|
"Is My Child Too Old to Still be Breastfeeding?"
Are you getting strange
stares when you nurse your 18 month old in public? Are
friends or family commenting on the fact that your two
year old is still nursed to sleep? Are you worried that
your child will become overly clingy or that it will
just be too hard to keep it up when you return to work?
You're not the first mother to think
about this. The right time to stop nursing your child
will vary depending on you, your child, local custom
and physical factors. If you would like to continue
breastfeeding past the first year and feel that you
are facing harassment or feelings of embarrassment,
consider some of these issues:
"WHO Recommends Breastfeeding for
Two Years or More"
The trend in many Western societies
since World War II was to trust science and technology
over nature when it came to feeding your child. Many
mothers of the following generations nursed for a very
short time, or not at all.
Thankfully science has caught up with
nature and research proves that the health benefits
of breast milk go far beyond what standard formulas
can do for your child.
While not all countries encourage breastfeeding
past the first year, WHO (World Health Organization)
states "As a global public health recommendation,
infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first
six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development
and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional
requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate
and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues
for up to two years of age or beyond."
"Your Child WON'T Become Clingy"
Opposed to what many of your friends
or family may say, research actually stands in your
favor. Extended breastfeeding does not make toddlers
more clingy - a typical trait of most toddlers anyhow
- but will engender a healthy self-confidence.
The world is overwhelming enough for
young children. Knowing they can find comfort in breastfeeding
while learning new things will help them move easily
from one new phase to another. Your child won't nurse
forever - when the time is right to stop, for either
of you, you'll know.
"Working and Breastfeeding Can
Work"
Workplaces are taking recommendations
seriously that provisions be made for nursing mothers.
Whether that means asking for several breaks to pump
milk, or to be allowed access to a private area, you
may find the government backing up your request.
You may also find that as your child
gets older you are both satisfied with morning and evening
breastfeeding sessions. Your body should adapt to the
new schedule fairly quickly. If your milk begins to
dry up, or you've had low milk production, you may want
to talk to your doctor about your decision.
Don't forget that extended breastfeeding
may prevent the return of menstruation for a longer
time, but is not a good form of birth control as it
is unpredictable when your period will return. Stopping
nursing for an extended period of time can be just enough
to bring it back.
Whatever your decision, breastfeeding
is a special time that can't be repeated with your child.
While you may have to deal with comments or stares you
can feel good knowing it is healthy for them physically
and emotionally. You may adapt how and where you nurse,
but as long as you also want to continue you should
find a way to make it work.
1howto.com
--------------------------------------------------
Please
Share Your Tips with Us
|
