Raising a Healthy Infant through Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding the baby for as long as possible is one of the ways to protect him against illness. Breastfeeding can protect against everything from ear infections, colds, asthma, allergies and diabetes, to name a few. As an added benefit, breastfed babies are leaner and less prone to obesity later on in life.

So how long should the mother breastfeed? The Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least twelve months and beyond that it can carry on as long as both the mother and child want it to. Breastfeeding is a huge nutritional, emotional and intellectual investment in the baby's life. Its benefits are far-reaching and can continue far beyond the baby's infancy.

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