Breastfeeding Toddlers

As the baby is born, a new challenge presents itself and that is raising the infant. Breastfeeding can begin an hour or two after giving birth as long as there are no problems with the baby and the mother. This should continue on for the first 6 months and can continue on up to one year or until such time that the mother thinks that other liquids can already be given.

Lately, some people have questioned and believe that breastfeeding can continue on until the baby becomes a toddler. As a baby grows older, multivitamins are given to in the form of medicine to fight against diseases. It has been tested that children who continue to be breastfed tend to get sick fewer times and recover much quicker than children who are longer breastfed.

This is because the milk that comes from the mother has the right concentration of fat, water, protein, sugar and antibodies which protect the toddler from harmful bacteria and viruses and helps defend against disease and infection better than any medicine available in the market.

Other benefits of breastfeeding are;

1. It provides time for the mother to bond with the baby giving a sense of security, warmth and comfort and strengthen the relationship between the two.

2. Breastfeeding helps burns calories making the mother lose the excess pounds gained during pregnancy.

3. This gives time for the uterus of the mother to return back to its original size and stops the bleeding that usually happens after giving birth.

4. Studies have also shown that breastfeeding reduced the risk of cancer in the breast and the ovaries.

5. Breastfeeding helps the toddler grow normally and avoid becoming overweight or obese in the future.

6. Lastly, toddlers who have been breastfed have shown to score higher in IQ tests compared to kids who did not.

7. Breastfeeding until the child is ready to wean promotes emotional growth. This has been noticed by parents and pediatricians who have seen these children grow up to emotionally secure and independent.

Breastfeeding may become a bit awkward for mothers as the infant becomes a toddler. For this, one can still continue breastfeeding with an aid of a breast pump. This may cost a lot or not depending on the model the person wants to buy and if it is done either manually or electronically.

Choosing a breast pump depends on the lifestyle of the mother. If that person is just going shopping for a few hours leaving the baby at home, then it is ok to just get a manual pump. However if the mother still decides to work even after the child is born then it is best to get an electronic one.

Breastfeeding equipment can be bought in a baby specialty store, the department store or from the hospital. This can also be rented if that person does not want to buy one. This can also be ordered from the internet and shipped to the mother in a few days.

Using a pump to extract milk instead of giving it from the breast of the mother is perfectly all right since the infant is still able to get the right amount of nutrients for the baby’s growth and development. Solid foods can be combined with breastfeeding using the pump or from the breast as the baby gets bigger.