Nursing Babies Part 2
This is a continuation of The Council’s explanation of breastfeeding.
Questioner: How far along into the baby's life is this recommended?
The Council: That would vary with the child itself, but one should not wean a baby away too early. Also, you have to consider that as the mother breastfeeds the child she may, if we may use this term, run dry after a period of time; that is the natural cut-off point. It would not harm to feed the child, to breastfeed the child into the second or even third year, if there is a need for it. And that can be determined by the baby or the child's actions. Now it is necessary to introduce the child or the baby to outside foods, and as a mother progresses in this development, then she should keep a close eye as to whether the child craves the breastfeeding or not. If she senses or sees that there is a need, whether it is physically or emotionally, then she should continue to do so according to that need.
The thing one should keep in mind, and that is this: that from the moment of conception the soul could be there or the spirit could be there, and as long as the spirit is there or the soul is there, it is quite aware of its circumstances whether it be in the womb or out of the womb, and is quite conscious of all the affection or lack of affection, whether it be affection in touching or verbally, and as that soul's needs come into play, that affection, whether it be the touching or the verbal affection, must be fulfilled. In, shall we say, recent years there has been a decline in the breastfeeding, and of course you can look at that generation and see what has become of it. Now, of course, this is only one factor in the total picture, but that is something to consider, and it is something that each individual mother can handle and affect.
