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Breastfeed a Toddler—Why on Earth?
by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC
Because more and more women are now breastfeeding their babies, more and more are also finding that they enjoy
breastfeeding enough to want to continue longer than the usual few months they initially thought they would. UNICEF
has long encouraged breastfeeding for two years and longer, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is now on
record as encouraging mothers to nurse at least one year and as long after as both mother and baby desire. Even
the Canadian Paediatric Society, in its latest feeding statement acknowledges that women may want to breastfeed
for two years or longer and Health Canada has put out a statement similar to UNICEF’s.. Breastfeeding to 3 and 4
years of age has been common in much of the world until recently in human history, and it is still common in many
societies for toddlers to breastfeed.
Why should breastfeeding continue past six months?
Because mothers and babies often enjoy breastfeeding a lot. Why stop an enjoyable relationship? And continued
breastfeeding is even good for the health and welfare of both the mother and child.
But it is said that breastmilk has no value after six months.
Perhaps this is said, but it is patently wrong. That anyone (including paediatricians) can say such a thing only shows
how ignorant so many people in our society are about breastfeeding. Breastmilk is, after all, milk. Even after six
months, it still contains protein, fat, and other nutritionally important and appropriate elements which babies and
children need. Breastmilk still contains immunologic factors that help protect the baby. In fact, some immune factors
in breastmilk that protect the baby against infection are present in greater amounts in the second year of life than in
the first. This is, of course as it should be, since children older than a year are generally exposed to more sources of
infection. Breastmilk still contains special growth factors that help the immune system to mature, and which help the
brain, gut, and other organs to develop and mature.
It has been well shown that children in daycare who are still breastfeeding have far fewer and less severe infections
than the children who are not breastfeeding. The mother thus loses less work time if she continues nursing her baby
once she is back at her paid work.
It is interesting that formula company marketing pushes the use of formula (a very poor copy of the real thing) for a
year, yet implies that breastmilk (from which the poor copy is made) is only worthwhile for 6 months or even less
(“the best nutrition for newborns”). Too many health professionals have taken up the refrain.
I have heard that the immunologic factors in breastmilk prevent the baby from developing his own
immunity if I breastfeed past six months.
This is untrue; in fact, this is absurd. It is unbelievable how so many people in our society twist around the
advantages of breastfeeding and turn them into disadvantages. We give babies immunizations so that they are able
to defend themselves against the real infection. Breastmilk also helps the baby to fight off infections. When the baby
fights off these infections, he becomes immune. Naturally.
But I want my baby to become independent.
And breastfeeding makes the toddler dependent? Don’t believe it. The child who breastfeeds until he weans himself
(usually from 2 to 4 years), is generally more independent, and, perhaps, more
importantly, more secure in his independence. He has received comfort and security from the breast, until he is
ready to make the step himself to stop. And when he makes that step himself, he knows he has achieved something,
he knows he has moved ahead. It is a milestone in his life.
Often we push children to become "independent" too quickly. To sleep alone too soon, to wean from the breast too
soon, to do without their parents too soon, to do everything too soon. Don’t push and the child will become
independent soon enough. What’s the rush? Soon they will be leaving home. You want them to leave home at 14? If
a need is met, it goes away. If a need is unmet (such as the need to breastfeed and be close to mom), it remains a
need well into the childhood/teenaged time.
Of course, breastfeeding can, in some situations, be used to foster an overdependent relationship. But so can food
and toilet training. The problem is not the breastfeeding. This is another issue.
What else?
Possibly the most important aspect of nursing a toddler is not the nutritional or immunologic benefits, important as
they are. I believe the most important aspect of nursing a toddler is the special relationship between child and
mother. Breastfeeding is a life-affirming act of love. This continues when the baby becomes a toddler. Anyone
without prejudices, who has ever observed an older baby or toddler nursing can testify that there is something
almost magical, something special, something far beyond food going on. A toddler will sometimes spontaneously, for
no obvious reason, break into laughter while he is nursing. His delight in the breast goes far beyond a source of
food. And if the mother allows herself, breastfeeding becomes a source of delight for her as well, far beyond the
pleasure of providing food. Of course, it’s not always great, but what is? But when it is, it makes it all so worthwhile.
And if the child does become ill or does get hurt (and they do as they meet other children and become more daring),
what easier way to comfort the child than breastfeeding? I remember nights in the emergency department when
mothers would walk their ill, non-nursing babies or toddlers up and down the halls trying, often unsuccessfully, to
console them, while the nursing mothers were sitting quietly with their comforted, if not necessarily happy, babies at
the breast. The mother comforts the sick child with breastfeeding, and the child comforts the mother by
breastfeeding.
Questions? (416) 813-5757 (option 3) or drjacknewman@sympatico.ca or my book Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to
Breastfeeding (called The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers in the USA)
Handout #21. Toddler nursing. January 2005
Written by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC. © 2005
This handout may be copied and distributed without further permission, on the condition that it is not used in any
context in which the WHO code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes is violated.
by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC
Because more and more women are now breastfeeding their babies, more and more are also finding that they enjoy
breastfeeding enough to want to continue longer than the usual few months they initially thought they would. UNICEF
has long encouraged breastfeeding for two years and longer, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is now on
record as encouraging mothers to nurse at least one year and as long after as both mother and baby desire. Even
the Canadian Paediatric Society, in its latest feeding statement acknowledges that women may want to breastfeed
for two years or longer and Health Canada has put out a statement similar to UNICEF’s.. Breastfeeding to 3 and 4
years of age has been common in much of the world until recently in human history, and it is still common in many
societies for toddlers to breastfeed.
Why should breastfeeding continue past six months?
Because mothers and babies often enjoy breastfeeding a lot. Why stop an enjoyable relationship? And continued
breastfeeding is even good for the health and welfare of both the mother and child.
But it is said that breastmilk has no value after six months.
Perhaps this is said, but it is patently wrong. That anyone (including paediatricians) can say such a thing only shows
how ignorant so many people in our society are about breastfeeding. Breastmilk is, after all, milk. Even after six
months, it still contains protein, fat, and other nutritionally important and appropriate elements which babies and
children need. Breastmilk still contains immunologic factors that help protect the baby. In fact, some immune factors
in breastmilk that protect the baby against infection are present in greater amounts in the second year of life than in
the first. This is, of course as it should be, since children older than a year are generally exposed to more sources of
infection. Breastmilk still contains special growth factors that help the immune system to mature, and which help the
brain, gut, and other organs to develop and mature.
It has been well shown that children in daycare who are still breastfeeding have far fewer and less severe infections
than the children who are not breastfeeding. The mother thus loses less work time if she continues nursing her baby
once she is back at her paid work.
It is interesting that formula company marketing pushes the use of formula (a very poor copy of the real thing) for a
year, yet implies that breastmilk (from which the poor copy is made) is only worthwhile for 6 months or even less
(“the best nutrition for newborns”). Too many health professionals have taken up the refrain.
I have heard that the immunologic factors in breastmilk prevent the baby from developing his own
immunity if I breastfeed past six months.
This is untrue; in fact, this is absurd. It is unbelievable how so many people in our society twist around the
advantages of breastfeeding and turn them into disadvantages. We give babies immunizations so that they are able
to defend themselves against the real infection. Breastmilk also helps the baby to fight off infections. When the baby
fights off these infections, he becomes immune. Naturally.
But I want my baby to become independent.
And breastfeeding makes the toddler dependent? Don’t believe it. The child who breastfeeds until he weans himself
(usually from 2 to 4 years), is generally more independent, and, perhaps, more
importantly, more secure in his independence. He has received comfort and security from the breast, until he is
ready to make the step himself to stop. And when he makes that step himself, he knows he has achieved something,
he knows he has moved ahead. It is a milestone in his life.
Often we push children to become "independent" too quickly. To sleep alone too soon, to wean from the breast too
soon, to do without their parents too soon, to do everything too soon. Don’t push and the child will become
independent soon enough. What’s the rush? Soon they will be leaving home. You want them to leave home at 14? If
a need is met, it goes away. If a need is unmet (such as the need to breastfeed and be close to mom), it remains a
need well into the childhood/teenaged time.
Of course, breastfeeding can, in some situations, be used to foster an overdependent relationship. But so can food
and toilet training. The problem is not the breastfeeding. This is another issue.
What else?
Possibly the most important aspect of nursing a toddler is not the nutritional or immunologic benefits, important as
they are. I believe the most important aspect of nursing a toddler is the special relationship between child and
mother. Breastfeeding is a life-affirming act of love. This continues when the baby becomes a toddler. Anyone
without prejudices, who has ever observed an older baby or toddler nursing can testify that there is something
almost magical, something special, something far beyond food going on. A toddler will sometimes spontaneously, for
no obvious reason, break into laughter while he is nursing. His delight in the breast goes far beyond a source of
food. And if the mother allows herself, breastfeeding becomes a source of delight for her as well, far beyond the
pleasure of providing food. Of course, it’s not always great, but what is? But when it is, it makes it all so worthwhile.
And if the child does become ill or does get hurt (and they do as they meet other children and become more daring),
what easier way to comfort the child than breastfeeding? I remember nights in the emergency department when
mothers would walk their ill, non-nursing babies or toddlers up and down the halls trying, often unsuccessfully, to
console them, while the nursing mothers were sitting quietly with their comforted, if not necessarily happy, babies at
the breast. The mother comforts the sick child with breastfeeding, and the child comforts the mother by
breastfeeding.
Questions? (416) 813-5757 (option 3) or drjacknewman@sympatico.ca or my book Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to
Breastfeeding (called The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers in the USA)
Handout #21. Toddler nursing. January 2005
Written by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC. © 2005
This handout may be copied and distributed without further permission, on the condition that it is not used in any
context in which the WHO code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes is violated.