5 Steps To Breastfeeding Older Children

It is generally believed that children should not beand organizations that can facilitate coping with the
breast fed beyond a certain age, specifically afterstigma attached to this practice.
they are one or two years old. It forms a topic ofHere are some simple tips on how to breast feed
general controversy worldwide.your baby :
However, it is still practiced everywhere around the1. Sit in a position you feel comfortable in, with a
globe, and some nursing mothers continue tostraight back and a flat lap. You could also put a
breastfeed even when their children are four or fivepillow on your lap to make it more comfortable for
years old and beyond. Breast feeding support groupsyour little one.
argue that it is nobody's but the mother and child's2. Put the baby on your lap and turn the baby
decision on the appropriate time to discontinue breasttowards your stomach. The baby's bottom lying on
feeding, although they don't take a firm line on whenyour elbow and the baby's shoulders, neck and head
it is okay to stop breast feeding a child.supported by your arm and hand is the ideal position
It is agreed by general consensus that infants benefitto take.
greatly from breast feeding. The same can be applied3. Put your baby's face in front of your nipple. Let
to older children too ; they benefit both from thethe baby's head tip back a little, very slowly and
nutritional elements of breast milk and the closecarefully. Gently put the baby's mouth on the nipple
contact with their mothers.and rub back and forth until the baby opens his or
A lot of people have objections with breast feedingher mouth wide.
because of a number of reasons. One reason is that4. Bring the baby's chin against your chest. This will
breasts have sexual connotation in society, andfacilitate easier breathing for the little one. You're
people feel that this kind of contact with children isdoing it right if you feel a large part of breast
not very healthy. Also, many claim that this practicecovered by your baby's mouth. If you can hear the
could lead to the social ostracism of children and theirbaby swallowing, then you're doing it properly.
families because is it so uncommon in nature. Women5. You might need to support your breast or change
continue to face discrimination for breast feeding inpositions in order to make the process more
public and breast feeding older children in spite of thecomfortable. It's okay to start over if you're not
enhancement of women's rights movements. Nursingcomfortable or if the baby's having problems.
mothers who breastfeed their older children need toAdditional information is accessible in the form of
be proactive in this regard, and associate with peoplebreast feeding support groups.