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Breastfeeding > How Long should I Breastfeed?
Breastmilk is the natural food for newborns. It contains
everything your baby needs .The World Health Organization
(WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and
then, with the introduction of solids, up to two years and
beyond. At around six months, offer your baby a variety
of foods, especially those high in iron. These are recommendations;
you should breastfeed for however long you and your baby
enjoy this relationship. Breastfeeding goes beyond providing
breastmilk, it is a close bond between mother and child
and as long as you both enjoy breastfeeding it should not
be limited by age . The immunological benefits of breastmilk
are dose-related, meaning that the longer you breastfeed
your baby, the more protection against infection and illness
he receives.
Breastfeeding a Toddler
The WHO recommendation of breastfeeding up to two years
and beyond is a guideline. An increasing number of mothers
find that they enjoy breastfeeding enough to continue beyond
that. It used to be that breastfeeding until three or four
years of age was common in much of the world and it is still
so in many societies. Your breastmilk is constantly changing
and adapting its components to the needs of your child at
every stage. The nutritional value of breastmilk is still
important at the toddler stage and, in fact, the immunological
components increase because Mother Nature knows that your
toddler is now in contact with a variety of bacteria and
viruses in his environment so the immune factors increase
to protect him. Unfortunately, some mothers report that
they don’t receive a lot of support from family and
friends who perhaps don’t understand the unique bond
of breastfeeding a toddler. There are wonderful peer groups
for mothers who are breastfeeding their toddlers. Find a
La Leche League group nearest you or visit www.lllc.ca
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