How Long You Should Breastfeed a Baby | Complete Guidelines

How long you should breastfeed a baby, depends on you. As a mother, you can realize how long you should breastfeed your baby. Obviously, you can take suggestions from experts, personal opinions of your relatives and family or favorite doctors. It's too difficult to give a specific suggestion of breastfeeding duration.
 

Because only the parents of the child and your doctor can confirm when should you stop breastfeeding. I saw lots of women who stop feeding within a few weeks. On the other hand, the number of long time breastfeeding moms are much more than them. A huge number of mother’s breastfeed their babies for several years.  So it depends on the mother’s choice.

There are also women who believe you're breastfeeding for a long, or too short, period. But when it has no right or wrong duration, the best way is to ignore their comment. The better you feed your baby, the more benefits your baby will get. But let's get more information on breastfeeding time, terms, guidelines, ideal duration, infant health consequences, and more.

 

Recommendations

When we are asked by lots of mothers about the optimum duration of breastfeeding, today we are deciding to answer them. Here are some recommendations from health experts worldwide.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

AAP recommends at least 6 months of breastfeeding. Then additional 6 months with solid food. Then you can continue breastfeeding if you want.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG):

Compulsory 6 months of breastfeeding with complementary food. The first year is the baby’s health developmental period. So the mother should continue feeding her baby for the betterment of her baby’s health. 1-year breastfeeding is highly recommended. 

WHO:

At least 2 years of breastfeeding continuation including solids, formula, or complementary foods after 6th months.

How Long Should You Breastfeed and its advantages?

There has no limitation to breastfeeding. You can breastfeed your baby as much as you want. Most importantly, the first breast milk is highly recommended. It contains colostrum, and it is full of nutrition and antibodies.

So feed the first milk to the newborn and protect her from an illness like diarrhea, infections, and critical diseases. The first milk helps to make your baby enough stronger.

There have lots of benefits when a mother breastfeeds her baby. It reduces the possibility of breast cancer, ovarian, and helps mothers lose weight. Breastfeeding protects babies from diabetes, allergies, and cancers.

 

Impact on Breastfeeding (older child)

If you notice, there will be a huge number of moms who believes that too long breastfeeding can be harmful for the child. But it's not true. It has some advantages instead of harmfulness.

I have fed my own child more than 3 years. But now he is adult and strong enough. He didn't face any serious illness since his childhood. I believe too long breastfeeding is liable for his good health.

Let's see what AAP says about breastfeeding older children. There is no evidence of psychological damage for too long breastfeeding. So it depends on the mother. If she would like to feed her child till the 4th year. No problem, she can do it.

The more you breastfeed, the greater and longer-lasting the effects would be, as described before. Plus, some beneficial outcomes are actually associated with long-term breastfeeding.

Some of the ways that mothers identify their kids for a longer period of time after breastfeeding are healthy, positive, caring, safe, and autonomous.

Related: Best vegetables for babies that you should provide.
 

Peoples Opinion and You

People have a tendency to leave personal opinion even if they know the wrong. Sometime you will notice that they are telling you something from their own perspective. You will be astonished when you friends, families, or unknown people opine what they think about breastfeeding older child.

They don't even feel shy about sharing their wrong thoughts. But you should follow what you prefer and think to do. Your partner can help you decide.

Often what it takes is a little info on the advantages of choosing to breastfeed or simply letting them know what is advised from physicians and health experts. The significant thing is not to let their beliefs to nose into with your preferences.

If you do what people say you can do instead of what you really want to do, you will possibly end up feeling bad in the end.

 

When should you stop breastfeeding and deciding when to wean?

It has clearly mentioned above that there is no limitation or specific duration of breastfeeding. An significant aspect of breastfeeding is weaning. When you add another method of feeding to your baby's diet, it starts. It could start at 6 weeks with a bottle, or at 6 months with the first spoonful of applesauce. Long after your baby starts solids, you might opt to totally wean off the breast or carry on breastfeeding.

If you think you would stop feeding the baby your breast then you can. Otherwise, for early skip, you can store your breast milk in the freezer for additional use with wean. You can give your reserved milk in a bottle. You can feed formula or cow milk according to the baby's need after stopping breastfeeding.

Related: How To Start Feeding Baby Food

A Word From Family Care Daily

Believe in yourself and breastfeed your baby as long as you want. Don’t follow others or lead by their opinion. Because it has no specific rules or duration. From the 1st day to the 4th year, any duration is okay.

As you are the mother, none will understand your baby needs more than you. Whatever you do is right for your baby. Best wishes for you and your newborn!