By Now that we have all come around to the fact that breastfeeding is best, there is still some debate as to what the most appropriate period of time should be that breastfeeding should continue. The time period can vary greatly depending on who you speak to but there are some facts that most experts do agree on.
1. The First Six Months
It is highly recommended that infants under the age of 6 months are exclusively breastfed. This means no formula, solid food or even water should be given to the baby. The reason for this is that breast milk provides for all an infant’s nutritional needs as well as some extra benefits such as antibiotics and an immune system booster.
However, not all moms are able to fulfill this 6-month ideal and need to return to work or simply aren’t producing enough milk to sustain the infant. In these cases, expressing breast milk is still advisable while supplementing with formula and breastfeeding exclusively for as long as possible within the first 6 months is highly recommended.
2. The First Year
At about 6 months, it is recommended to start introducing soft, solid foods to the baby’s diet as breast milk alone may no longer be sufficient to meet nutritional needs. However, breast feeding is still recommended even if you are expressing the milk. It is also advisable to add breast milk to cereal or other foods if possible.
At about 6 months, the other beneficial properties of breast milk also begin to wane. This means that it is important to ensure that baby is getting all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in to continue growing and thriving. The amount of feeds should reduce as the infant starts eating more and requiring breast milk less.
3. Two Years
Many moms prefer to wean a baby at 12 months but according to the World Health Organization, it is recommended to continue with breast milk until a baby is at least two years old. At this age, the baby’s body should have built up a strong immune system and be eating all the food groups to meet their nutritional needs.
Continuing breast feeding after two years can be detrimental to baby, especially on an emotional level where they stay dependent on mom for longer than necessary. It can also have a negative impact on mom as she may start to suffer from nutritional deficiencies never mind the fact that baby now has teeth and the process can be quite painful.
If possible, it is not recommended to express milk and bottle feed as this can result in dental issues arising. Should you be supplementing feeds with formula during this time, it is far better to do so in cup than a bottle.
Keep in mind that weaning is a process whether you choose to do so in the first few months or at 2 years. It is recommended to give your body as well as baby the time necessary to adapt both physically and emotionally to discontinuing breast feeding.
