Many moms make the choice to stop nursing during the first year of their baby's life. Others choose to continue into the toddler years. There's no right or wrong decision in regards to breastfeeding, but if you're combining it with a healthy toddler diet, it's important to understand how breast milk should be balanced with other foods to ensure adequate nutrient intake for healthy growth and development.
Extended Breastfeeding
Nursing your baby past age one is often referred to as extended breastfeeding and is not as common in America as it is in other parts of the world. However, the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years, even if it's not something traditionally done among your mom friends. Nursing a toddler is different than nursing an infant because an older child won't need to breastfeed as often, probably every four to five hours, according to Monroe County Health. Additionally, your toddler can't live on breast milk alone and should be eating finger and table foods at regular meal times.
Healthy Toddler Diet
Toddlers need to eat a variety of foods from each food group to get the nutrients their bodies and brains need to grow and develop. Your toddler needs at least six servings of grains, five servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of milk, two servings of protein and three to four servings of healthy fats each day, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Yes, he'll be getting nutrients from your breast milk, but it's not enough to fuel his growth during the toddler years. Combine nursing with well-balanced meals and snacks for the most benefit.
Feeding Schedule
When you began introducing food purees to your baby, you might have done so after nursing, since breast milk is so important for infants. Once your baby reaches his first birthday and enters the toddler years, nursing before meals might cut down on how much solid food your little one eats at the table, which means he might not be getting enough. Instead, let your toddler eat the foods on his plate, then offer breast milk. This way he gets a varied diet, but your mother's milk can fill in any gaps that might be present, especially if he is a picky eater.
When to Nurse
Breastfeeding your toddler isn't something that just offers comfort. It provides nutritional and health benefits too. Toddlers don't always nurse for extended amounts of time like they did as babies. Your little one might only nurse for a couple of minutes at one sitting. This is normal and is why you need to make sure he's also getting plenty of solid foods. You don't have to have a set nursing schedule for your toddler, but creating a routine helps your toddler learn when to expect breast milk, which can make it simpler to get him to eat other foods when it's mealtime instead of demanding mother's milk first. For example, maybe he gets to nurse at nap time and before bed, but otherwise drinks from a cup and eats food from a plate.
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