Breastfeeding in older babies, should the same amount be maintained?
The developing of a child is one of the issues that most concern parents, especially during the first years of them. In this stage the children are totally dependent and can not communicate to transmit their needs, so the parents have to look at different details to try to answer these claims by the little ones.
However, there are still many doubts that parents have. An example is the lactationShould the same amount always be given to the baby? Should it be increased as it gets older, or reduced by introducing new foods little by little until the total disconnection between the breast and the small? These questions are answered by the Spanish Pediatric Association, AEP.
From 6 months
The breastmilk It becomes the only food of the little ones until 6 months. From then on, parents can begin to introduce other items according to the characteristics of the children. Does this mean that you have to disconnect the baby from the mother's breast? From the AEP indicate that this is not necessary because you do not have to think only about the nutritional aspect.
Breast milk is much more than a food. In addition to contributing a third of the daily calories to a child between 1 and 3 yearsIt also protects against infections, improves intellectual and emotional development and prevents long-term illnesses. Neither should we forget about the benefits that the mother can take advantage of thanks to breastfeeding.
And in what quantities should the breast be offered? From the 6 months It is advisable to continue offering breastfeeding on demand. Ideally, breastfeed the baby take between 4 or 5 times a day, better before meals. By the first year of life, children can continue to be granted after meals or between meals. In these cases it is not necessary to add other dairy products in your diet.
Respect the needs of the baby
Mothers should bear in mind that the needs they are changing and the appetite is no exception. It is recommended to take into account the signs of hunger and satiety not only in the first months, but throughout childhood. This involves letting the child regulate the amount he takes of each food, without forcing him to ingest more than the bill. As children grow, they can be offered healthy and varied foods, preferably rich in iron.
Little by little it will be the child himself who will get used to ingest these products leaving aside breastfeeding until its total disconnection. You can also begin to include other dairy products in your diet such as whole cow's milk or milk growth. After two years, whole or semi-skimmed milk.
They are recommended 2 to 3 servings of dairy products per day in children from 1 to 9 years old. Each of these intakes should consist of a cup of milk of about 200-250 ml, a yogurt or 30-40 g of cured cheese. It is recommended not to take more than 500 ml of milk a day as usual, if you also consume yogurt or cheese, as this can interfere with the variety of the diet, lead to overweight, constipation and anemia due to lack of iron.
Damián Montero
