Is Extended Breastfeeding Good or Bad For Your Baby?

Extended breastfeeding is a term used when you are breastfeeding a child that is more than a year old. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines extended breastfeeding as “any breastfeeding after the age of 6 months and up to two years or beyond”.

In other countries, feeding a child beyond the first 12 months is common. For example, the number of women who breastfeed their children beyond 12 months is: 99% in Nepal, 98% in Malawi, 97% in Zambia, 96% in Ghana. You can go to this UNICEF site for more worldwide breastfeeding statistics. In North America, breastfeeding an older child is somewhat rare. Perhaps “rare” is not the right word. It certainly occurs, but you don’t SEE it very often because women nurse their children in private.

Some North Americans perceive extended breastfeeding as being “not right”. They have the misconception that there is a sexual relationship (or the potential of a sexual relationship) between mother and child. North Americans are just not used to seeing an older child latched onto his mother’s breast. In fact, there is nothing wrong with extended breastfeeding.

Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

There are many benefits associated with extended breastfeeding such as improved cognitive development in children, decreased risk of allergies, infections and illness among others but there are also some risks associated with it as well.

Mostly the benefits of extended breastfeeding are the same as those for breastfeeding a baby under one year of age. Breast milk contains:

• nutrients (for energy and growth),
• antibodies (for immunity)
• vitamins (for growth and development).

Thus, extended breastfeeding continues to give him the nutritional benefits of breast milk. Breast milk may not be crucial for an older child since North American have relatively good diets (compared to for example, the diet of a child in a poor, developing country).

However, extended breastfeeding offers emotional benefits too. It:

• soothes a child when he is upset or sad;
• gives a child comfort when he is sick or unwell;
• allows him to connect & bond with you after a day of play & learning;
• allows a child to become independent and have more self confidence before he is weaned.

Problems with Extended Breastfeeding

Can extended breastfeeding be harmful? According to the WHO, there is evidence suggesting an association between prolonged breastfeeding and iron deficiency anaemia in infants aged 6-9 months old who are exclusively breastfed due to insufficient iron intake through their diet alone unless fortified cereals are introduced early on at 4-6 months of age.

Other risks associated with extended breastfeeding include:

• Infections such as mastitis and thrush if a mother is not properly hygienic when breastfeeding
• Low milk supply if a mother’s diet does not provide enough nutrients for her body to make enough milk for her child
• Nutrient deficiencies if the mother’s diet does not provide enough nutrients for her body to make enough milk for her child
• Weaning issues if a mother is not properly prepared for weaning
• A mother’s emotional health can be affected by extended breastfeeding if she has to deal with criticism due to her choice
• A mother may have to deal with criticism due to her choice
• Sleep deprivation if a baby is breastfeeding every two hours at night

The first and foremost problem that mothers experience when breastfeeding an older child is disapproval. Most people in North America are surprised to find that you are still breastfeeding a child older than one year old. Friends and family may express concern and ask questions which inadvertently make you feel bad about continuing to breastfeed. Strangers in public spaces may be offended at your decision to breastfeed an older child and voice their concern in a harsh and accusing tone.

To avoid these problems, you can breastfeed an older child in the privacy of your own home (only). This will allow you to continue breastfeeding without having to deal with criticism. Teach your child to say something else (like “I want a hug at home”) instead of yelling “Mommy, I want breast milk now!”

Problems with Extended Breastfeeding – weaning your baby

Another problem is that it is often very difficult to wean an older child. He understands that your breasts are available – they have been available for as long as he remembers – so why stop now? He does not understand or want to relinquish that special relationship between you and him. Unlike babies, an older child is more verbose and can whine, argue, and negotiate for days and days.
Some children can be bribed. For example, he will stop nursing and in exchange you will buy him a substantial toy that he has wanted for a long time.

For those who cannot be convinced to wean, you can try to initiate weaning during a major event such as:

•  going on a long trip,
•  family or friends coming to visit and stay,
•  him starting preschool or kindergarten.

You may use these events as an excuse as to why he can no longer breastfeed. As well, the excitement of travel or visitors may distract him enough for him to forget about breastfeeding. Once weaned, he will not go back to the breast.

What is the longest a mother can breastfeed?

A mother can breastfeed her child for as long as she wishes, but this does not mean that she needs to. The WHO says that “exclusively breastfeeding from birth until six months of age and continuing with complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond” is recommended for optimal infant growth, development and health. It should be noted that exclusive breastfeeding means that no other liquids or foods are given to the infant during this time period.

The World Health Organization recommends that mothers breastfeed their children exclusively for six months, then continue breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods until the child is two years old. But many mothers choose to continue breastfeeding past that point.

Extended Breastfeeding – summary

The current research on extended breastfeeding isn’t clear on whether it’s harmful to your child or yourself. Some studies show that extended breastfeeding can be beneficial in several ways: It may help your child gain immunity against certain illnesses, lower their risk for allergies and asthma, and reduce their risk for diabetes later in life. However, there are also some studies that show some negative effects of extended breastfeeding on the mother’s health—for example, it may increase her risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer.

There are no current recommendations about how long mothers should breastfeed their children for, as it largely depends upon each family’s unique circumstances and needs at any given time. However, we do know that it’s possible to breastfeed too much—and that overfeeding can lead to weight gain (which could be problematic if you’re breastfeeding a toddler).