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Breastfeeding and Age
October 6, 2008 |
From higher IQs to stronger immune systems, babies who are breastfed tend to be
healthier in both mind and body. “From my standpoint it is encouraging people to
breastfeed as long as they can. There’s an occasional breastfeeding advocate who
will breastfeed at three, four, five . . . six is probably the oldest I’ve seen,”
says Dr. Thomas Schiller a pediatrician with Lee Memorial Health System.
He says that many mothers wonder how long is too long when it comes to breastfeeding
their child. “A mother will be embarrassed breastfeeding a 15 month old and somebody says you shouldn’t be doing that, but they feel bad and there’s no medical reason
and they shouldn’t feel bad. They should do it as long as they feel comfortable
doing it.”
The World Health Organization suggests a breastfeeding goal of at least 12 months.
Most pediatricians, including Dr. Schiller, believe after 12 months it’s a personal
choice whether or not to continue breastfeeding. “The American Academy of Pediatrics
does not have a stance on when to stop breastfeeding so it becomes a cultural answer
more than anything.”
Dr. Schiller adds that as children grow they begin to receive the nutrients they
need from sources other than breast milk. At that point breastfeeding becomes more
of a social comfort than a health benefit.
It’s estimated that about 70% of American mothers breastfeed their babies. |
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