Deciding to breastfeed is a wonderful decision for you and your baby. Start as soon as you can after birth.
Aim to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months. This means giving your baby no other food or drinks other than breast milk. When you and your baby have learned the skill of breastfeeding, it becomes easier every day.
Every day of breastfeeding benefits your baby. You do not need to decide at the start how long you will continue breastfeeding for.
Why breastfeeding is important
How long to breastfeed for
There are no rules on when to finish breastfeeding. All mothers and babies are different. If you can, continue for 2 years or more.
Include safe and suitable solid foods in your child's diet after 6 months. Introducing your baby to solid foods is also known as weaning.
Breast milk provides key nutrients such as proteins, fats and vitamins - even after the first year of life.
Many of the immune boosting properties in your breast milk also increase in the second year. The World Health Organization strongly encourages breastfeeding beyond infancy.
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Breastfeeding for longer
Children who are breastfed for longer have lower risks of chest, ear and tummy infections. This benefits children in childcare and can stop them getting ill as often. It also protects against them being overweight.
Research shows that breast milk contains more antibodies when your child is a toddler. This can help to protect them as they become more mobile.
In your child's second year (12 to 23 months), 448ml or 15oz of breast milk provides:
- 29% of their energy requirements
- 43% of their protein requirements
- 36% of their calcium requirements
- 75% of their vitamin A requirements
- 76% of their folate requirements
- 94% of their vitamin B12 requirements
- 60% of their vitamin C requirements
Benefits of breastfeeding for you
Breastfeeding has huge health benefits for mothers.
Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis (weakened bones).
It also reduces the risk of:
- breast cancer
- ovarian cancer
- uterine cancer
- endometrial cancer
- rheumatoid arthritis
- cardiovascular disease
Breastfeeding is also useful for birth spacing (how soon after pregnancy you get pregnant again). This is because it stops ovulation and delays the return of your periods.
Why breastfeeding is important
Benefits of extended breastfeeding
Extended breastfeeding is sometimes called natural term breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding your toddler beyond infancy:
- promotes strong attachment
- is a chance to have quality time together
- makes it easier to go out and about, or travel
- means you do not have to carry feeding equipment or worry about keeping supplies fresh and germ-free
- means less packaging to get rid of, which is better for the environment
Challenges of extended breastfeeding
You may face certain challenges when you breastfeed your toddler.
As your toddler becomes very active (walking, running, bouncing), you may need to get used to ‘gymnastic nursing'. This is where toddlers constantly move around during feeding. They like to see what else they can do while they nurse.
Always make sure you are comfortable to avoid your nipple becoming damaged from the way the baby is latched and moving.
When you introduce solid foods, there will be a natural decline in your milk supply. Your supply adjusts to your toddler’s demand.
With the return of your period, you may feel your breasts and nipples are more sensitive than usual during ovulation.
Returning to work
You can continue to breastfeed when you return to work.
There are plenty of ways you can continue to combine work and breastfeeding. Tell your manager at least 4 weeks prior to returning to work. You can discuss with them how to take breastfeeding breaks. This will help you plan ahead.
Talking to other mothers who managed breastfeeding and work is also helpful.