Pediatrician advice on best month to stop breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding

According to studies, breastfeeding has both short and long-term benefits on infants. The reason for this is that breast milk has antibodies that can help to:

1. Lower asthma rates.

2. Reduce the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

3. Protect against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

4. Reduce the risk of ear infections.

According to Jody Segrave-Daly, a NICU nurse and international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), breast milk also increases a baby’s immune system by providing nutrients and antibiotics that develop the immune system. Also, your baby will be in a healthy condition as long as you breastfeed him or her.

Breastfeeding doesn’t only help the infant, it also helps to lower the risk of ovarian or breast cancer in the mother.

When should you stop breastfeeding?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding for six months is the best. Subsequently, both organizations also added that parents should start reducing their breastfeeding rate and start giving their children solid foods when they clock 6 months.

In total, the AAP recommends that women should continue breastfeeding for 1 year or longer or as the mother and her child wish, while the WHO recommends breastfeeding for almost two years.