Why some babies get addicted to the breast

Why is it difficult for some children to stop breastfeeding?
In many cases, emotional attachment to the mother is a key contributor to some baby’s refusal to stop breastfeeding. Some children breastfeed until they are five years old. In essence, breastfeeding at that age is just for comfort, not necessarily hunger. The older some babies grow, the more attached they become to the breast.

When should one stop her baby from breastfeeding?
Majority of babies stop breastfeeding when they are about two years old, which is safe. Medically there is no specific time to stop breastfeeding, even if the mother is pregnant. The hormones of pregnancy may reduce the amount of milk available. However, some mothers continue breastfeeding their children during pregnancy and even after delivery, they continue breastfeeding the two babies. especially in cases where the mother conceived when the first baby was still very young.

Why do some babies refuse to breastfeed?
Most of the babies who refuse to breastfeed early do so because they have been introduced to some other feeding methods. If a baby is exclusively breastfeeding, they are not likely to stop breastfeeding just like that. However, babies who have been introduced early to a feeding bottle tend to refuse the breast.

During infancy, mothers are discouraged from using feeding bottles because the baby is likely to develop a condition known as nipple confusion. The milk from a bottle flows immediately a baby starts suckling. With the breast, however, the baby has to suckle for a few moments before milk starts flowing. Once the baby gets accustomed to the relatively easily accessible bottle of milk, she may not want to go back to the breast where she has to work a little bit harder before the milk comes. If a baby is exclusively breastfeeding, there should be no reason why they should stop breastfeeding early.

Is it advisable to introduce a water bottle to an infant?
Ideally, one should try to avoid introducing the feeding bottle from the beginning because breast milk has all the nutrients a baby needs including water. Mothers should avoid giving their babies glucose water because it makes the baby feel full and yet it is not nutritionally adequate.

What should one do if a child refuses to breastfeed?
If this occurs at an early age, the mother should try expressing the milk and feeding the baby on that milk. Breastfeeding is necessary in stimulating the flow of milk. The best approach is to desist from introducing feeds other than breast milk, so that the baby does not get confused. A mother who is facing difficulty in breastfeeding can consult her healthcare provider or if these are available at a nearby hospital, attend pre-lactation classes, where advice on exclusive breastfeeding is given.

If a baby refuses to breastfeed, does that imply that the mother’s milk is bad?
No. The mother’s milk cannot be bad unless the mother has breast abscess, which is accumulation of pus in the breast. Even if the mother is ill and she is not on any medication contraindicated with breastfeeding, she should continue to breastfeed. If you are unwell while still breastfeeding, ensure you inform your healthcare provider of this fact so as to ensure only drugs that are safe during breastfeeding are prescribed.

END: PG 9 / 61