Extended Breastfeeding and Child-Led Weaning

Before I became pregnant, I was surprised to hear that some mothers breastfed their children beyond the first year. Then my daughter was born and we embarked on our nursing relationship. Almost immediately it became clear that breastfeeding was much more than infant nutrition that could be replaced with cow’s milk at a year of age. Breastfeeding serves many roles: pacifier, immunity-booster, soother and sleep-inducer.

Various medical organizations have policy statements on the recommended minimum duration of breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics states:

Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child…. Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother…. There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.

The American Academy of Family Physicians policy statement says:

Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired.

It also notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.

In addition to the medical ramifications of breastfeeding (or weaning), there are emotional aspects to consider. Abrupt weaning can be traumatic for the child (not to mention the mother!) Gradual weaning respects the feelings of both child and mother.

Ideally, weaning should be child-led and breastfeeding should last until the child outgrows the need. The goal is not necessarily for a mother to continue nursing, but for her to wean gently and slowly. An extended weaning process helps the mother prevent engorgement and breast infections and respects the needs of the nursling. Books such as How Weaning Happens by Diane Bengson and Mothering Your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner can be very helpful, particularly if the mother has conflicting feelings or is not finding support for extended breastfeeding from her family and friends. As the mother finds ways to reconfigure the nursing relationship (for example, by modifying the number or length of nursing sessions) she may find she is comfortable continuing to nurse under the modified conditions.

The mother may also consider weaning in order to conceive another child, to take a particular medication, or because she is pregnant. Again these are touch-points where more information can be helpful (such as information on night-weaning for increased fertility, drug facts from Thomas Hale’s Medications and Mothers’ Milk, or the pregnancy resource Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond by Hilary Flower).

Today my own little nursling turns two. (Happy birthday sweetie!) She nurses four to six times during the day and twice during the night. She shows no signs of wanting to stop, and I’m happy to continue nursing her. I’m sure some people are surprised (just like I was) to hear that there are happy mother-toddler nursing pairs like ours. I’m a firm believer in “to each her own”–every mother knows what’s best for herself and her child, whether that applies to formula-feeding or extended breastfeeding.

Do you have an extended breastfeeding story to share? Email me!