Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Should you breastfeed your 2-year-old?

Lauren Barth
By

Breastfeeding is not for every mom — and extended breastfeeding is a challenge for even the most committed nursing advocates. But if you and your little one are not ready to give up those 1:1 bonding sessions as your baby approaches toddlerhood, you may consider continuing your journey. As with all parenting decisions, it is a choice that should be guided by your own needs and those of your babe — although, fair warning, you will get plenty of opinions on this particular mama matter. There are benefits and drawbacks to take into consideration, but the most important thing to remember: There is no right or wrong answer here.

mom breastfeeding toddler
Iryna Inshyna/ Shutterstock

Benefits of breastfeeding a toddler

If you have made it long enough to be considering nursing a 2-year-old, kudos to you. This is quite an accomplishment. If you’re ready to throw in the towel and reclaim your life and breasts, go for it — no shame in that mom game. But, if you are wistful at the idea of ending this moment in time, know that you don’t have to stop. There are benefits to extended breastfeeding:

Recommended Videos

Nutrition boost: Your baby can all get the nutrition they need from solids at this point, so guilt shouldn’t drive your decision. Of course, breast milk is chock-full of nutrients your toddler can benefit from regardless of their diet.

Furthermore, just as your milk evolved to meet the nutritional needs of your infant, it continues to adapt for your toddler. To this end, extended breastfeeding can be helpful for toddlers who are finicky about food.

Extra immunity: Toddlers continue to benefit from the immunity-boosting qualities of breast milk, and exposure to antibodies can help protect them from certain illnesses.

Bonding time: Don’t underestimate the emotional continuity that extended breastfeeding brings. Your breast has been your little one’s safe space for months; if you resume nursing, it’ll remain a source of comfort.

Toddlers are energetic creatures, but even the most curious child will seek out the breast when they’re feeling unsettled or unwell. Likewise, you may enjoy the cuddles that come with extended breastfeeding. Nursing gives you both an opportunity to settle down and snuggle up.

Protection for you: As noted by the Mayo Clinic, breastfeeding for 12 or more months can potentially offer you some protection from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other diseases.

Downsides of breastfeeding a toddler

Of course, there’s a flip side to the cozy parts of extended breastfeeding. Toddlers can be tiny terrors — and sometimes your breasts will take the brunt of a mini person’s fury. Suddenly thinking twice about nursing your 2-year-old? Here are some other things to consider:

It could limit your time: If you’ve spent the past few months nursing on demand, you may be ready to reclaim your time, go back to work, or squeeze in a hobby for yourself.

It’s not always comfortable: Your toddler may experiment with wacky feeding positions that aren’t exactly natural for you. Go with the flow when your yogi tries nursing upside down, but if it causes pain, gently reprimand and reposition. You can also stop and explain that you’ll resume once they’re feeling calmer.

Toddlers also have teeth. Your nipples may not enjoy the unexpected chomp of a big 2-year-old canine. If biting or grazing becomes habit, explain that it hurts, and that you will have to stop if they continue using their teeth that.

You may be judged: While extended breastfeeding is embraced throughout the world, it’s less common in the U.S. The irony is that women feel pressured to nurse for six months, but when they do it beyond the one-year mark, they suddenly get side-eye shade. This is a personal decision. No one else’s opinion matters. You do you.

mom breastfeeding 2 year old
Tomsickova Tatyana/ Shutterstock

Tips for breastfeeding toddlers

If you’ve made up your mind to stay the course, there are a few words of wisdom to keep in mind.

There is no schedule: Your breast will often take second stage to other excitement, and there may be no rhyme or reason to your nursing schedule. Your child could be enthusiastic about nursing one day and indifferent the next. Since they no longer require breast milk, this is nothing to stress over. However, if you like having rhythm to your routine, you may find these sporadic sessions disruptive to your day.

A toddler may be more prone to relaxing into a nursing session during quiet times; try a feeding when they wake up and as they’re winding down in the evening.

When to wean: There’s no right or wrong time to wean. You can let their cues be your guide or establish your own timetable. Start by talking with your toddler. Gradually reduce feeding times and cut out pre-bedtime nursing. Keep the cuddles going strong even when you’re no longer offering the breast. It’ll take time, but eventually you’ll both be ready.

Breastfeeding your 2-year-old or toddler kids is certainly not for the faint of heart. The pros are plentiful, but the cons are too. As with all aspects of parenting, there will be exhausting days ahead when you want to call it quits, and moments that bring you immeasurable joy and gratitude. Be confident in your decision, and try to enjoy this sweet time soaking up all the skin-to-skin love — and then show yourself grace and kindness when you feel ready to stop. This is your breastfeeding journey, after all, and you are in charge. You’ve got this, Mama.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lauren Barth
Lauren Barth
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lauren Barth is a freelance writer and digital editor with over a decade of experience creating lifestyle, parenting, travel…
How to get your toddler to take medicine – try this simple hack
Here's one way to get your sick toddler to take their medicine
Giving toddler medicine

There's nothing worse as a parent than having a sick child, except for having a sick child who refuses to take medicine. If you've ever watched your toddler immediately spit out a mouthful of medicine that you know will make them feel better, or refuse to open their mouth at all, then you can relate. Battling a sick toddler isn't fun.

Unfortunately, kids are magnets for germs and sometimes it's necessary to give them medicine to help them feel better. Having a sick toddler can mean sleepless nights not only for your child but for you as well, and medicine can often make them feel well enough to get the rest they need to recover. Thankfully, forums like Reddit exist where parents share their simple hacks to get toddlers to take medicine that you won't believe you didn't think of first. Keep reading to learn this easy hack to get kids to take medicine.
The juice pouch
Reddit can be a wealth of information when it comes to a lot of different things, including parenting hacks that can make your life easier. Redditor HootsWereHad recently posted a simple yet effective method to get a sick toddler to take cold medicine that involves nothing more than a delicious juice pouch.

Read more
If you love Disney, these are the motivational quotes to complete your nursery decor
Decorating the nursery or redoing a bedroom? These motivational quotes for kids will fit right in
A crib with nursery decor hanging above it

Decorating a nursery for the first time, redoing a kid's room with a new theme, or wanting art added to your child's bedroom? Motivational quotes are always the way to go. If you're stuck with where to pull inspiration from, how about your kiddo's favorite Disney characters? Disney-loving families will find the perfect motivational quotes for kids to help keep their focus on the positive side of things while leaning on them as room decor.
To remind your child it's all about their attitude
A child is never too young to learn how to work out a problem on their own, and it's never too early to help them have a positive attitude when working through an issue. These Disney characters have the right attitude.
"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." -- Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
"The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work." -- Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)
"You control your destiny -- you don’t need magic to do it. And there are no magical shortcuts to solving your problems." -- Merida (Brave)
To remind your kid they are the only one of them out there
We all think our child is the most precious creature alive. And while we are all correct, hang one of these quotes in their nursery or bedroom to remind them daily.
"Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it." -- Elastigirl (The Incredibles)
"I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then." -- Alice (Alice in Wonderland)

To remind them that taking a risk is always worth it
From the first step to the first day of school to the first activity they want to sign up for, every risk your child takes is worth it. Most children love risk-taking anyway, so foster that fearlessness by hanging these quotes up around their room.

Read more
Need to clean out the playroom? This is where you should donate toys
Need help on where to donate toys to tidy up your child's room? We have the local spots to go to first
A child's room that's a bit messy with toys and items all over

Between holidays, birthdays, and "just because" moments, the playroom and kids' bedrooms fill up pretty quickly with all sorts of items. If you want to declutter that toy room and get rid of the things your children no longer play with, donating will teach your kids to help others while letting you see the floor again. Instead of the places that are the usual stops for toy donations near you, try these other places first.
Local Buy Nothing group
If you don't know about your local Buy Nothing group, please look into it. It's a safe place to swap, give away, or ask for items or services completely free of charge. Sure, we'd all like to get a few bucks back from our child's toys, but if you don't want to go through that hassle, this is the best option. You don't even have to leave the house if you're more comfortable with porch pickups in your neighborhood.
Ask hospitals what they could use
Hospitals have tighter rules about what they can take, but it's never a bad idea to ask. The hospital would be the best for when you purchased something, it was the wrong size or item, and now you can't return it. Though items still in the packaging and with tags are always preferred, there are exceptions. Call and ask what your local hospital would take.
Reach out to local day cares/schools
If your children have ever gone to day care, you know how quickly they ask for donations. Day cares are open to more kinds of things, not just toys, so if you need to do a bit of an overhaul in your kids' rooms, ask your local day care facilities. The schools in your area are a great go-to, as well. Teachers always need classroom supplies, and the younger grades would need toys, books, and even clothing for when accidents happen.
Parent groups
Whether you're in a bunch of Facebook groups or are part of a group that meets in person, ask people you already know if they could use some toys your children have outgrown. You have a rapport with these other parents, and if you meet up in person, you could bring the items along and not have to make another stop.

Women's and children's centers in your area
For your donations to make a bigger impact, make sure women's and children's centers are on your list. If you were a struggling parent, you know how much it means to have a place like that to go to when in need. If you're a parent who doesn't have to struggle, pay it forward and count your blessings by donating to one.

Read more