From six months, breastfeeding continues to be important for children’s nutrition and development.
According to the Breastfeeding Network,
“breasfeeding at current levels is considered to be able to contribute on average at least:
- 75% of the energy requirements for children 6–8 months
- 50% for 9-11 months
- 40% at 12–24 months.
(When breastfeeding is well established and supported it can contribute an even larger percent to energy and nutrient requirements.)”
You don’t have to feed your baby for 24 months if you (or your baby) don’t want to, but neither should you feel you have to stop because of any arbitrary cut-off age. Indeed,
“All the benefits of human milk, including nutritional and health, continue for as long as your baby receives your milk. In fact, as your baby takes less human milk, these advantages are condensed into what milk is produced. Many of the health benefits of human milk are dose related, that is, the longer the baby receives human milk, the greater are the benefits.”
(La Leche League International)
Since breastmilk is a major provider of protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and protective factors and provides more calories and nutrients per ml than most of the other foods typically given to older babies as first foods, .
“The challenge is how to feed other foods so that they add to the nutritional contribution of breastmilk, rather than replace it.”
So, what sort of thing should vegan infants be eating once you’re ready to introduce solids?
Here’s a useful guide on feeding vegan infants and under fives.
There’s also a free ebook called the Secrets of Vegan Baby Nutrition available for download.