The bottle is not the breast...

The other day I posted on Facebook about people needing to mind their own business about women choosing to nurse their toddlers.

I am still nursing my 23 month old and have had a few people, including family, tell me ...
"Don't you think its time to stop?"
"If she's asking for it, she doesn't need it."
"Don't you think that will mess up her teeth?"
As a matter of fact, I don't agree with any of those. I have taught her to let me know when she needs to use the potty. I have taught her to say please. I have taught her to ask for food.
Shouldn't she learn to ask for milk as well?
And there is absolutely no valid reason for her to stop.
I have read all of the most recent studies about breastfeeding, and continued breastfeeding. At no point in a person's life does breast milk stop being beneficial. Sorcha is still sharing my immunities. She is still getting the most perfect nutrition developed specifically for her. She is still benefiting form the quiet time she and I share. We are still bonding.
Why would I deny her that?
If these people would only look at the miracle that is breastmilk!

Anyway. After having several breastfeeding mothers and supporters back me up on my post, my ignorant ass stepmother chimed in about people making comments about her grandson (whom she is raising with my dad) still being on the bottle at 2 years old.

THE BOTTLE IS NOT THE SAME AS BREASTFEEDING

The natural nipple is actually healthy for the development of a child's teeth, soft palate and jaw. Breast milk not only contains a component that actually kills the germs that cause tooth decay, the nipple goes far enough back in the mouth that the milk actually doesn't get on the teeth. And when a baby falls asleep, they don't keep the nipple in their mouth (well, unless the mother also falls asleep, but trust me, it will wake her up once those teeth chomp down!)
An artificial nipple, no matter the design, causes the mouth to form an unnatural shape and can cause buck teeth and malformed soft palate. Almost all toddlers still using a bottle drinks mainly juice. Sugar filled juice. There is not a single benefit to using a bottle at any point in a child's life.
Why would anyone even compare the two?
Being a nurse she should know that bottles are bad for his teeth!

I just don't understand some people's thought processes sometimes.