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Benefits of extended bodyfeeding

Many lactating parents can agree that sharing your body to feed a little one can be simultaneously amazing and beautiful and exhausting and overstimulating, especially as the nursling gets older. As the first year comes to a close, you might find yourself wondering- what should I do? Do I stop bodyfeeding? What are the benefits of nursing past a year?





Let’s start with the most important question:


What is extended bodyfeeding?


Extended bodyfeeding is nursing in any capacity past one year. It does not matter the pattern or mode of expression/feeding; even a few ounces fed to your little one in their morning smoothie is considered extended bodyfeeding.


What are the benefits?


So let’s dive in! The AAP and WHO currently suggest that a child be fed human milk until at least 2 years of age and continue on as long as both lactating parent and child(ren) are still happy. Some communities around the world continue to nurse for SEVEN years! While some (read: much) societal stigma exists in the US around nursing a child longer than a year, extended bodyfeeding provides numerous benefits for both members of the dyad.


1. It provides nourishment and nutrition for the toddler, regardless of age.


Human milk changes to meet the needs of the child. No matter how much food your little one eats, human milk still provides valuable nutrients including up to ⅓ of your toddler’s daily caloric and protein needs. It also helps prevent childhood obesity and diabetes.


2. It boosts the immune system.


Human milk NEVER loses the ability to provide antibodies that help fight off infection.


3. It boosts brain development.


There are many different fatty acids that provide human milk with the ability to help strengthen brain development in tiny humans. Research shows that the longer a child is given human milk, the better their memory retention and language skills.


4. It’s soothing to the child.


Feeding milk directly from the body can provide emotional support and nervous system regulation (perfect for those tiny tot tantrums). Nursing is more than just nutrition- it is love, comfort, and support from parent to child. Natural, child-led weaning allows for individual differences in the development of each child.


5. It provides disease reduction and protection in the lactating parent.


Bodyfeeding for 12 months or more lowers the risk for multiple cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, and diabetes.


What are the challenges?


As stated before, societal criticisms can make the choice to extend bodyfeeding past a year incredibly difficult and isolating. Nursing in public, while legal, is difficult in some places and can bring about even more unwanted attention when the child is older.


Certain medications and lifestyle choices aren’t recommended for lactating people because of their ability to transfer into the body’s milk supply. This can make or break the decision for some individuals.


Weaning at a later age could be more difficult, though some believe it’s easier since the child has a better understanding of whatever explanation is needed/used at the time of weaning.


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At the end of the day, whatever you decide to do should be about what’s best for you, your child(ren), and your family as a whole.


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Hi, thanks for stopping by!

My name is Cam Light and I am a birth doula, childbirth educator, and certified lactation counselor serving families in SWFL. 

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