Page 98 - April Issue
P. 98
in focus: toddler | food & diet
Prolonged some cultures, during most
breastfeeding periods of history and in most
parts of the world babies have
While breastfeeding your baby is a been breastfed for years rather
part of having a baby, breastfeeding than months (Mead and Newton
your toddler, on the other hand, may 1967). In much of the world
trigger criticism and embarrassed today, weaning doesn’t occur
discomfort. So what do you do? until at least two years of age
(Bengson 1999). The World
Health Organisation’s infant-
feeding recommendation as
stated in the Global Strategy on
Infant and Young Child Feeding
states: As a global public health
recommendation, infants should
be exclusively breastfed for the
first six months of life to achieve
optimal growth, development and
health. Thereafter, to meet their
evolving nutritional requirements,
infants should receive nutritionally
adequate and safe complementary
foods while breastfeeding
continues for up to two years
of age or beyond. Exclusive
breastfeeding from birth is
possible except for a few medical
conditions, and unrestricted
exclusive breastfeeding results in
ample milk production.
mother, baby & child April 2011 W hen Sara Cavigli had idea of feeding a baby past the Culture
her baby girl Polly, age of six months. I just carried
she was determined on irrespective of that and now Hilary Flower, author of
to breastfeed her. “I was able she is two years old and still ADVENTURES IN TANDEM
to make a great start in feeding feeding. It’s a lot trickier now NURSING, says, “Setting limits
Polly and did it exclusively for and I obviously make it discreet. that take your own feelings into
six months without introducing Besides my husband and mum, account can keep breastfeeding
a bottle. I kept thinking I would no one knows. I have just positive....A gentle ‘No’ when
slowly wean her off but that learned to keep it quiet though nursing feels wrong creates the
six months passed into seven I am not sure why it bothers possibility of a clear ‘Yes’ for a
months and then eight months everyone so much..” session when you are truly up
and then a year passed. She ate for it. Taking your own feelings
solids and had a normal healthy What the Experts Say seriously and allowing yourself
appetite but my issue was the to freely choose when to offer
attitude of the people around According to Barbara Higham breastfeeding can maintain the
me. From my neighbours to my Ilkley, author of New Beginnings openness of breastfeeding for
friends, everyone seemed a bit (Vol. 23 No. 3, May-June 2006, both you and your nursling.” A
uncomfortable with the whole pp. 100-105) although it may breastfed baby is dependent on
seem out of the ordinary in his mother for both food and
comfort. This may frighten people
in cultures that place a high value
on self-sufficiency. A breastfed
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