- Toddlers are notoriously busy little people, with sometimes erratic eating habits. Because my baby is still nursing, I know he is still getting the perfect food for him, with nutrients and antibodies that his growing body needs, even if most of his supper ends up on the floor.
- Breastfeeding is also the perfect, frugal food. Babies still need special nutrients that only breastmilk or formula can provide, all the way up to 18 months of age. There's no need to purchase expensive formula, as we can just keep on nursing.
- If your toddler should get sick, breastfeeding is not only a source of comfort, but is also the nutritionally perfect food for a little body that needs to get better. No need to run out and pay for an electrolyte replacement.
- Nursing is also a way for baby and mom to reconnect. Little ones can get so busy exploring their world, it's beneficial for them to take a break and have some mommy time. As we've added more children to our family, my job only gets busier, and it's helpful for me to take a break from the craziness of running a household and sit and nurse the baby.
- Which leads me to the fact that nursing a toddler is good for me too. I'm still burning extra calories to produce breastmilk, and who doesn't love burning some extra calories by cuddling a baby, instead of needing to get on a treadmill. I also get the benefits of a little oxytocin kick to help me relax during a stressful day. And, the protection that breastfeeding provides a mother against breast cancer (and other types of cancer) increases the longer that a mother nurses.
I am well aware that there are all kinds of factors which may make extended nursing an impossibility for some mothers and babies. But for our family, it has been a good thing.
Here I am nursing 15-month-old Silas, on a warm day in August.
For more information about the benefits of extended breastfeeding, visit Kellymom.
