Is 4 too old to be breastfed? That depends on the child. The World Health Organization states that children should be breastfed or at least 2 years, and beyond that for as long as is mutually wanted by both parent and child. Not all children advance at the same rate, some potty train early, some walk late, some crawl early, and some wean later. As with most milestones in life there is no buzzer that will ding when time is up. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... 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." (AAP 2005). The many health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychological, social, economic, and environmental benefits continue for both mother and child despite society's opinions on extended breastfeeding.

Biologically, 4 years is still in the normal range for humans. The book Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives contains a wonderful section called "A Time to Wean: The Hominid Blueprint for a Natural Age of Weaning in Modern Human Populations." by Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D. Dr Dettwyler is an award winning anthropologist, professor, and breastfed her daughter until she was 4 years old. In the section Dettwyler compares various primates, including humans, to find what the biological norm would be for humans. She found that the natural age for modern humans based on our size, development, and life span is between 2.5 years and 7 years. A child still nursing at 4 years old is normal, natural, and OK.

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