My son’s first birthday is right around the corner, and a few people have asked me The Question.
“So, how long are you going to breastfeed?”
My response changes every time, because the truth is, I have no idea.
One year old is the age at which babies can safely digest whole cow’s milk, so non-breastfed babies may transition off formula. It’s also the age when many babies are weaned from the breast. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 1 year of breastfeeding. But there is a wealth of evidence that toddlers continue to benefit from breastfeeding beyond one year.
Here’s why I’m not weaning at one year:
- Breast milk continues to give my baby protection against illness. The American Academy of Family Physicians position paper on breastfeeding states “If the child is younger than two years, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned”.
- I’m not ready for another baby yet. The hormones of breastfeeding supress fertility, and so far, I have no signs of ovulation. At some point, it’ll come back whether I wean or not, but I’ll take as long as I can get.
- The longer I breastfeed, the more I’ll lower my future risk for breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.
- I’m thinner now than I was before pregnancy, despite eating more and exercising less, because of breastfeeding.
- My son loves nursing and he is comforted by it. He now asks to nurse in the morning and when I get home from work. He looks sweetly at me and holds up his hand, making the “milk” sign that I taught him. I love cuddling with him and how he melts in my arms when the milk starts flowing.
- Twice now, he’s been sick and refused to eat or drink anything. But he still wanted to nurse. A LOT. I’m sure it was because he felt miserable and wanted comfort, not because he was hungry. It was such a relief to have a way of keeping him hydrated and nourished. I like having this emergency food supply for him.
For more on these reasons (and more) for breastfeeding beyond a year, check out Kellymom.com’s resources about breastfeeding after the first year, with several articles and fact sheets; and Dr. Jack Newman’s article Breastfeed a Toddler – Why on Earth? addressing the normalcy and benefits of extended breastfeeding.
So how long will I breastfeed? All I know for sure is that neither of us are ready to wean yet. I hope to breastfeed at least another year. Ask me again when he turns two!
How long did you (or will you) breastfeed? How did you decide when to wean?
Great Post Christina, I like the article from Dr Jack Newman too! We are still going strong, Isabella is 14 months now. She has been very healthy and thankfully only had 2 very minor colds so far. Considering it is “normal” for babies to get something like 6-10 per year, I’d say breastfeeding has proven it’s ability to boost the immune system. She has never gotten sick when I have been sick first, so I feel sure the antibodies I produced against those illnesses were passed through my breast milk to her. She has already started the weaning process on her own, she nurses only morning and night on work days and then on and off through the day on days I am with her. So far I am letting her lead the way, because I have confidence she will wean herself at a time we can both handle. Granted I have no desire to nurse her until she’s 5, but I am hoping she will want to nurse until at least close to 2. We’ll see when we get there! Even though at times it can be hard and is not all roses and sunshine ( especially since she still wakes up at night at least 2 times to nurse ) I am happy we are still breastfeeding.
Daniel nursed for two and a half years. I weaned when I was 4 months pregnant and my milk flow was down to a trickle. Daniel continued to suckle as if he could get more out if he just tried harder… it became very uncomfortable for me. I had intended on letting him pick back up again when baby was born, but he wasn’t interested.
Another benefit of nursing a toddler–an older one, in particular–is that even a very short nursing session is like hitting a reset button on the child’s mood. Nursing worked better than any bandage, any kiss, anything, to calm a frustrated, hurt, tired, sick, etc., child.
I wish all people would read this information. My baby nursed for 2 years, and weaned herself because she was so interested in the world around her, she didn’t have the interest in nursing anymore.
I love the comment from Nicole, “a short nursing session is like hitting the reset button on a child’s mood”. I agree, and have witnessed this many times. My baby used to fall asleep at the end of nursing at nap and bedtimes, so it was easy to just put her to bed asleep. I know not all babies fall asleep after nursing, but I am sure many do, and it did make our routine easy. We’d read several books, then she nursed and fell asleep in my arms. Lovely memories.