They also recommend that breastfeeding be continued for at least the first year, with additional foods being added starting at six months. Breastfeeding for a year may not be possible for all women. Read on to learn how breastfeeding for shorter amounts of time, or how combining breastfeeding with formula, may still benefit baby. There are numerous benefits to breastfeeding even if you decide to breastfeed for just a few days. Here are some of the highlights according to the age of your child.
Experts recommend that babies are kept close to their mothers and begin breastfeeding as soon as the first hour after birth. The benefits at this time include close skin-to-skin contact for the baby and the stimulation of milk for the mother.
At first, baby receives a thick, yellow substance called colostrum. Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk and contains important nutrients and antibodies for the newborn. In the following days, the breast milk fully comes in to provide early nutrition, and may even help protect the baby from infection.
These antibodies protect against:. Moms get the benefit of feel-good hormones, oxytocin and prolactin. Together, these hormones may produce feelings of joy or fulfillment.
Women who breastfeed may also bounce back from birth faster as nursing helps the uterus contract back to its normal size more quickly. As babies enter the third month of life, breast milk continues to support the digestive system. It also provides some babies with protection against allergens found in other foods and supplements.
Continued breastfeeding may help mom burn an extra to calories per day, which can help you to maintain a healthy postpartum weight. Breastfeeding may help with internal health for mom as well.
Some research shows that nursing may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis , and cardiovascular disease. More research is needed to fully understand the connection. The benefits of breastfeeding continue even with the addition of table foods , which doctors recommend at 6 months of age.
Breast milk can continue to provide energy and protein, as well as vitamin A, iron, and other key nutrients. Not only that, but breast milk continues to protect baby against disease and illness for as long as they consume it. For mom, reaching this milestone may reduce the risk of breast cancer and other cancers, like ovarian, endometrial, and uterine cancers.
In fact, according to a report released by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research in , for every five months of breastfeeding, a woman may reduce risk of breast cancer by 2 percent. Exclusive breastfeeding may also provide up to 98 percent effective contraception in the first six months if the menstrual period has not yet returned and mom continues nightly feedings. Feeding recommendations between 6 and 12 months of age include breastfeeding on demand and offering other foods between 3 to 5 times a day.
During this time, breast milk should still be offered before meals, with table foods considered supplemental. Breastfeeding will continue to be beneficial for however long you breastfeed your baby. So, ultimately it's up to you to determine how long is too long as your child grows. Some mothers worry that breastfeeding an older child could cause psychological damage, but there is no reason to believe that breastfeeding an older child causes any problems at all.
According to the AAP, "There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychological or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer. As mentioned before, the longer you breastfeed, the greater and more long-lasting the benefits will be. Plus, long-term breastfeeding is actually associated with some positive effects. Some of the ways that mothers describe their children after breastfeeding for a longer duration of time are healthy, happy, loving, secure, and independent.
Other people have their own opinions about how long a child should breastfeed or if children should breastfeed at all. You'll find that friends, family, and even strangers may not be shy about voicing those opinions, either. And while you can listen to their advice, you certainly don't have to take it. You and your partner have to make the best decision for your child and your family. Often, friends and family come around to the idea of an older child breastfeeding.
Sometimes all it takes is a little information on the benefits of continuing to breastfeed or just letting them know what the doctor and health experts around the world recommend. The important thing is not to let others' opinions interfere with your decisions. You'll probably end up feeling worse in the end if you do what others think you should do instead of what you truly want to do.
Don't let anyone guilt you into breastfeeding longer if you're ready to stop or make you feel like you should stop nursing if you want to continue. Weaning is an important part of breastfeeding. It begins when you add another form of feeding to your baby's diet.
It might start with an occasional bottle at 6 weeks, or with that first spoonful of applesauce at 6 months. You can decide to wean off the breast completely or keep on breastfeeding long after your child starts solid foods. When you're ready to stop breastfeeding, you can even continue to give your little one breast milk. If you begin planning for the end of breastfeeding early enough, you can pump and store your breast milk in the freezer to use after you stop putting the baby to the breast.
You can give your child breast milk in a bottle or a cup well after breastfeeding has stopped. Or, you can move on to infant formula or cow's milk, depending on how old your child is when you stop breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is a personal decision. You may only feel comfortable breastfeeding for a few weeks, or you may plan to breastfeed for 6 months then end up breastfeeding a toddler. And, you know what? Whatever you end up doing is OK. When it comes to breastfeeding, there isn't a right or wrong amount of time. So, go ahead and do what's best for you and your child. Try not to worry too much and don't feel guilty if someone says you didn't breastfeed long enough or you breastfed too long.
Have confidence in your choice and the knowledge that you breastfed just the right length of time for you, your child, and your unique situation. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Starting Solid Foods. American Academy of Pediatrics. Breast surgery. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Policy Statement. Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk.
Your Privacy Rights. Your milk provides nutrients, anti-infective factors and other protective substances as long as your child continues breastfeeding. Mothers who breastfeed long- term have a still lower risk of developing breast cancer. Breastfeeding is a parenting factor which has been associated with child emotional development - in particular the attachment between children and their mothers.
Breastfeeding eases both of you through the tears, tantrums and tumbles that come with early childhood. It helps ensure that any illnesses are milder and easier to deal with. It's an all-purpose mothering tool you won't want to be without! Don't worry that your child will breastfeed forever. All children stop on their own, no matter what you do, and there are more breastfeeding youngsters around than you might guess. And whenever weaning takes place, remember that it is a big step for both of you.
Breastfeeding: an Introduction provides a basic outline of the key aspects of breastfeeding. How long should I breastfeed my baby? Breastfeeding: an introduction booklet Breastfeeding: an Introduction provides a basic outline of the key aspects of breastfeeding.
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