At this age, breastfeeding is mostly for psychological
benefits, rather Than nutrition or
health reasons (although breastmilk
continues to be an excellent food ,
and contains higher concentrations of antibodies
than ever). Your child gets plenty of nutrition from other
sources, but there is still nothing like the breast for comfort
and security.
As your child grows more independent, the importance of a
source of security that she or he can return to whenever necessary
is great. Breastfeeding is a perfect way to fulfill this
need.
By this time, your child is likely to be very verbal. You can
ask her or him to wait (e.g., until you go back home from
shopping) to nurse, and she or he is likely to listen.
If people tell you that you are harming your child by
breastfeeding, don't listen! Breastfed children are happier, and
even if they seem to be more dependent at this time than weaned
children, they grow up to be even more independent.
If your child is breastfeeding too often (as often as a young
baby perhaps), she or he may be looking for attention rather than
the breast. Think about whether you are paying your child enough
attention (see the parenting
page).
Criticism is likely to be a
problem at this stage. If you want, you can tell your child that
you only nurse at home (or whatever you both find comfortable).
Your child will probably understand.
Breastfeeding is a great way to prevent or weather temper
tantrums. Many a breastfed toddler or young child never has a
tantrum. Even when one is about to start, you can often avert it
by offering to nurse right away. Consider yourself lucky!
Breastfeeding is also great in case your child is sick.
Nursing is often the only way to comfort a sick child. Very often,
a sick child refuses all foods, but will nurse happily. It's nice
to know that you can at least do this for your child.
A child who has been breastfed beyond the third year will
retain conscious memories of nursing into adulthood. These will be
among his or her most cherished memories. Such a child is never
likely to feel that she or he has not been loved enough! There's a
bonus for you too: many years later (perhaps when you have
grandchildren!) you and your child can talk about the time you
nursed together. A child who grows up with a conscious memory of
nursing and remembers how much she or he loved it is more likely
to think of nursing as the right way to feed a baby. This way, you
will be contributing to the development of a breastfeeding culture
to replace the awful bottlefeeding
culture we live in.