Nursing moms--- What are the benefits of nursing your baby past 1 year?

My baby girl is only 2 months and I was planning on stopping breastfeed around 9-12 months. But I love this time with her its awesome! Such a loving bonding expierence. But for some reason I cant picture her with teeth and breastfeeding? Anyone have any advice?





Thanks!

Nursing moms--- What are the benefits of nursing your baby past 1 year?
Benefits.. the longer you can give your baby the antibodies from your body, the better. The transferred antibodies assist with a healthier immune system warding off illnesses and diseases at a greater rate than not breastfeeding.


But I say, breastfeeding at all is better than nothing. 9-12 months is a great time length and if you don't go past that, don't be hard on yourself. I think even 6 months is great. Statistics show that only 11% of women who begin breastfeeding or have intentions of breastfeeding, are still breastfeeding after 6 months. That is a low percentage. Imagine what it is at 8 months!


Teeth are a deterant.. many babies bite. My son hasn't gotten any teeth in yet.. I dread the day he bites me but plan to breastfeed a year also. ;-)
Reply:I have been breastfeeding for 14 months. My main goal was 6 months. I far passed that. My little one actual doesn't bite me. She did it a few times but I told her no and unlatched her and let her know it wasn't okay and then put her back on. It is actually recommened to breastfeed at least 2 years.
Reply:My daughter is 8 months and she is exclusively breastfed. I nurse when I'm with her and pump when I'm away. I plan on breastfeeding for as long as I can or until she weens herself. I haven't really thought about the teeth thing b/c she still doesn't have any, and yea it may hurt a few times but I'm jsut gonna keep truckin' along.
Reply:*lol* Well firstly she'll get teeth long before 9 months.





Secondly you can't picture it *now* but remember you don't go to bed one day and wake up with a 1 year old. The change happens gradually.





These are the best two articles:


http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/...


http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.ht...





Plus it reduces your risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer the longer you nurse (over your whole lifetime, not necessarily per child). Breastfeeding can also prevent fibroids for the duration of breastfeeding, and it may reduce mom's need for insulin if diabetic.
Reply:The main reason I continued was because it was SO easy putting him to bed at night and nap time. Other benefits are that any immunities that you have in your system get passed on to him/her, so your child will be less likely to get sick. When he did get sick with the stomach flu once, he wouldn't tolerate any food...only breast milk. I knew he's stay hydrated and get enough nutrition the couple days he was sick. It also helped me lose the rest of the baby weight. Middle of the night wakings (when they happened) were much easier as I had the boob there if it was necessary, but didn't waste any formula or milk if that isn't what he wanted.


I'd suggest not putting a time table on it and just stop when you're ready to. When my son was 2+ I stopped nursing at night because it just wasn't easy anymore - a couple months later, nap time nursing went away. Since it was only at home, I never felt weird pressure from anyone to stop. Since stopping (it's been a few months), he hasn't been sleeping any better (which was why my husband encouraged me to stop nursing at night) - he still wakes occasionally at night. Teeth....when he was teething was the only time he ever bit me and I flinched out of surprised, shocking him, and I tenderly touched his chin and firmly said, 'no biting'. He cried, it was sad, but he only did it a couple more times - same issue. I think it sometimes is a teething thing - so at that point we stopped nursing for a few minutes and I got him a cold bitey toy. After he was more used to his teeth, it never happened. He didn't get his first tooth until 10 months - all babies are different.
Reply:my 8 month old has almost 8 teeth......he doesn't bite
Reply:Some of the benefits of breastfeeding past 1 year are the same as before 1 year - convenience, weight management (for you), and baby inherits any antibodies your body builds up (if you get a cold, your body develops antibodies to fight off that particular strain when it shows up again, and these are passed on in thre breastmilk, so your baby can also fight that strain if it comes along!).





Around one year, I noticed that my milk production really dropped off, probably bc i wasn't nursing as often, so it was a natural stopping point.





As far as the teeth go - he got bottom teeth first, which should not cause a problem, bc the tongue is in between the teeth and your boob during feeding. If you do get bit, baby may just be done with that meal, and is just doing it out of boredom. A firm word and taking her off your breast may do the trick, but after that, you have to decide what's tolerable for you. Keep in mind that you can always pump and give the milk in a bottle - it doesn't carry the emotional benefits of nursing, but 1) she still gets the health benefits and 2) heck, any way you feed your baby should be emotionally satisfying - you are sustaining life!





And hey, breastmilk is free!
Reply:My daughter is turning 13 months this week, and I am still breastfeeding, she has bitten me a few times. She now has three teeth on top and two on bottom. I say ouch when she bites and she starts crying because she knows what she did. But I just can't imagine quitting, I love the bonding very much. I know that it has to end one of these days though, but I am not looking forward to it. But I don't want it to come to the point that when she wants some milk that she comes up to me and lifts up my shirt. No way!!
Reply:first off i am not probreastfeeding, and i am not probottlefeeding, i am doing what YOU think is right for you and your baby. that said, personally i know that the first few months is great for a baby. that said im not sure on the long term thing. my children (twins) were only breastfed for a little over 3 weeks as i ran out of milk. they were then on hypoallergenic formula as my daughter had acid reflux (and yes she spit up breastmilk too). at one year they went to whole milk and are now 10 and still on whole milk. we have your run of the mill illnesses, colds, flu, allergies, sore throat, ear infections, nothing chronic nothing serious. my sister in law breastfed exclusively for over a year and the kids are CHRONICALLY sick. much more so than mine. im sure ill get a big thumbs down, but im not really sold on the breastmilk is best, for as long as possible. my children are very intelligent, highly active and energenic, and long and lean. they have no health issues.





my advice, make your own decision when you are ready. talk to her dr, your dr and make your own mind up. there are pros/cons to everything. the best advice is to take all the options and make the choice based on you and your family. im sure whether you continue to breastfeed, or you change to formula or milk(after a year) your daughter will be just fine.
Reply:I breastfed my oldest two for quite a while after their teeth came in. I'm currently bf'ing my 6 month old and he is teething right now. She will most likely bite you at some point but you just have to let her know that it is not okay by taking her away from your breast immediately and telling her no. I think the bonding experience for me and my kids is the biggest benefit. Good luck:0)
Reply:they will bite but just saying no and take it away and then give it back they get it after a few tries. after a year they still all there getting. they dont really need cows milk you milk is better for them. i plan to breastfeed until hes done. they will wean them selfs.
Reply:The nutrition still rocks for one- not to mention continued bonding. When a toddler is sick and doesn't want to eat, it's also handy to have that perfect food right there and chances are, they'll still breastfeed.


Check out mothering.com and search for child led weaning and extended breastfeeding
Reply:Well if she starts to get teeth and she starts to hurt you while breastfeeding then I would wean her as soon as you could. My baby is only 8 weeks also and I am not sure then benefit of nursing past a year. But once the teeth come in and she starts to hurt me I will know it is time to take her off the boob.



books