Women were born with breasts, and the primary function
of these breasts is to feed their young. The world
wide average age of weaning is around four years old
but in western culture, it has long been considered
the norm to breast feed for 6 months to a year. Fortunately
there is now beginning to be a change of heart with
even the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommending breastfeeding
for “at least 12 months and for as long thereafter
as mutually desired”. Yet there is still a problem
of seemingly well meaning friends and relations who
try to dissuade a mother from carrying on breastfeeding
her baby after just a few months. And they put forward
all sorts of invalid reasons for doing so.
In addition, breasts have become sexualized so that
they have so many other connotations that people tend
to forget that breasts were made to feed our young.
Sadly, this has affected the habit of extended breastfeeding
in western culture.
If you are breast feeding or about to start breastfeeding,
then do your own research before you make up your
mind and try not to be influenced by those who try
to put you off the idea.
Building blocks of breast feeding your baby
There are so many advantages for your baby. And you
don’t need to say beforehand “I am going
to breastfeed for such and such a time”. Take
it step by step so that if you breast feed your baby
for:
A few days and he will receive valuable colostrums,
providing antibodies and the help to get his digestive
system up and running.
4 to 6 weeks and he will have come through the most
critical period of infancy with less likelihood of
sickness or hospitalization.
3 months and his digestive system will have matured
so that he is more able to tolerate those foreign
additives in formula feeds, as well as helping to
avoid allergies and providing protection against ear
infections for a whole year.
6 months and he will be unlikely to suffer an allergic
reaction to other feeds or foods, as well as ensuring
better health in that first year, reducing the risk
of ear infections and childhood cancers. You benefit
too by reducing the risk to you of breast cancer.
Mothers and babies usually enjoy breastfeeding so
why stop an enjoyable and very beneficial relationship?
9 months and your baby will have progressed through
the most important brain and body development of his
life. He should be more alert and active than formula
fed babies.
Your breast milk contains protein, fat and all the
important nutritional and appropriate elements that
babies need, including those that help the immune
system to mature and the brain, gut and other organs
to develop and mature. Even if you are back at work
and having to express milk for your baby, while he
is in day care, he will have far fewer and less severe
infections than those children in day care who are
not breastfeeding.
1 year and he can handle most of the foods available
along with the rest of the family. He will have gained
health benefits to last him his whole life with a
stronger immune system and less likelihood of needing
orthodontia or speech therapy. Breast milk allows
your baby to fight off infections. When your baby
fights off these infections, he becomes immune but
in a totally natural way. If your baby is at all fussy
about what he eats, then you will know that breastfeeding
provides him with a nutritional boost.
18 months and he will have the benefit of a whole
new set of antibodies providing protection against
illness when this can be common in other babies. The
toddler who breast feeds is generally more independent
and more secure in this very independence because
he has received comfort and security from the breast
until he is ready to make the step himself to stop.
This decision may be at this age or at 2 years or
more.
2 years and beyond and he will continue to benefit
from antibodies and other protective substances. He
will tend to be more secure and less likely to suck
his thumb or need a blanket or comfort toy. There
is a special relationship between toddler and mother
which is a life affirming act of love. It goes beyond
the pleasure of providing food.
Appropriate behavior by your young child when he
is breastfeeding
When your baby is younger, you may well have had
to teach him not to bite when he was breast feeding.
As he grows into a toddler, then it is also a good
idea to help him learn appropriate behavior and develop
some self-control by teaching him for example that
he only gets milk at home and then only by asking
nicely. By now it should be limited to just a couple
of times per day unless he is ill or injured or very
upset about something. It is also advisable to lay
the ground rules that only mom undoes her clothing,
to avoid your toddler trying to pull off your clothes
and causing you embarrassment.
So as long as you both enjoy breastfeeding, don’t
be in too much of a hurry to give it up. You will
find that breast feeding eases frustration and smoothes
over many of the rough moments that make up a toddler’s
life. It is just the very best way for you both to
de-stress
in this modern, stressful world.
