Many women around the world are making the choice to extend breastfeeding beyond the traditional ‘cut off point’ of one year old.
There are many benefits to this decision. First, you can be sure that your child is still getting the very best nutrition available. Then there’s the closer relationship that you have with your child, and for you, the benefit of a reduced risk of pre menopausal breast cancer, osteoporosis, and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding will continue to be an invaluable sourvce of nutrition and disease protection for as long as breastfeeding continues. Toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses that last for shorter periods of time. Breastfeeding children have fewer allergies as the later a baby is exposed to a potential allergen the less likely it is that they will suffer an allergic reaction.
This type of weaning also allows children to decide when they are ready to give up breastfeeding, and is called ‘child led’ or self-weaning. It’s fast becoming a favourite among child specialists around the world.
There are many benefits to this decision. First, you can be sure that your child is still getting the very best nutrition available. Then there’s the closer relationship that you have with your child, and for you, the benefit of a reduced risk of pre menopausal breast cancer, osteoporosis, and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding will continue to be an invaluable sourvce of nutrition and disease protection for as long as breastfeeding continues. Toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses that last for shorter periods of time. Breastfeeding children have fewer allergies as the later a baby is exposed to a potential allergen the less likely it is that they will suffer an allergic reaction.
This type of weaning also allows children to decide when they are ready to give up breastfeeding, and is called ‘child led’ or self-weaning. It’s fast becoming a favourite among child specialists around the world.
It is important that you remember that breastfeeding past the first year is perfectly normal and that you are giving your child the best possible start in life. Of course, there may be people who think it’s odd, however, that’s probably more about their issues, and less about you. If you can manage to breastfeed your toddler, and it is something you want to do then there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t.
Learn more about breastfeeding and toddlers
