Tag: Extended breastfeeding

While exclusive breastfeeding burns an estimated 500 to 700 calories per day in the first several months, this number decreases substantially as an infant transitions to eating solid foods. To accurately answer how many calories does it take to breastfeed a toddler, mothers must consider their unique nursing frequency, their toddler’s intake of solids, and their own activity level.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), continued breastfeeding is recommended for up to two years or beyond, alongside nutritionally adequate complementary foods. So, can you use breastmilk after 6 months? The answer is a resounding yes, as it continues to provide significant health benefits for your growing child.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast milk provides all the energy and nutrients an infant needs for the first six months of life and continues to provide a significant portion of a child's nutritional needs up to two years and beyond. The notion that breast milk loses its nutritional value over time is a misconception, as its composition dynamically changes to adapt to a growing child's requirements.

A common misconception suggests that breast milk loses nutritional value after 1 year, but scientific evidence proves this to be false. Far from being less nutritious, the composition of breast milk dynamically changes to meet a toddler's specific needs, offering significant ongoing nutritional and immunological benefits.

Many believe breast milk loses its value over time, but research from sources like the journal *Nutrients* shows its fat and protein content actually increases during extended lactation, sometimes by as much as 60% in terms of energy per ounce. This adaptive quality directly addresses the question: **How nutritious is breast milk after 2 years?** The answer is remarkably so, offering unique benefits for both mother and child.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other major health bodies recommend continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for two years or beyond. This recommendation confirms that far from being a mere comfort habit, **is breastmilk still beneficial after a year** and continues to provide substantial nutritional and immunological value for toddlers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both support continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. So, **can I give breast milk to my older child**? The answer is yes, and it offers significant benefits for health and development alongside complementary foods.