So my daughter is two years old and will be 3 next month. I get so many questions about when I’m going to wean her or what will I do when it’s time for her to go to school.
My toddler is extremely picky, so anyway I can get her nutrition I can. She eats fruits but doesn’t like veggies, and only eats a certain amount of foods. She gets so much nutrition from my breast milk that it makes up for her eating like a bird. LOL I still allow her to eat and since she’s older I never let nursing take the place of her eating. Well with the exception that she gets sick which rarely happens. It has been quite a journey for the both of us but I want to explain why I’m still breastfeeding after a couple of years and some of the benefits of extended breastfeeding.
A Healthy Future. Research shows that breastfed babies and toddlers are less likely to be overweight and have diabetes when they grow up.
Protection From Sickness. Breast Milk helps enhance my toddlers immune system, so that she’s been less prone to colds, allergies and other ailments. We had one time where my oldest daughter brought home this horrible virus from school where the whole house got sick. Other than that my little one hasn’t really been sick.
Boosting The Brain. Some studies show that the longer and more frequently a toddler breastfeeds, the smarter she’s likely to be thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids, or DHA, that are unique to breast milk. I can definitely agree with this because my daughter is extremely smart. She knew her ABC’s at one year old . She knows her full name and birthdate and she knows all of her numbers, colors ,etc. She is more advanced than any of my other kids were at her age.
Independent Toddler. Aalayah likes to do EVERYTHING on her own and very seldom asks for help. She isn’t very clingy at all.
The list goes on! There are also benefits for me as well, such as burning calories, reducing the risks of certain cancers, and maintaining a healthy weight. I’m not sure if I will go continue breastfeeding past her birthday but it has been a great ride and I will keep you all updated.
If you breastfed your child how long did you do it for?
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