Breastfeeding Older Children

Should Breastfeeding Continue Over the Age of Two?

Many mothers decide to wean their babies at six months because of preconceived ideas in society about breastfeeding older children.

When some people think of breasts, they think of them as sexual objects instead of what they really are: They are natural, beautiful parts of a woman’s body that were originally made to nourish and feed a child.

The health benefits of breastfeeding continue for as long as you breastfeed, so why not continue?

Your baby is considered a toddler, from 13 months to three years of age. The world average age of weaning is four years.

There is no perfect or right time to stop breastfeeding your baby or toddler.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding Older Children

• Breastfeeding is convenient: You do not need to wean your baby before they are ready to wean.
• Breastfeeding is calming: Have you ever heard of the terrible twos? Well, they are terrible. And in my case, it lasted a whole year! When you breastfeed a toddler, you can calm them when they start to feel overwhelmed or upset.
• A breastfeeding toddler has immune protection: As long as you are nursing a toddler, you are passing all your immunity towards illness to your child, who will benefit for years to come.
• Nutrition: If your baby does not always eat enough food (especially when are ill), at least they will continue to receive necessary nutrients… and it’s free!
• Breastfed toddlers have been found to have a higher IQ and quicker motor skill development compared to those who were only breastfed for a few months.
• A New Zealand study on breastfeeding older children (older than a year) showed fewer behavioral problems in six to eight-year-olds.

How Does Extended Breastfeeding Help Mom?

• Weight loss: Some mothers say that they just could not lose weight while breastfeeding, but then others lose the weight really quickly.
• Prolonged breastfeeding can decrease a mother’s risk of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. It also lowers the risk of Osteoporosis and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Bill Sears - The Extended Breastfeeding Debate

Breastmilk Composition

• Breast milk produced after six months contains just the right amount of protein, fat, and other elements that are appropriate for breastfeeding older children.
• A nursing toddler will receive higher amounts of immune protective factors that protect against allergies and other illnesses.
• Breast milk will continue to contain all immune system factors that help the gut, brain, and other organs mature and develop.

The Challenges of Breastfeeding a Toddler

• You might find it difficult to keep them from wanting to breastfeed and undress you in public!
• You might have to handle criticism from family, friends, and even strangers. The best thing to do is to mingle with other moms who are like-minded.

The transition away from the breast should be a gradual one for your baby and at your baby's own pace. Studies show that the majority of children will wean naturally between the ages of 3 and 4. So why not allow nature to take its course? Don’t feel pressured by others to stop breastfeeding. Do what works best for you and your toddler.

What Is the Oldest a Child Has Been Breastfed?

Charlotte Spink holds the record as the oldest known child to have been breastfed. Her mother, Sharon Spink, a mother to four children, contends that breastfeeding Charlotte until just before her tenth birthday was normal and strengthened their lifelong bond.

Is 7 Years Old Too Old to Breastfeed?

The CDC points out that the World Health Organization (WHO) also supports these guidelines, recommending the introduction of supplementary foods at six months of age and continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or even more. There is no universally prescribed age for discontinuing breastfeeding, as it varies individually.

How Long Can Women Produce Milk?

When a woman ceases to express milk, her breasts may stop lactating until she becomes pregnant again. Medical experts at AMRI Hospitals, a leading healthcare facility in Kolkata, state that a woman can continue to produce breast milk for decades—twenty, thirty years or even longer—as long as there is a sustained demand for it.

Can a Woman Breastfeed Indefinitely?

From a medical standpoint, there's no reason women can't lactate indefinitely or engage in 'tandem feeding,' which involves breastfeeding more than one child. In theory, some women can nourish up to five infants simultaneously.