There are many benefits to breastfeeding beyond a year :
- Your baby continues to get the immunological advantages of human milk, during a time when he/she is increasingly exposed to infection. Breastfed toddlers are healthier overall.
-When they are upset, hurt, frightened, or sick, you have a built in way to comfort them. Often a sick child will accept breastmilk when they refuse other foods.
-Many of the medical benefits of breastfeeding (lower cancer risk in mother and baby, for example) are dose related – in other words, the longer you breastfeed, the greater the protective effects.
-Human milk offers protection for the child who is allergic.
-Mothering a toddler is challenging enough – nursing makes the job of caring for and comforting them easier. There is no better way to ease a temper tantrum, or put a cranky child to sleep than by nursing.
– Nursing provides closeness, security, and stability during a period of rapid growth and development.
– Letting your baby set the pace for weaning spares you the unpleasant task of weaning he or she before they are ready.
The World Health Organisation Strategy (2003) states
"Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond . Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production.”
Your baby, Your choice how long you choose to feed...
For loads more fab posts why not visit
- Respectable Breast Spectable
- Pobbing Along
- Pea Musings
- Natural Mamas
And all of the wonderful companies taking part providing fabulous prizes, especially Babasling, who are giving away two Slings one each on Hex Mum and Breast 4 Babies
I am currently breastfeeding an 11 month old, I have decided to continue past a year but not decided when we will stop.
ReplyDeleteI fed my first for 16 months and am currently feeding number 2, at present we're at 10 months, would love to get to 2 or beyond :)
ReplyDelete(molly smith}
I breastfed my daughter for 19 months, we're currently 18 months with no sing of stopping with my son.... we'll stop when we are both ready hopefully
ReplyDeleteCurrently at 11 months but no plans to stop any time soon. So long as were both happy I don't see the problem! :)
ReplyDeleteI fed my first for 15 months I think. It was her decision to stop. I always had a year in my head but got there and it seemed arbitry and irrelevent. Why should I stop breastfeeding my daughter because we'd reached a certain date on the calender!?! This time round I'm 9 months in at about 6 months I was finally able to stop saying give it another week and it'll get easier and now it is easier and the little man is taking well to solids I know he'll stop before I'm ready too but I have to except that as their decision.
ReplyDeleteI breastfed DS for 13 months.
ReplyDeleteI breastfed DD for 17 months.
Currently breastfeeding DS 5 months
Still feeding DS1 at 34 months and DD2 at 7 months. Would like to let them self-wean but I think I might be ready significantly before DS :(
ReplyDeleteI will feed until she is self-weaning or we run into serious problems. Up till now we haven't had any issues and I am happily feeding for 7 months.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is 27 months and will wean when she's ready.
ReplyDeleteI was always so glad that I was still breastfeeding whenever one of my little ones got sick. Such a shock to the system the first time they were ill after we stopped though - I was kind of at a loss for what to do! You don't realise how useful breastfeeding is for a whole range of reasons until you stop doing it, I think!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed the hunt! from Lauren @ www.mummyisagadgetgeek.co.uk
22 months and still going strong.
ReplyDelete