Why You Should Breastfeed Your Toddler
The Many Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding continues to be beneficial, regardless of age, and has many added benefits after the first year, for both mother and child.
Breast Milk is Nearly Perfect in its Nutritional Value
Research shows that the fat and energy content of breast milk actually increases after the first year! Breast milk is still the perfect food for your toddler, even if it is used only in supplemental form.
One of the biggest worries in parenting a toddler is making sure they’ve eaten enough. Breastfeeding dissolves those fears, as even the pickiest toddlers, who turn their heads at nutritious solid foods, will accept a breast- and with relish!
Breastfed Toddlers are Healthier
Just as your breast milk helped your infant build a strong immune system, it continues to help your toddler form antibodies and fight off all the germs he encounters. Your milk contains an immunoglobulin (IGA) which coats the lining of the intestines, preventing germs from penetrating.
Breast milk also contains thousands of antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic factors, protecting against hundreds of infections and diseases, including E. coli, pneumonia, strep throat, Salmonella, influenza, rotavirus, rubella, West Nile virus, mumps, measles, diabetes, meningitis, and even childhood cancers, such as leukemia. These antibodies remain in your milk, no matter how old your child is.
In addition to preventing disease, studies show that breastfed toddlers have fewer ear infections, better eyesight, stronger, straighter teeth and less risk of obesity.
Breastfed Toddlers are Smarter
Breastfed babies and toddlers gain "smart fats" from breast milk, (omega-3 fatty acid or DHA). Studies show that breastfed toddlers develop speech and fine motor skills earlier and show higher IQs, increased reading comprehension, math skills, and scholastic ability, even into adolescence.
Breastfeeding Comforts Toddlers
As every breastfeeding mother knows, nursing isn’t only for nutrition. The unpredictable nature of a toddler finds its match with the calming, consistency of mother’s milk. Breastfed toddlers remain more grounded and emotionally stable than those who are not breastfed. The familiarity of nursing keeps your toddler feeling safe and calm, in his ever-changing world.
Breastfeeding is an amazing tool for calming a toddler on the verge of a tantrum, and even for lulling your little one off to sleep after an exciting day. Nothing cures a bump on the head or a scraped knee like Mama’s arms and a little breast milk.
Breastfed Toddlers Recover Quicker
Though breastfed toddlers get sick less often, all kids get sick sometimes, and if there has ever been a miracle Cure-All, it is breast milk. Because of it's make-up, often when your toddler is ill and can’t keep down solids, or even water, breast milk stays down.
Being able to breastfeed your toddler through an illness can mean a quicker recovery, less risk of dehydration and hospitalization, and less weight loss. In fact, many cultures supplement breast milk in the diets of elderly and seriously ill adults, as well.
And, again, the comfort a sick child finds at mommy’s breast is immeasurable.
Breastfeeding is Good for Mama Too!
Not only can breastfeeding reduce a mother's risk of breast, ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancers and osteoporosis, breast feeding for a period of thirteen months or more has been shown to reduce the mother's the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and the need for insulin in diabetic women.
Additionally, extended breastfeeding delays ovulation, ensuring that you don’t become pregnant before you are ready.
Studies show that most children will wean naturally between the ages of 3 and 4. Why not let nature take its course? Breastfeeding is just as beneficial, in every way, for your toddler as it was when he was an infant. So keep it up as long as you and your child are comfortable, and know that you are giving him an amazing head-start in life, mentally, physically and emotionally.
References:
Sears, Dr. William, “Extended Breastfeeding- Handling the Criticism”, Parenting.com
Steinkraus, Kyla. “Extend Breastfeeding's Benefits” Mothering Magazine, Issue 144, 2007
A Toddler Takes a Quick Nursing Break Outside
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Partners & Parents
Latest Articles