Breastfeeding past 1 year...

[Rosie604]

Okay, let me start by saying that I am a breastfeeding mother. My daughter is almost 7 months old and I have enjoyed breastfeeding and all of its benefits. I also hope that nobody takes extreme offense to this post. However, I was wondering if there is an actual science behind only breastfeeding at night? I'm not talking about immune system benefits, more sleep, better sleep cycle, blah blah blah. I'm talking about why it would be necessary to breastfeed a child ONLY at night so that a mother can work or do whatever else during the day. I just don't understand why if the child doesn't NEED my milk during the day, why do they all of a sudden need it to survive once the sun goes down??? Is it a matter of personal preference? Is there a scientific answer? Anyone?

 

[YoshiPikachu]

Breastfeeding is good all day long.

 

[gingmg]

I'm not totally sure I understand your post. Toddlers need roughly 12-20 ounces of milk or milk products between years 1 and 2. Some moms may have very busy toddlers who won't nurse during the day but will at night. If these moms do not want to give cows milk, they may like this arrangement of co-sleeping and night nursing. Is that what you mean?

 

[Rosie604]

That does clear it up a bit, yes. I just meant that it doesn't make much sense to me why you would nurse at all if your child doesn't NEED it. I mean, clearly they don't need it to survive anymore, like with newborns, since they are eating/drinking different things throughout the day, so why would you nurse at night? I feel like it creates a co-dependent child that is too attached to their mother. Again, this post isn't meant to offend anyone, I'm just trying to get a better understanding. So if anyone has anything in mind to say that would clear this up for me, I'd appreciate it.

 

[broodymrs]

They still need some milk and can't have cows milk until they're 1 so if you didn't bf it would have to be formula. I guess it comes down to personal preference whether the milk intake comes from formula or you

 

[Shandelion]

Lol, I've never heard of only feeding at night. How silly. A child eats when he eats. It has benefits no matter what time of day. My 21 month old son is nursing to sleep as I speak, for his noon nap.

 

[bundle4me]

I think people still like to give the benefits of Breast milk so even if it's just at night but they have cows milk thru the day they are still at some point getting your milk so the benefits of antibodies etc (I'm guessing) my ds bf for 24 months and only really at night after a year but this was only cos I couldn't get the little monkey off and onto any other milk or bottle or cup. Dd is 5 months and I'm hoping by 1 I can put her on cows and only cows so I can have my boobies back lol

 

[kittylady]

My le leche league leader 'day weaned' her baby and only gave night feeds as they preferred it and it is totally possible. Breastmilk is highly calorific, especially in the first 2 years babys need a high calorie intake in order to facilitate their rapid growth and breastmilk easily meets this need. I did used to give cows milk to my eldest but my youngest is lactose intolerant and if I go out on the odd occasion she doesn't have milk that day and shes fine.

 

[BrittRashel]

Breastmilk still has many health benefits past a year old. I am hoping to allow this baby to self wean when he is ready for that reason. As a PP said, a lot of toddlers are very active and don't ask for it during the day but they still night nurse. True it is no longer there main source of nourishment, it is mostly for comfort at that point but there isn't really anything wrong with that. To me it would be the same as popping a pacifier in their mouth. It really is to each their own though.

 

[staralfur]

That does clear it up a bit, yes. I just meant that it doesn't make much sense to me why you would nurse at all if your child doesn't NEED it. I mean, clearly they don't need it to survive anymore, like with newborns, since they are eating/drinking different things throughout the day, so why would you nurse at night? I feel like it creates a co-dependent child that is too attached to their mother. Again, this post isn't meant to offend anyone, I'm just trying to get a better understanding. So if anyone has anything in mind to say that would clear this up for me, I'd appreciate it.

What? I don't get it. Technically your baby doesn't need to nurse at all. There are bottles and formula. People nurse because they feel it's the best choice for their baby and themselves. That doesn't automatically stop once a baby starts eating solids and doesn't need milk to survive anymore. Breastmilk offers nutritional and health benefits for as long as you provide it.

I don't know about you, but my nursing relationship with my daughter extended way past "food source." It comforted her, it helped her calm down before sleep, it made her feel better when she was sick, etc. So I nursed her on demand until she was 2 and then continued to nurse at naps and bedtime until she was 3. I now have a very independent almost 4 year old who has a secure attachment to me.

 

[noon_child]

That does clear it up a bit, yes. I just meant that it doesn't make much sense to me why you would nurse at all if your child doesn't NEED it. I mean, clearly they don't need it to survive anymore, like with newborns, since they are eating/drinking different things throughout the day, so why would you nurse at night? I feel like it creates a co-dependent child that is too attached to their mother. Again, this post isn't meant to offend anyone, I'm just trying to get a better understanding. So if anyone has anything in mind to say that would clear this up for me, I'd appreciate it.

There are many health benefits for Mum (the longer you nurse it seems the more protected Mum is from breast and ovarian cancers) and baby (there are antibody spikes at various ages past age 1, not just newborn colostrum, that seem to coincide with increased independence when LO will need some extra protection e.g starting to walk).

Past that, if both parties are happy, why would you force it to stop? I know it might sound intuitive that it will make a "clingy" dependant child but actually research shows that confident, independent children are those who know what it feels like to be comforted and protected and have strong attachment to primary care givers - which makes sense if you think of how insecure a neglected child is (I'm not saying early weaning is neglectful, just that strong attachment is a good thing).

I know it just feels wrong to some people - just like some people don't like kissing their family on the mouth, or too much hugging and cuddling, but to others this feels normal and right and I think it is the same with bf.

Why you would chose just to do it at night I'm not sure. I guess like others have said it depends on the child's behaviour or the work/lifestyle pattern of the Mum.

 

[gingmg]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can explain why I still nurse past a year. I hope this doesn't come across as offensive because I don't mean it to be. I just truly want to answer your questions.

Yes its true, my son doesn't need breastmilk to survive like a newborn does since he is eating lots of different things throughout the day, but it is recommended that he have 12-20 ounces of milk or milk products a day to provide the appropriate amounts of calories and fat that he needs for a balanced diet. I feel that if he needs that much milk a day until age 2, it is safe to assume that nature intended that he have my milk until then. Cows milk is a luxury of modern society. Of coarse there is nothing wrong with giving cows milk, but it's not the way nature designed it. Not to mention all the antibodies that are also present in breast milk.

Children also have a biological and developmental need to suck, also until roughly age 2. It helps release feel good hormones in their brain. My son does not take a pacifier and if I were to stop nursing I would be taking away a major source of comfort for him. He not only relies on breastfeeding for the milk, but it instantly resets his behavior. He nurses to calm down, when he is hurt, when is he tired, and it always helps him feel better when he is sick or teething. Many kids have pacifiers until age two or later to substitute for this instincual need to suck, or breastfeed. There is nothing wrong with pacifiers, but again, its a modern invention/convenience.

I co-sleep and night nurse because its easy and its how we have gotten the most sleep. I continue to do it because at this point he is used to it and at least I know he is getting the appropriate amount of milk from me. One day I will night wean, but I'd rather do it when I know he can handle the change. I'm OK if it happens slowly. I cant say one way or the other yet, but I have actually heard the opposite is true in regards to attachment and dependency- that the more attached they are as babies and young toddlers, the more confident and independent they are later. As I see my son's personality unfolding, I would think its going to be true for him.

I hope this helps. I know nursing past one isn't for everyone, but nursing my son today feels just as natural (if not more so) as it did the day he was born.

Also, I didn't always feel this way about breastfeeding. I used to think I'd stop at a year, then slowly I started looking at it differently and that has evolved to how I feel now. It feels natural to me, but I know not everyone shares those feelings, and that's OK too.

 

[Carlyp1990]

I only feed at night now.
My lg will be 1 next week and no longer asks for milk during the day but will wake during the night and only be settled with milk. It's not how we planned things to be but it's what's best for us at the minute as my lg still needs it xx

 

[maryyy]

YES - Breastfeeding is good!

 

[tu123]

I'm pregnant and still BF my youngest who is two. The way I see it at her age is that it's "medicine" and comfort. Not one drug out there that I could give her that is safe and full of natural "vaccine". It's setting her up for a healthy future in life!

And besides, she needs it right before bedtime:d just as a child likes a dummy, toy or book.

 

[Bevziibubble]

Breastfeeding is very beneficial and healthy past one year. Even when babies are on solids, the breastmilk still has health benefits

 

[Marumi]

A lot of things have been said already and I just want to add some little known facts:

- Breastmilk benefits do not only last past a year. But breastmilk also changes it's composition into the third year of a child's life...tailored to the needs of a 3 year old.
- Studies have shown that human children naturally would wean between 2-6.
- Back in the day people breastfed toddlers and even older children.
- A child's mouth palate is shaped to nurse until 7 years old, then they will lose their ability to suckle right and stimulate milk production hence the mother dries up and the child weans definitely.

Nature is pretty smart. We tend to try to outsmart it...which isn't necessary. You may chose to wean earlier or go as long as your child and you please until it naturally ends.

My son is almost 4 1/2. He nurses 1-3 times during the day and not at night. He has been far more secure and independent than many other children I know. Kindergarten wasn't a problem at all as well as staying with his grandparents.

Him nursing also helps me in pregnancy. I don't get huge, engorged, painful and swollen breasts with flat nipples. I also did not get any breast stretchmarks this time around. Last time the only place I had stretchmarks was my boobs.

He is looking forward to sharing with his little brother.

 

[kittylady]

I'm tandem feeding my 3.5 year old and my 16 month old and I'm 10 weeks with #3. It has really helped with limiting jealousy and bringing them closer together. I have two very confident girls who will try anything and my eldest is so close to her father. It has also stopped me from having sore nipples in pregnancies #2 and this one and the milk/colostrum was available from day 1 so baby #2 didn't loose weight at all. It also helped with engorgement because the toddler could drain the breast a bit before the baby latched. My eldest feeds 0-3 Times a day at the moment and the toddler can feed anywhere between 5-10 in a 24 hour period. The Who recommends a minimum age of 2 for weaning and for as long after that as both mum and baby are happy with it.

 

[NoodleSnack]

That does clear it up a bit, yes. I just meant that it doesn't make much sense to me why you would nurse at all if your child doesn't NEED it. I mean, clearly they don't need it to survive anymore, like with newborns, since they are eating/drinking different things throughout the day, so why would you nurse at night? I feel like it creates a co-dependent child that is too attached to their mother. Again, this post isn't meant to offend anyone, I'm just trying to get a better understanding. So if anyone has anything in mind to say that would clear this up for me, I'd appreciate it.

The reasons are:

They still need milk and the parents prefer feeding their child bm than cow milk

They still need milk and they won't drink cow milk

They need food and they won't eat food

Breastfeeding helps them nap and sleep

Toddler not ready to wean and the mother doesn't see the point of force weaning

The WHO recommends that children be breastfed until two

I'm sure there's a lot more personal reasons for people to continue breastfeeding

BF is not what cause "co-dependent" and a 1 year old should be "co-dependent" on its mother, nature made it that way. Please don't go around judging other mothers if you happen to have a child who's not clinging to you, they already has enough on her plate. And if your toddler goes through a clingy phase in the future, take it easy, it's a normal phase, pulling away will only make it worse.

 

[misspriss]

There are lots of reasons one may discontinue nursing during the day but keep it up at night.

1. The benefits, bonding, immune, etc are all still there at night. There is no reason to stop bf.

2. They may not want to pump at work during the day but still want to breastfeed when home at night. This may be the cause of the "day weaning"

3. Breastfeeding calms toddlers and helps them sleep.

I mean, you are talking to someone who is still (night AND day) nursing a child about to be 3 so....