Breastfeeding longer than six months doesn't have many downsides, but it could be a problem if you are trying to get pregnant again. At about six months, your child should be able to sit up on his own and will likely be starting to eat solids. Breast milk is no longer his sole source of calories, but he should continue to get most of his calories from breast milk or formula until at least the age of 1.
Fertility
Breastfeeding dampens the hormones that restore fertility, so a breastfeeding mother often has trouble getting pregnant again while breastfeeding. This is typically only an issue for women who want to have another child soon after the first, such as older mothers who run the risk of being unable to conceive if they space children farther apart. Reducing breastfeeding can sometimes be enough to restart the hormones, so many mothers whose babies start solids or use a formula supplement find that their fertility returns quickly. If this is a concern for you, talk to a lactation consultant about partial weaning. Many nursing mothers get pregnant, continue to breastfeed throughout a pregnancy and tandem nurse afterward, so fertility concerns are not specifically a reason you have to stop.
Social Support
As your baby gets older, there is often less social support for your decision to nurse your child. While most people support the idea of nursing a newborn, many have definite ideas about when and how a baby should be weaned. Contact your local La Leche League group, the international breastfeeding support organization, for needed support if you choose to continue. Its members can help you develop responses to criticisms about extended breastfeeding.
Myths and Misconceptions
Many mothers develop concerns about specific aspects of breastfeeding an older baby that aren't actually a problem for most women. Breastfeeding during teething is one common concern, but the only effect most mothers notice from babies who are teething is a minor indentation on the breasts where the teeth press during nursing. Other mothers worry that later weaning will be more difficult, but babies or toddlers who wean later often do so more naturally and with less stress to both mother and child.
Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding for at least the first year of life, with further breastfeeding as desired. The World Health Organization recommends continuing to nurse your child for two years or more. Breastfeeding after the first six months can take many forms, including continuing with breastfeeding on demand, limiting feeds to specific times each day or supplementing with formula.
References
- Kellymom.com; Breastfeeding Past Infancy; Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC; June 2011
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Breastfeeding FAQ
- La Leche League International: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8th Edition; Dianne Wiessinger, Diana West and Teresa Pitman; Ballantine Books; 2010
- Kids Health: Feeding Your Newborn
