Why a Breastfeeding Toddler? The Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

A breastfeeding toddler may seem like an oddity in today's culture, but the benefits of breastfeeding toddlers and even breastfeeding older children are some of the best gifts you can give your child.

In many countries around the world it is not uncommon for a child to nurse until age three, four or even longer. Bear in mind, though, that this is not with the same frequency or even for the same reasons that a baby nurses.

• Extended breastfeeding still provides antibodies, immunities, vitamins, minerals and protection against illness for your child

  When my daughter was very sick with a fever, she wasn't eating or even drinking much water, but she would nurse. I was so thankful that she was still nursing. I knew she was getting hydrated and getting antibodies to help her fight the sickness. If she had already been weaned I would have had to force her to drink more water and fluids.

• You continue to burn extra calories--a great advantage of breastfeeding!

  I'm all about burning those extra calories!

• It is easy to put your toddler to sleep

• It gives a child the comfort, physical closeness, and emotional connection that they need.

  Toddlers are so busy exploring their worlds that they need the solid home base that nurturing at the breast offers.

  I can't imagine mothering without breastfeeding! It is so easy to calm an upset, tired toddler by nursing. In situations when we are traveling and things are unfamiliar and we are all out of sorts it makes things much easier when I can comfort my girl at the breast.

  If my twenty-month-old daughter was already weaned I would have to put a lot more effort into other ways to calm, distract, and otherwise keep her happy. Perhaps having a breastfeeding toddler is the Lazy Mom's way of mothering. So be it! Whatever makes life easier--right?

• The more frequently you nurse and the longer you breastfeed in total the more likely it will keep your menstrual cycles from returning if they haven't returned yet.

  Although even with continued nursing your fertility will return eventually.

  While breastfeeding by itself after your baby is six months old is not a fail-safe birth control method, combined with the fertility awareness method it has a 98% success rate at preventing pregnancy.

• Breastfeeding hormones help to keep you relaxed.

• Extended breastfeeding continues to lower your risks of certain cancers.

  The longer in total that you breastfeed the more your risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer go down. It also lowers your susceptibility to urinary tract infections and osteoporosis.

• Possibly less thumb sucking/pacifier use.

  Extended breastfeeding allows your child to meet his/her non- nutritive sucking needs at the breast.

• Your child is possibly less apt to use and become attached to a substitute for human love and connection (like a blankie or teddy bear).

  Having a breastfeeding toddler means they are learning to be comforted by connections with another human being instead of turning to inanimate objects and material things.

Having a breastfeeding toddler does not mean that you have to nurse all the time or "on demand". A toddler can sometimes easily be distracted if you want to put off nursing. You can also set certain times and places for nursing so that your toddler knows that he or she only gets "num nums" "nursies" (or whatever you call it) at home or at bedtime or naptime.

Your child will eventually outgrow the need.

Breastfeeding is more than physical nutrition. It is emotional nutrition.

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