The vast majority of mothers believe that the harm of prolonged breastfeeding significantly exceeds his benefit. Guided by this belief, many mothers excommunicate their babies from the breast after a year and a half. And often, and children are painfully experiencing this process, and mothers themselves. We will try to understand what is the optimal duration of breastfeeding.
As a rule, if the mother managed to start breastfeeding at the beginning of this process and keep it for up to six months, then there are no further problems. But closer to a year - one and a half mom is going to go to work, the baby is being prepared for a kindergarten. And then there is the question of excommunication. And often it does not take into account that, first of all, requires attention: "Is the baby ready for this?" After all, the mother's disruption of the usual way of life, the rhythms of feeding causes stress (and she is an adult!). What is the child like?
To understand if the baby is ready to be out of the breast, pay attention to the following. Can a child fall asleep without her mother's milk? Was there a positive experience of falling asleep without a mom - with a grandmother, dad, a nanny? Can the crumb calmly, without hysterics stay on a visit with an overnight stay (for example, at the grandmother?). How often does the baby at home attach to the chest? Can you agree with the child and do not feed him at guests, on the street, in transport? If your answers are positive, then the excommunication will pass gently and will not cause any stress to the baby. But if not - you need to learn more about the specifics of feeding the baby after a year and a half, about the methods of combining mother's work, a kindergarten with breastfeeding. Then you will act as wisely as possible, focusing on the real needs of your beloved crumbs. Here the main principle - "Do no harm!"
It is noteworthy that with the duration of feeding we have a lot of myths. For example, you can often hear about the dangers of prolonged breastfeeding for boys. They say, for example, that if an adolescent continues to feed on his mother's breast, he gets an excess of female hormones, which in the future can provoke a propensity for homosexuality. In fact, the WHO (World Health Organization) studies have shown that breast milk is always optimal in composition for a given child's age. Therefore, there is no need to talk about any excess of hormones. And continued feeding (with proper organization) is equally beneficial to boys and girls. What is its use?
The main benefit of prolonged breastfeeding is the tangible support of childhood immunity. After all, after one and a half years there is a so-called involution of milk. By its composition, it is close to colostrum. And outwardly it is noticeable. If you express a drop of milk during this period and consider it, you can see that the color is not whitish or rich in white, like mature milk from a nursing mother. In color it is grayish, in consistence - liquid, watery. In fact, it's diluted colostrum. Well, I write a lot about the benefits of colostrum, so it's not necessary to talk about it specially. So think about whether you need to voluntarily give up such a notable support of the child's body. Moreover, if the child has an addiction to the garden (stress!), A collision with infections in the group's children's team, adaptation to them (and this is a serious test for the immunity of crumbs!).
Well, if the benefits of prolonged breastfeeding are so great, can you tell me if it is possible to combine it with my mother's work and visit the baby's garden? Of course you can! For this it is important to follow a number of rules.
- Well, if long before going to work, my mother will be away from the baby for a little while, leaving him with a person familiar to him - a grandmother, a friend, a nanny. You can leave, starting at 4 months (for an hour or two). After six months, you need to leave - better 1-2 times a week for two to four hours. After a year and a half (look at the child) you can leave for 6 - 8 hours twice a week.
- Teach your baby after a year, that we do not eat milk at all, wherever you want, but at home, in the room, without prying eyes. Do not let your breasts be bare at guests. But behave calmly and affectionately, do not provoke stress in the child. Support him: "You're already big, smart, independent!"
- Be sure to feed the baby milk immediately after returning from work, from the kindergarten, after any separation. A crumb must make sure that he is still loved and waiting.
- Organize (if it was not before) or continue a joint dream with the child. If you are unavailable to the baby in the daytime, even though at night he will feel your presence nearby. In order to avoid nighttime fears and resorting to a parent's bed at the age of 5 to 6 years, when the child is already really big, it is better to nourish it with mother's warmth before the age of three. After three such children usually themselves go into a separate bed, stating that they are already large.
- Remember that the usual mode of feeding a child after a year and a half is breast milk before and after the sleep, and also after the arrival of the mother from work or after kindergarten. + Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack (if in the garden), dinner - according to the usual order of life in the family or in the kindergarten.
- If a grown-up kid begins to ask for breasts too often, like a small one, either he experiences severe stress (look for the reason!) Or he has a lot of free and unorganized time (organize communication with friends, visiting a mug, etc.)
As we see, the harm of breastfeeding is a moot point. The benefit is palpable. But the optimal guide in the need to remove from the chest or its absence will be only the child himself. If in the period from 2.5 - 3 to 5 years there is a time when the baby does not ask for a breast - do not offer. If he is ready to self-emptying, he will not ask for milk. If not, calmly wait for the right moment. So you will give the child the main thing - the stability of the nervous system, excellent health and full development. After all, children who have long been on their chest, do not have problems with speech therapist, bite, they often outstrip their peers for mental development, they are strong in spirit, cheerful, sociable.