How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby?
Children, unfortunately don’t come with a manual, although maybe they should. Having a baby is a new experience for every mother, and every baby is different. You will have some concerns about the best way to assure that they get good care.
Nursing an older baby is not always done, but in many cases keeping your baby nursing as long as possible is good for the baby and offers your older child as many benefits as it does to a newborn infant.
What many mothers do not know and are not told is that breast feeding benefits are cumulative. What this means is that the longer you breast feed, the more benefits your baby will take from the nursing.
Breastfeeding longer means that you will offer your older baby little or no formula or bottles. The benefits of your nursing are going to continue to grow the longer that you nurse.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that breastfeeding exclusively for the beginning six months of a child's life is extremely important. They also recommend that you breastfeed if you can for the first year. If you and your baby desire to nurse longer then do so.
There have been many studies that show that breast feeding can lower your baby's risk of developing diabetes. It may also lower the risk of getting some types of cancer along with heart disease. Nursing your baby can increase their ability to fight off certain childhood diseases as well. Nearly every day science discovers new advantages of nursing your child.
Don't forget to include yourself in those benefits too. Even very short term nursing can lower your risk of getting breast cancer and osteoporosis. The benefits seem to increase for you the longer that you nurse too.
Breastfeeding your older infant isn’t always seen as a positive thing by society at large. You may feel pressured by family members or friends to stop nursing after the age of six months. If you and your baby are comfortable nursing longer, continue to do so. The benefits of what you are doing far outweigh the criticism of the less open minded members of your social circle.
