really inspired by the idea of letting Bodhi choose how long he breast-feeds.”
But not everyone sees the beauty in their bonding. “The social discrimination against women who breast-feed their older toddler can be immense,” she wrote. “I know women who won’t feed their 2-year-old in public for this reason. From dirty looks, to whispers and nasty comments, it is downright bullying.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast-feeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life, but Mayim Bialik nursed her son until he was 4, while Kelly Rutherford nursed hers until he was 3.
Palmer went on to cite Dr. Katherine A. Dettwyler, an anthropology professor at the University of Delaware, who believes that the longer a child breast-feeds, the higher his or her IQ score and school grades will be later in life.
“From her years of research she has concluded that the most beneficial and natural time to wean from the breast is between the ages of 2.5 and 7 years old dependent of weight and dental eruption among other factors,” the actress continued.
Before signing off, Palmer offered some advice to other extended breast-feeding moms: “Keep listening to your mama voice and allow that to be the loudest voice you hear.”
