by Sicily

Created on: August 02, 2008

Being a young mother did not change my mind about breastfeeding. I looked at breastfeeding as more of a natural nurturing process that allowed bonding time with my child. I never looked at it as a meal. Breastfeeding is great, but it's also a very hard thing to do, something most experience mothers seem to avoid telling you. Breast milk is supposed to better for your child than formula, but most mothers in this day and age choose to opt for formula quicker.

When my daughter was born and I was on maternity leave I had no problem breastfeeding in the privacy of my own home, and she had no problem eating. So then we took our first trip out, and of course I wasn't one of those women to throw a blanket over me so my child could eat, and she didn't agree with that either. When venturing beyond their usual settings babies tend to be more attentive to the outside world, than they are to things they see everyday. So from then on out, when we left the house she received formula.

Breastfeeding a child is a wonderful experience but beyond a certain time that cannot be used as the only feeding method. Most children start on baby cereal and food between 4 and 6 months of age. If your still breastfeeding come that time cereal and food should be given, but breast milk still is the main portion of their daily diet.

At my breastfeeding class they told us about breastfeeding beyond 3 months. Once a mother hits that time they recommend if you continue to give your child breast milk that it only be given in a bottle, because the longer you breastfeed exclusively the harder it is to wean your child, and the mother suffers from separation anxiety.

Most children hit that stage of separation anxiety on their own, and for mothers that opt for food, and formula quicker it serves as a buffer. Once your child begins baby food, formula and even breast milk in a bottle you can help set your own time. My daughter now 5 months eats four meals of baby food and cereal a day. She rolled over at 3 months, and crawled last week. If you exclusively breastfeed a child I personally feel that your slowing their progress with the outside world. If you wait until 6-9 months before introducing a bottle, it's going to take your child longer to learn to hold the bottle.

Every child is different, and every mother is different. Breastfeeding is great to start but my own personal opinion on the matter is that it shouldn't last longer than 3-4 months. Even though breast milk is great for your child's immune system, once they get their first set of shots your job is done.

Breastfeeding involves the mother and the child. If you're a working mother, that's juggling more than one child, I don't think it's a good idea to breastfeed exclusively. Considering that when you're breastfeeding you need to eat better, and be more conscious of what you eat than you did when you were pregnant. One bad food choice could cause your child discomfort.

I'm not saying that breastfeeding is bad, or wrong, I chose to do it too. Every mother needs to take into account all the things that deal with breastfeeding, and know when it's time to offer other choices, and quit breastfeeding exclusively.

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