Benefits of Nursing Past 12 Months

QUESTION: Hopefully you're pleased to hear from a supportive father. My daughter is now 7 months old. She is an excellent nurser and to this day hasn't had a cold or other ailment. My wife wants to stop breastfeeding at 12 months. I have read extensively about the benefits of breastfeeding well after 12 months and that at 12 months an infant has only 60% of total immune system strength. Breastfeeding continues to strengthen that system thereafter. All I want is what's best for Victoria. There are no complications currently, and mom enjoys feeding. Please help me. What are the benefits, and how do I convince mom of the importance?

Dear Bruce,

I am always pleased to hear from supportive fathers! You say that Victoria hasn't had a cold yet. Don't know whether you know this or not, but the average baby has 6 colds in the first year of life. You have already seen one of the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding. I often have women come back and tell me "after the fact" that, as soon as they weaned, their baby got a cold.

You are absolutely right that the benefits of breastfeeding continue as long as a baby is getting breastmilk. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending breastfeeding for "AT LEAST one year."  That means even longer is desirable.

You say that Victoria is an excellent nurser and that mom enjoys feeding. I am wondering why she wants to wean at one year. Is it social pressure? We live in a bottle-feeding culture, so there is often pressure on women to wean far earlier than they would in a supportive environment. I have often heard women tell me that their own pediatricians are mentioning this around 9 months. The reason for this is simply that most pediatricians get their feeding information from formula reps. That is a sad fact of life.

Advantages of breastfeeding - my favorite subject of discussion!  There are myriad advantages! All the health advantages continue for toddler breastfeeding - infection fighting, allergy preventing, etc. Concerning toddler advantages in particular, click on the following link for an excellent discussion on this by Dr. Jack Newman, a Canadian pediatrician and breastfeeding expert: Breastfeed a Toddler - Why on
Earth?

Is there a local La Leche League group in your area?  If so, does your wife know about it? You can call 1-800-LALECHE to find out. La Leche League's sole purpose is to support women in their desire to breastfeed. Most women who go to these meetings end up nursing far longer than they ever thought they would - myself included! 

I would also recommend the book, "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler." This is a book published by La Leche League. It is a perfect book for your wife to read right now. It discusses advantages to nursing a toddler plus dealing with social pressure - as well as toddler breastfeeding issues.

From my own perspective, one of the wonderful things about nursing a toddler is not having to worry too much about nutrition. My daughter, Lin-z, was a very picky eater. She really didn't eat much in the way of solids until well after 18 months. Knowing that she was still getting superior nutrition eased my mind about that. Another advantage to toddler nursing is that there is no faster or easier way to stop a temper tantrum! If this is your first child, then you don't know how trying this can be for parents. When a toddler loses control, picking them up and putting them to the breast can often stop the tantrum immediately! Also, there is no better way to help a child who has been hurt. Being active, toddlers tend to have a lot of accidents. Putting them to the breast is such a wonderful way to comfort them. 

One of my friend's children had to have stitches when he was just over a year. She nursed him the whole time they were stitching him up! A bottle just doesn't provide this level of comfort!

Years ago when my daughter was young, I decided to keep a friend's baby for her so that I could afford to stay at home with Lin-z. I was amazed at how much harder it was for me to "mother" him when he fell down or got upset. I was so used to just putting my own child to the breast. This is what all women begin to understand as their baby gets near toddler age. Breastfeeding is not just a way of feeding - it is a way of mothering. And it truly makes life easier!

One last thing, Bruce. If you have done everything you can to convince your wife, but she still wants to wean at one year - support her and thank her for giving your daughter such a wonderful start in life! She has already gone far beyond the average in the United States. Feeding time should be enjoyable for both mom and baby. If mom is no longer enjoying the relationship, then she begins to get resentful. That, of course, is not a good thing.

Good luck!  Let me know how things go.
Cher Sealy RN, BSN, IBCLC, LLLL

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