If you have chosen to breastfeed your baby, one of the decisions you’ll have to make down the line is how long you will continue breastfeeding. Nursing a baby is common for the first 1 to 2 years in most cultures, but anything beyond this timeframe is considered extended breastfeeding. While extended breastfeeding offers numerous benefits to both you and your baby, it also poses some challenges. Please continue reading to learn more about the pros and cons of extended breastfeeding. 

What is extended breastfeeding?

There is no strict definition of extended breastfeeding. It is something that is determined culturally and refers to breastfeeding beyond the timeframe that is the norm in a culture. 

In the United States, extended breastfeeding typically refers to breastfeeding a baby beyond the age of 12 months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at age 12 months, approximately 35% of babies in the US are breastfed. At age 18 months, this number drops to under 15%.

Can extended breastfeeding be harmful?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months. There is no need to give a baby other sources of nutrition such as formula during this time. After exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months, the AAP suggests you continue breastfeeding but introduce other foods. The AAP also says you can continue your breastfeeding relationship for as long as you and your baby want, up to 2 years of age or beyond, without causing any harm to yourself or your baby.

What are the benefits of breast milk?

Breastfeeding has significant benefits for both mother and baby. Some breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding pros are listed below:

• Bonding. Breastfeeding is an opportunity for mother and baby to bond and form a strong connection.
• Nutritional value. Breast milk changes as the baby grows to provide perfectly tailored nutritional benefits for healthy growth. Breast milk is also easier for babies to digest.
• Health benefits for baby. Breastfeeding protects babies against many health conditions. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of obesity, type 1 diabetes, asthma, stomach infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breast milk transfers antibodies from mother to baby and helps build the child’s immune system.
• Health benefits for the mother. Breastfeeding also benefits the mother and is associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.
• Convenience. Nursing sessions can take place anytime, anywhere, without the need to clean bottles or prepare formula. Many breastfeeding moms and parents find that breastfeeding gets easier with time. 

What are the cons of extended breastfeeding?

If you choose to breastfeed for an extended period, past the age considered “normal” or typical in your culture, it can pose certain challenges. Here are some of the negative aspects of extended breastfeeding (cons): 

• Cultural stigma. People who breastfeed older children are sometimes shamed or judged for their choice and lack social support. 
• Time and effort. Long-term breastfeeding can be very hard on many mothers, especially if they have other non-breastfed children to care for as well. 
• Physical pain. It can be painful to nurse an older child because they can bite and cause nipple pain or sore nipples.
• Inconvenience. It can be challenging to continue breastfeeding if you work outside the home. You either have to be physically present or pump. 
• Fertility. Breastfeeding can suppress ovulation and your menstrual cycle, so that’s something to keep in mind if you desire more than one child in the future.
• Over-attachment. Extended breastfeeding may lead to a child becoming over-attached and dependent on the mother for emotional support.

Is it normal to breastfeed a 5-year-old?

Everyone’s breastfeeding journey is different. Some people may choose not to breastfeed at all, while others may continue nursing past the usual timeframe that is culturally acceptable. Some people are forced to discontinue breastfeeding and start the baby on solid foods before the recommended 6 months due to personal reasons or problems with milk supply. 

Choosing to breastfeed past 1 year is a personal choice. Extended breastfeeding can be meaningful and rewarding for some people and offer a convenient and economical way to provide nutrition to a child. 

If you are breastfeeding past 1 year and are not sure whether to continue nursing, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is my child benefiting from breastfeeding?
• Is breastfeeding more or less convenient for my child and me?
• Do I want to discontinue breastfeeding, or are other moms’ opinions affecting my decision to stop breastfeeding?
• Do I want other children, and how is breastfeeding affecting my fertility?

How long is breastfeeding most beneficial?

Breastfeeding is most beneficial for 6 months to 1 year. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is around 6 months of age, and then continued breastfeeding along with other food for as long as you want, including up to the age of 2 years and beyond. Many parents feel child-led weaning is the best way to stop breastfeeding. Other parents choose to wean the first child when they desire a second child. 

Extended breastfeeding is a personal choice. Only you can decide when to stop nursing. If you choose to breastfeed longer, know that it is completely normal. Breast milk continues to have nutritional value, and an older baby will not suffer any developmental harm if breastfed for extended periods.

References:

1. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/breastfeeding-benefits/index.html#
2. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Breastfeeding.aspx