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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Remind me of the benefits of bf past 2 years

6 replies

Rosebud05 · 16/05/2011 23:14

DD self-weaned at 2 and a bit years when ds was born. Ds nearly 2, feeds in the morning and evening and sometimes day if I'm around. Is this still beneficial to him does anyone know? If so, how?

OP posts:
Penthesileia · 16/05/2011 23:31

Would you otherwise give him cow's milk as a healthy drink? Breastmilk is obviously more appropriate and healthier for a human child than cow's milk, so if you are happy with the idea that cow's milk has desirable nutritional qualities, you should be happy that breastmilk confers even more.

For example, kellymom quotes a study by Dewey (2001) which suggests (I have not read the Dewey study) that "in the second year (12-23 months), 448 ml of breastmilk provides:

29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements"

These nutritional qualities presumably remain present in breastmilk after 2, though the proportion of each nutrient, etc., will diminish in relation to the increased volume of solid food a 2+ yo will eat.

kellymom also cites a number of articles which discuss the immunological qualities of breastmilk, even beyond 2:

"Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986).
"Antibodies are abundant in human milk throughout lactation" (Nutrition During Lactation 1991; p. 134). In fact, some of the immune factors in breastmilk increase in concentration during the second year and also during the weaning process. (Goldman 1983, Goldman & Goldblum 1983, Institute of Medicine 1991)."

For my DD (2.11) at least, the benefits of bf-ing seem largely to be psychological or emotional. Nowt wrong with that as a benefit, I suppose!

AngelDog · 17/05/2011 06:58

I think there's been only limite research on bf past 2 years which is why all the info explains about the benefits of under 2 years.

I suspect the emotional benefits and the immunological protection are probably the biggest benefits. And of course, some people have situations where their toddler gets ill and refuses all food/drink except breastmilk.

OppositeOfBlooming · 17/05/2011 07:02

I think with my case study of 1, I can confirm that when dd self-weaned at 3.4ish, she had more viruses, certainly found them harder to fight. Myriad factors of course affecting this but not having the failsafe of a bf to keep her hydrated when ill was a shock.

The comfort and pleasure she derived from it were tangible benefits.

But I do think the main reason you continue is because the child wants to and you are happy to offer that. It's no use plodding on because you think you 'should', not past 2 years. That way resentment lies.

WoTmania · 17/05/2011 11:21

The best thing for me? I was so totally ready for DS2 to stop (he has recently stopped, I think, at 3.11) whereas a lot of my friends who pushed weaning before 2-3 still feel some nostalgia/regret about stopping. I, on the other hand, am deeeelighted that he's finaly stopped.

ReshapeWhileDamp · 18/05/2011 15:38

I think the best thing about it is the emotional benefit - and another tool to add to your toddler taming armoury! Grin

lizzytee · 18/05/2011 16:36

Because when I come home from work and DD2 climbs on to my knee and says "Mah!" it's the best bit of my day.

At 2am, OTH..........Biscuit

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