3/29/2023 0 Comments 4 month old daily schedule![]() The act of being close to your baby, instantly responding to his needs and engaging in lots of eye contact also sends signals between you. For many mums, breastfeeding can feel like a miracle worker. As your baby grows, a feed helps with everything from teething and vaccinations to the inevitable knocks and scrapes or viruses that occur along the way. Nothing soothes an upset infant or toddler like a nursing session with mum. 9, 15 This is especially helpful as he gets older and starts interacting with other children or going into childcare, where germs can be rife.īreastfeeding can also be a lifesaver, as Dr Mitoulas points out: “The consequences of not breastfeeding between six and 23 months can be dire in low- and middle-income countries, where babies who aren’t breastfed are twice as likely to die from infection as babies who are breastfed, even partly.” 16 And breastfeeding is not just about the benefits of your milk, it’s also wonderful for nurturing and calming your baby. Your breast milk can also reduce your baby’s risk of diarrhoea and sickness, 14 gastroenteritis, colds and flu, thrush and ear, throat and lung infections. ![]() There are also benefits for your baby in terms of sight 11, dental problems, 12 and obesity.” 13 1Ĭontinuing to breastfeed after six months has been shown to lower the chances of some childhood and adult illnesses and, if your baby does get ill, helps him recover more quickly.īreastfeeding protects your baby from infection and illness, so much so that it’s even considered a form of ‘personalised medicine’, with potential lifelong effects,” says Dr Mitoulas.įor example, breastfeeding for longer than six months has been shown to protect your baby against certain childhood cancers, such as acute lymphocytic leukaemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.9 Breastfeeding might also lessen his chances of developing type 2 diabetes, 10 although this effect is confounded, or attenuated by factors such as smoking, gestational weight gain, preterm birth and other factors. This is despite organisations such as the WHO recommending the provision of human milk beyond six months. Whilst the message to promote exclusive breastfeeding for six months is well known, there is not much information on the role of breastfeeding and human milk beyond six months, once complementary foods have been introduced to an infant's diet. Medicine: Health benefits of breastfeeding after six months “At this stage, breast milk provides about 43% of a baby’s protein, 60% of his vitamin C, 75% of his vitamin A, 76% of his folate, and 94% of his vitamin B12.” 8 1,7 But even in his second year of life, breast milk provides significant amounts of other key nutrients, as Dr Mitoulas explains: It’s true that after six months your baby needs other foods for nutrients that he may not get from your breast milk or his own reserves, including iron, zinc and vitamins B and D. By 18 months, he’ll probably have about 200 ml (7 fl oz) a day, which is about 29% of his calories. At nine to 12 months old, he could still take around 500 ml (17.6 fl oz) a day, which provides about half his daily calories. When exclusively breastfeeding, a baby typically consumes 750 to 800 ml (26.4 to 28 fl oz) of milk each day. But even after your baby starts eating complementary foods, breast milk provides significant nutrition,” says Dr Mitoulas. “The undisputed best start for babies is exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. In fact, the opposite is true – your baby will only get a tiny proportion of his calories and nutrients from food when he first starts solids. Once your baby starts eating solids at around six months, you might think your breast milk becomes just a ‘drink’ that complements them. “And these trifold benefits certainly continue beyond two years.”įood: Nutritional benefits of extended breastfeeding “Breastfeeding can be considered a food, a medicine and a signal all at the same time,” 5 he adds. Evidence unequivocally demonstrates that breastfeeding is uniquely beneficial during that crucial 1,000-day window. 4 Dr Mitoulas explains: “Scientists have discovered the right nutrition, and other factors, have the most profound impact on growth and long-term health during this time. The WHO’s recommendations are supported by a recent surge in research into the first 1,000 days of a child’s life – from conception to the second birthday. 3 However, cultural norms today generally entail weaning at a much younger age.” “From an anthropological perspective, breastfeeding for between two-and-a-half and seven years would be optimal. ![]() ![]() “It’s important to note the WHO doesn’t set a maximum breastfeeding duration,” 2 says Dr Leon Mitoulas, Medela’s Head of Breastfeeding Research. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for two years and beyond – and this applies to families around the world, not just in developing countries.
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