for those of you nursing over 1 year...

I do not mean to offend anyone, I have just been wondering... why would you continue to nurse beyond the first year? If doctors tell you to switch to a sippy cup and whole milk after a year, why would you still breastfeed beyond that? I am still nursing my twins, and really have no date in mind as to when I plan on stopping, but I just assumed at 1 year we would move on to the cup/milk.
Thank you for your input!
Helen

 

The connection (bond), the relationship, it's still the best milk for them, it is still beneficial to them (see stickies above), the comfort it gives them.

My doctor has never told me to switch to whole milk or a sippy. He has stated that I *can* give them whole milk now, but why would I want to if we have a great nursing relationship?

No offense. Perfect question!

 

All of the same reasons you are nursing now!! These don't go away when they turn 1. And just like when you had the choice of bfing vs formula feeding they can have breastmilk instead of cows milk, its still even better for them

I am hoping to wean down to bfing 4 times a day so I can comfortbly not pump at work, but don't see myself completely weaning anytime soon- and I am certain they don't LOL

 

I am just not ready to stop. These are my last babies, and I didn't bf my dd1 for very long, so I am just going to take it slow and get the most out of it I can. It is healthier for them, and if I can add that layer of protection from sickness, then I am going to do that. Also on a kinda self serving level, I feel so feminine and empowered all at the same time that I can provide nourishment for my twins from my body.

 

Let me share with you a different perspective. Why would you feed a baby human milk from a cow? Cow's milk is for baby cows. Human milk is for baby humans. No other mammal weans their infants before they are ready to wean to a fully adult diet, no other mammal weans to another species' milk, and no other mammal drinks infant milk as an adult. Humans do these things for decidedly human reasons, not because they are necessary.

Also, doctors tell you to switch to whole milk and sippies at age 1 if you are bottle feeding formula. They do not (or should not) advise the same for breastfeeding mothers.

 

Ditto everything debid said! I think pedis don't want you to continue with bottles, so your little ones will learn to drink from a cup and not end up with baby bottle tooth decay. This does not apply to nursing, however. Your toddlers can drink cows milk from a cup, if you want, AND still continue to nurse. Human milk is 100 times better for them than cow's milk because it's perfectly designed to nourish human children (as opposed to cows). Breast milk changes composition over time to meet the needs of a toddler (versus infant). BM for toddlers has more antibodies than for babies, because your body compensates for the fact that you aren't nursing as often. Cow's milk has no antibodies! The infection-fighting properties of BM alone are worth nursing toddlers, IMO!

Plus, nothing can compare to the intimacy of nursing a toddler. It actually helps them become MORE independent because nursing gives them a strong sense of comfort that they know they can always return to.

It's a win-win situation for everyone! Absolutely no reason to stop at 1 year, IMO.

Michelle

 

I am surprised you didnt get more responses to this! I myself have not breastfed yet, but being a midwife in training, I have read and researched and learned a lot about it. I am definitely not going to go into a billion things here (hehe), but I just wanted to make the note that the AAP and WHO both recommend breastfeefing for longer than a year. I am absolutely not quoting that...I realized once I started typing that, that I was unsure of EXACTLY what they recommend...but I know that they do not say that stopping at one year is the best plan. Not that there is anything WRONG with stopping at one year, any BM is GREAT! I will look into that further...haha. I just wanted to give you a little "professional" (not me, haha, but the AAP and WHO) outlook on it. It is really good to be asking these kinds of questions, that is how you learn! :umm:


edited to add:
AAP says "It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."
WHO says "Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond."

HTH!

 

for comfort especially during the 15-18 month period when tantrums escalate.

 

I don't take any breastfeeding advice from my pedi. He has told me there is no benefit after the first year. HA!! Ethan contracted salmonella, still not sure of the source, at 16 months and the ONLY thing he would take was breastmilk. Dairy is a no-no with any type of diarrhea and it was severe with the salmonella. THANK GOD I was bfing.
In our case, the twins never had any sickness the first year, barely a cold, but after 12 months they seemed to constantly have something. I know for sure that every cold was kept at bay because of the antibodies in my breastmilk. Their immune system is so strong now at 18 months. They have been exposed to more colds & coughs but haven't come down with anything for a couple months now. My older son, bf for 18 months, is super healthy as well and usually by-passes the stuff going around. This was the case all year long at pre-school where bronchitis was everywhere! No bronchitis for him.

So, I guess why I continued past 12 months is because of the nutritional & health aspects of bm. It really is the best! Why give cow's milk when your milk is superior?

Great question!

BTW, we are still nursing 2x a day but have started weaning and should be done by this month.

 

I think every mom should follow her heart with this. I don't know how many moms I've seen get all weepy about weaning their 12-month-old. It doesn't have to be the case. There is nothing that makes bf'ing wonderful at 11 months 30 days and then it switches the next day and it's time for cow's milk. Moms who desire to wean at one year can be very proud of themselves for giving their babies the best start possible. Moms who enjoy nursing and their babies enjoy it shouldn't stop at some arbitrary date. It will become clear when you should wean (either your child will stop nursing or you might need to wean for your own reasons).

 

Leila - Funny you mentioned that.. We are encountering the same thing now. Maya has her first GI virus (Thomas never had one).. She has diahrreah, fever, and even vomitted twice this morning. If it wasn't for the nursing I'm sure we'd be in the hospital now for dehydration. It's the only thing she'll eat or drink. She hates everything on the BRAT diet, and pedialyte she hates also.

In a way,nursing didn't really start to get fun until after 1 year. At that point, I felt, I could stop if I wanted to, but if they ever need it, its still here (which is MULTIPLE times a day and night still) It's so nice to still not have to worry about germs the way everyone else does. The kids have so much protection, that it makes Mall, Park, etc.. outings much more stress free.


Stacy

 

I nursed my twins for 18 months. There are many benefits to longer nursing. I felt my twins were so premature that any extra push I could them in life, I would do it.
My girls are almost 3 and you would NEVER know they were preemies. They are huge, healthy and love all food. All my other children that weren't nursed as long were very picky eaters.
I'm sure the other gals will list many of the reasons that longer nursing can be a benefit. I was very upset to stop even at 18 months.

 

I just stopped nursing my girls at 22 months. They are happy, health and smart.
I think stopping when they want to is easier on both you and them. And there were times when they were sick and would only take bm... I did start whole milk at 1 year...mainly because I was able to stop pumping then and they could still get a source of calcium. Then they slowly started weaning...dropping feedings until they were down to just nighttime.

I enjoyed the bonding time we had. They would play with my hair and face and giggle and smile and are very affectionate.