How long is too long to breastfeed without introducing other foods?

[ABP - Mum to be]

I want to breastfeed my daughter - providing I can - until she's is 18 months old, exclusively. The thing is everyone has told me it is too long to exclusively breastfeed as she has to go onto solids at around 12 months. I just want to breastfeed as long as possible, even though I have been called selfish wanting to breastfeed that long because it would stop my fiance bonding with her. Which I know isn't true because there are other things to do than just feeding a baby to bond with it and he knows that. Is 18 months too long to breastfeed without introducing other foods?

 

[desmeran]

you can breastfeed as long as you want, but if you are feeding a 1-year-old nothing but breastmilk, they'll die of malnutrition.

the general recommendation is to introduce solids by 6 months. while i'm sure there's a little leeway,1-year-olds can't survive purely on milk any more than you can.

i'd honestly consider feeding a 17-month-old no solid food whatsoever actionable neglect.

 

[susiebryce]

Yes... Of course you can breast feed for 18 months...but you MUST introduce other foods as per your health visitor/midwife's instructions. A child can get allergies and vitamin/mineral deficiency if exclusively fed breast milk. There was a recent case in France where a baby died due to just this very thing. By all means bond with your baby via any means you want, but also realise that certainly by 18 months he/she will need more.

 

[BrainBabe]

Check with your pediatrician, and follow his or her advice, based upon how your baby is thriving. My doctor said our boys could go to six months on breast milk alone...and would be less likely to have food allergies.

Best of luck to both of you....I suspect your daughter WILL need more than JUST breast milk, but supplementing solid food WITH breast milk is a great choice!

 

[dimka]

you can breastfeed for as long as you feel comfortable with but its important to introduce solids between 6-12months. not only will your child need solids for the nutritional aspect but babys can also develop speach problems if they do not lern to chew and swallow at a young age. you should start experimenting with different flavours and textures well before 12 months unless you want a fussy baby who wont try differnt foods in the future x

 

[Melisa Gardner]

yes i think it is. When a baby reaches 6 months that's when you need to introduce solids the latest 12 month. Yes breast milk is the best thing for your baby but as it gets bigger it needs more than that. I breast feed my three children and its not easy. It makes it Alot easier when you can give the baby something else instead of your breast all the time. You will know when your baby is ready for solids because he/she will reach for food or open their mouth for it.

 

[Heather]

I've fed both mine for 12 months but only 6 months exclusively. You have to introduce food at 6 months. Your milk is not enough. Your child will suffer otherwise. Some people struggle to make it to 6 months exclusively as the child can get too Hungry and need something more.

 

[a chick]

Yes and no. If it was all you had to give, she'd certainly be alright but she'll have plenty of teeth and the desire for solids before the 18th month. My kids were both exclusively breastfed several months after many people introduce solids and even after the introduction of solids, they still nursed very frequently so it's not as if you give her applesauce and she doesn't want to nurse ever again.

 

[Skygazer]

Yes. You need to introduce solid foods by 12 months at the latest.

Don't worry, she will still want to breastfeed.