Rafed English
site.site_name : Rafed English

Continuing: eight weeks to six months, then six months and longer

This is when you are likely to have established breastfeeding. You and baby may have established a pattern for the day and night, and baby will be thriving.

Most babies should only be having breast milk. A baby will not be ready for or need other food until around six months of age.

When baby is ready, introduce them to appropriate complementary foods (solids) and continue to breastfeed until they are at least one year of age, or beyond.

Increase the texture, variety, flavour and amount of food offered so that the baby receives a complementary intake of nutrients, especially iron and vitamin C, and is eating more family foods by about one year of age.

Challenges to maintaining breastfeeding can include:

  • a need to return to paid work
  • perceived or actual lack of milk, and/or baby’s perceived or actual hunger
  • pressure or perception of need to stop breastfeeding baby, and introduce other foods
  • pressure or perception of need to introduce other foods before baby is ready or needs them.

Why breastfeed until baby is six months old?

  • Baby needs only breast milk and no other fluid or food until around six months of age.
  • Baby’s organs are still immature, but getting ready for other foods.
  • Baby’s systems are still getting the right balance of nutrients to develop properly so baby is less likely to get things like obesity and diabetes later on.
  • You are probably into the swing of it (over the hard bit) so you can really enjoy it.
  • Breastfeeding helps you bond with baby.
  • If you have gone back to work, breastfeeding can be a special way to reconnect with baby when you come home.
  • Breast milk continues to protect baby from infections.
  • It’s cheaper.
  • You may be losing some of the body fat gained while pregnant.

Remember any breastfeeding is good for a baby, so if you’ve made it this far, you’re doing well.

Why breastfeed baby for at least one year?

  • The evidence for the importance of breastfeeding for the first year of life is strong.
  • Breastfeeding helps bond with baby.
  • If you have gone back to work, breastfeeding can be a special way to reconnect with baby when you come home.

Remember any breastfeeding is good for a baby, so if you’ve made it this far, you’re doing well.

Why breastfeed baby longer than one year?

  • Breastfeeding beyond the first year of life continues to make a nutritional and health contribution along with complementary food.
  • If you have gone back to work, breastfeeding can be a special way to reconnect with baby when you come home.

Remember any breastfeeding is good for a baby, so if you’ve made it this far, you’re doing well.