Breastfeeding older babies and toddlers I’m under pressure from my family to stop breastfeeding my two year old, how do I deal with that? Are there any benefits of feeding older babies and toddlers? How often should I breastfeed my older baby/toddler? Back to the Question and answer index I’m under pressure from my family to stop breastfeeding my two year old, how do I deal with that? There is no age when toddlers should stop breastfeeding, it’s up to the mother and child to decide. Mothers can talk with their families about the benefits (see below) for her child and for her. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and after that, 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. Contact a local La Leche League group, or Well Child provider, for support. Back to top Are there any benefits of feeding older babies and toddlers? Yes there are. Breastfeeding beyond the first year of life makes a positive nutritional and health contribution along with increasing amounts of complementary foods. Benefits of breastfeeding and breastmilk for the toddler: Continues to protect the toddler from acute and chronic illnesses and reduce the risk of chronic disease (such as diabetes and obesity) in later life. Provides energy, essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Is often desirable during episodes of diarrhoea and fever when the infant’s appetite for other foods decreases and it is useful in such instances for preventing dehydration and providing essential nutrients for recovery. May provide additional protection for children with allergies. Enhances the mother and infant relationship and promotes brain development, both of which are important for the toddler's overall development. Benefits of continued breastfeeding for the mother: The longer mothers breastfeed for the lower their risk of hip fractures due to weak bones when they are older. Continued breastfeeding supports weight loss and healthy weight achievement in mothers. A longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with a delay in natural fertility. Provides probable protection against breast cancer. Back to top How often should I breastfeed my older baby/toddler? There is no set number of times to breastfeed an older baby/toddler. Be guided by them. If mother and baby are together during the day, then they are likely to breastfeed a few times during the day, when the baby is hungry or thirsty. If mother and baby are not together during the day, then the mother can breastfeed her baby at beginning and end of the day. This can be a nice way to have some special time with baby. Up to the age of one, breast milk or infant formula is the most important nutrient source, once baby is one year old they should be eating a variety of foods and textures and be eating family foods, assuming that the family food environment provides a variety of appropriate and adequate foods. Baby will need three meals and two snacks each day. Baby also need to be offered drinks regularly. Back to top Back to the Question and answer index Website feedback We welcome your feedback on this page.

Where to get help Midwives Healthline - 0800 611 116 Well Child La Leche League More information on these and other breastfeeding help providers...

Page last reviewed: 31 July 2008