Breastfeeding

Would You Breastfeed Your Child Beyond Age 2?


Would you breastfeed your child beyond age 2? In this age and time, rarely would you see a mum who would breastfeed her child past the age of 2, it’s too much work for the mother especially if she’s working. Nursing an infant is different from nursing a toddler though.

Mayowa, a 28 year old mother of 2 has this to say;

“Nursing an infant who is squealing, grabbing your boobs and thrashing around while you struggle to make him latch on properly is not like nursing a toddler, no leaking, no engorgement and no midnight screams for breastmilk.”

“The effect of breastfeeding is calming on toddlers, it also provides extra health benefit and it will provide you the perfect opportunity to bond with your baby especially if you’re a working busy mom.”


“Like me, I work far away from home and I loved the time I spend breastfeeding my baby when I get back home from work, as it allows for adequate bonding. I weaned him when he was 5 years old and I weaned his sister when she was 4.”

“And yes, they could feed themselves, eat regular food and drink out of cups when I weaned them. I could decide not to breastfeed them throughout a day and they’ll be fine, it was a supplement and I breastfed them when it’s convenient for me. When they eventually got tired, they weaned themselves at 5 and 4 years old respectively.”

“So to answer your question, yes I would breastfed my baby beyond the age of 2. “

Mabel a 30 year old mother of 3 adds her opinion;

“I can’t imagine breastfeeding my baby beyond the age of 2, I don’t even have the time. When I visited my friend and her 3 years old daughter came in from playing with her mates, undid her blouse and was about bringing out her mother’s breast. “No, not now” her mother said “I want booby” She said again. “Not now! Mommy is busy” Her mother replied and smacked her baby’s hand. 

“At the end she caved in to her daughter’s request and breastfed her, breastfed a baby that was old enough to ask for boobs, play around and even drag her mom for it! Never!” 

“I don’t judge people for whatever decision they make, but I don’t buy the idea of children sucking breast until their toddler stage.”

“If it were for the bonding issue, then why didn’t all the formula fed babies have emotional problems or find it hard to relate with their mom? And no real bonding can occur at this stage I think.

“The problem mothers who breastfeed their babies until their toddler stage will have is that they might have difficulty setting boundaries for their kids, their children may become uncooperative, self-interested and too demanding.”

“Lastly, I believe children should keep moving and developing from one stage to the other. From being carried to crawling, from crawling to walking, and from breastfeeding to cup, why would anyone want to delay that process? ” #myopinion

I believe each mother should make this decision for themselves, though!

Mamalette! Would you breastfeed your baby beyond age 2? At what age did you wean your child? Share your experience please!

More Stories You’ll Love

What To Do When Your Breastfeeding Baby Bites

Supporting Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet

Breastfeeding

How Can Date Fruit Improve Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding

Can Exclusive Breastfeeding Prevent Pregnancy?

Breastfeeding

Highlights From The 2019 World Breastfeeding Week Workshop

Breastfeeding

You Are Invited To Attend Our 2019 World Breastfeeding Week Workshop

Breastfeeding

Can A Breastfeeding Woman Fast?

Breastfeeding

Tips On Breastfeeding Twins

Breastfeeding

7 Important Lessons I Learnt About Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding

Tips For New Mums Just Starting To Breastfeed

Breastfeeding

The Journey Of The First 1000 Days Of Life

Breastfeeding

Things You Need To Know About Nursing A Premature Baby

Breastfeeding

How to Ensure Your Baby Is Gaining A Healthy Weight After Birth

Breastfeeding

How to Ensure Your Baby Is Gaining A Healthy Weight After Birth


After the birth of a baby the parent’s concern then shifts to making sure the baby is gaining weight and growing both physically and intellectually like the baby is supposed to. Growth is a good indicator of general health, and babies who are growing well are generally healthy, while poor growth can be a sign of a problem.

Doctors will keep track of weight, length, and head size. According to Kidshealth, a new born baby born at 37 and 40 weeks usually weighs 2.5kg-4kg.The length of the pregnancy is important. Babies born around their due date or later tend to be larger than those born earlier. Other factors that can affect a baby’s weight include:

  • Premature babies generally are smaller and lighter than other newborns. A preemie’s weight will be largely determined by how early he or she was born.
  • Genetics
  • Multiple births,
  • First babies are sometimes smaller than brothers or sisters born later.
  • Girls tend to be smaller, boys larger, but the differences are slight at birth.
  • Mother’s health during pregnancy
  • Nutrition during pregnancy
  • Medical problems and certain infections acquired during the pregnancy, can affect a child’s birth weight and later growth.

Valerie Marchand, is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and chair of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Nutrition and Gastroenterology Committee. She was part of a group that recommended the use of new growth charts developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).


Growth charts examine length and weight in boys and girls, from birth to thirty-six months.  In the first few days after birth, babies normally lose weight, then get back to their birth weight by about 10 days. Marchand suggests that parents should be aware that a baby’s birth weight depends more on the mother’s diet and health during pregnancy. While slow-gaining babies tend to get the most attention, there are new concerns about babies who gain quickly. “You need to look at height as well as weight,” says Marchand.

Paediatrician and breastfeeding expert Jack Newman said, “the first step is often to improve the way the baby latches on to the breast”. “When the baby is not drinking much, using compression can help,” he adds. To determine how your baby’s measurements compare with those of other babies born after the same length of pregnancy, your paediatrician will refer to a growth chart. Always refer to your baby’s pediatrician and listen to them concerning how to maintain a healthy weight for your baby.

GET THE latest from mamalette in your inbox