I had never intended to breast feed my first daughter for as long as I did. I remember the pediatrician advising me at 4mos to start her on cereal. While I’m not advocating that you disregard your pediatrician’s advice–that’s exactly what I did. Something told me that my daughter was not ready for that.
So at her six month appointment, my pediatrician and I had a little talk. I told her that I hadn’t given Lizzy cereal. She politely told me I would regret it. It would be too hard on me to keep breastfeeding past 6 months. Formula was sufficient nutrition to give Lizzy and that I should put her on a bottle immediately. I was intimidated, it was my first baby and after all, she was the expert. Too timid to speak, I went home without saying anything.
I thought that maybe the doctor was right, so I bought the standard single grain rice cereal and dutifully went home and made myself feel better about giving it to my daughter by mixing it with breast milk. Then we tried it. My daughter’s reaction was nothing short of. . .full fledge vomiting. Not gagging, not spitting it back out (both of which are common reactions for babies when they first start solids), but projectile with good trajectory!
So following the traditional course of giving my daughter solids was out of the question and since she was nursing well and gaining weight we continued. . . and continued. . .and continued breastfeeding; even after she was able to take solids well. But she nursed exclusively–meaning no sippy cups, no water, no food, no juice, nothing but breastmilk–until 13mos. And, just in case you’re wondering, she was in the 95th percentile for both height and weight.
My point in sharing my personal experience with you is twofold: You must trust your gut. Most babies will want to nurse longer and can be encouraged to do so. . .but some babies just wean themselves early. Secondly, the guidelines they give you, are only guidelines. Within those guidelines there is a fair amount of ‘wiggle room’. If something your pediatrician is recommending doesn’t seem right for you, voice your concerns at your next appointment.
So how exactly do you encourage breastfeeding for years?
Change your expectations. . .there is not a magical weaning age. However, thinking of breastfeeding in terms of years rather than months will help you in making decisions about feeding and drinking.
Nurse on demand and allow for child-led weaning. . .with a baby this means to nurse when they’re hungry, rooting and seem to want to drink. Starting this way from the beginning lets your baby know that breastfeeding is a way he can connect with you.
Child-led weaning as opposed to parent-led weaning takes the “don’t offer, don’t refuse” approach. As it implies, you don’t have to offer the breast but if your toddler asks neither do you refuse.
Delay the introduction of solids. . .Breastmilk is sufficient to nourish your child for the first year. With that being said, many babies are ready to eat earlier than 12 mos. Some signs include: the baby sits up, the baby can grab things and put them in his/her mouth and the baby has teeth that can help mush things up. Your baby may have some or all of these signs. Just because your baby grabs for food, doesn’t necessarily mean they are wanting to eat. Babies learn by exploring and food within reach is just another interesting thing to explore. You can introduce an older baby to solids by letting him/her play with food.
Don’t give bottles Many breastfeeding moms start to give juice and water in bottles at around 6mos. If you want to encourage your baby to breastfeed for awhile, don’t give your child anything else to drink until he/she can use a sippy cup. Contrary to what some people believe, your baby will not get dehydrated or constipated if you‘re breastfeeding. Furthermore, giving babies juice is just giving them extra sugar that they don’t need. Your breast milk is sweet and has the right amount of sugar in it to meet your baby’s demands.
Before giving up, go see a good lactation consultant. . .It is worth the money and effort to seek out professional help if you are having problems but really want to breast feed. Many women quit breastfeeding within the first six weeks of birth. Lots of women quit because they are having problems, they are in pain, and it seems easier to give bottles (or have someone else give the baby a bottle!) By seeking help early if you need it, you are ensuring that you and your baby can enjoy the breastfeeding relationship. And I should note here too, that paying a fee to a lactation consultant is a lot cheaper than buying several months worth of formula.
The most important thing to remember is to follow your baby’s cues. Most babies will want to nurse longer than a year, but there are some who just don’t. While doing all of these things will help encourage a baby to nurse as long as possible, not doing one will not ruin the breastfeeding relationship.
In my opinion, breastfeeding is one of the most amazing things about having a baby. Having an open mind to continuing the breastfeeding relationship into the toddler years is the first step towards a successful breastfeeding relationship.