How long are humans supposed to breastfeed?

The Recommended Duration for Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a deeply personal journey for mothers and their infants, and it comes with a wealth of health benefits that are hard to replicate with formula. The question of how long one should breastfeed is often met with varying opinions, but leading health organizations provide clear guidelines.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the recommendation is to exclusively breastfeed infants for the first six months of life. This means that during this period, no other foods or liquids should be introduced, not even water. The rationale behind this recommendation is that breast milk provides all the necessary nutrients and antibodies that infants need to thrive during their early development.
Transitioning Beyond Six Months
After the initial six months, the AAP suggests that breastfeeding should continue while introducing solid foods, ideally until the child reaches one year of age. This approach allows for a gradual transition to a more varied diet while still benefiting from the nutritional advantages of breast milk.
Extended Breastfeeding: A Personal Choice
The conversation around breastfeeding often extends beyond the first year. While some mothers may choose to wean their children around the age of one, others may continue breastfeeding for much longer. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that the natural weaning age for humans is estimated to be between 2 to 7 years old. This indicates that there is no strict timeline for weaning; rather, it is a personal decision that varies from family to family.
Factors Influencing Duration
Several factors can influence how long a mother chooses to breastfeed. These include the mother’s comfort level, the child’s readiness to wean, and any external circumstances such as work commitments or health issues. It’s also common for children to self-wean, often around nine to twelve months, when they may show less interest in nursing.
Conclusion
In summary, while the WHO and AAP recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods until at least one year, the decision to extend breastfeeding beyond this point is highly individual. Each family must navigate this journey based on their unique circumstances, preferences, and the needs of their child. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a healthy and nurturing environment for both mother and child during this critical period of development.

When should humans stop breastfeeding?

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning. It is up to you and your baby to decide when the time is right.

What culture breastfeeds the longest?

Guinea-Bissau. In Guinea-Bissau, the average length of breastfeeding is 22.6 months.

Is it normal to still breastfeed a 5 year old?

Yes, breastfeeding a child past 5 is acceptable. Most will naturally wean before this point, but there is nothing wrong with continuing as long as the child and mother want to.

When do most moms quit breastfeeding?

But although 96% of children are breastfed soon after birth, only 15% of mums are still breastfeeding exclusively 5 months later. So, what’s preventing some parents from continuing to breastfeed, and how can they persist with longer-term breastfeeding, if that’s their wish?

How long do Italians breastfeed?

Italy adheres to the WHO breastfeeding recommendations, promoting exclusive breastfeeding for approximately six months after an infant’s birth (WHO, 2017).

What is the longest a mother has breastfed?

Percent of mothers who breastfed were as follows: never (28.6%), 6 weeks (50.3%), 6 months (26.4%), 9 months (16.6%), 12 months (9.7%), 18 months (2.7%), 20 months (1%). We windsorized the 2% of mothers who reported breastfeeding longer than 24 months.

Can you breastfeed for 10 years?

As long as a child receives adequate complementary foods, there are no medical drawbacks to breastfeeding beyond the age of 1 year. However, people may face obstacles to nursing, especially if they do not have family or social support.

How long does an average mom breastfeed?

Among those who breastfed, average duration was 6.9 months; when stratified by race, breastfeeding duration was longest among White mothers at 7.3 months, followed by mothers of other races at 6.3 months, while Black mothers had shortest average duration, with 5.1 months.

How long do humans naturally breastfeed?

Humans are primates — designed to breastfeed for YEARS not months. years. Around the world, many children are breastfed for 2.5 to 7.0 years, including some in the US, Canada, and Great Britain.

At what age is breastfeeding no longer beneficial?

But Dr Max Davie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, says there is limited evidence of additional nutritional benefit beyond the age of two. “By the age of two, a child should get all the nutrients required through their diet so there is no additional benefit to breastfeeding over this age.”