A variety of additional foods is necessary when a child is about six months old, but breastfeeding should continue well into the second year of a child's life and for longer if possible.

Supporting Information

Although children need additional foods after about the first six months of life, breastmilk is still an important source of energy and protein, and other nutrients such as vitamin A, and helps to protect against disease during the child's second year of life.

A mother can continue to breastfeed her child for as long as she wishes, but it is best for her own and her children's health if she avoids becoming pregnant again until her youngest child has reached the age of two years. Most methods of avoiding pregnancy - including condoms, IUDs, and voluntary sterilization - do not affect breastfeeding. 'Minipills' and injectable contraceptives also have no effect on breastmilk providing that they contain no oestrogen. But conventional contraceptive pills can reduce the amount of breastmilk.

Babies get ill frequently as they learn to crawl, walk, and play. A child who is ill needs breastmilk. It provides a nutritious, easily digestible food when the child loses appetite for other foods.

Between the ages of one and two, a baby benefits from breastmilk as well as needing family foods. Breastfeeding is good for the child as part of a meal, or between meals, or whenever the child feels hungry. But at this time, all children need other foods. In the second year of life, breastfeeding should be an addition to, not a substitute for, normal meals.

Breastfeeding also comforts a child when he or she is frightened, hurt, angry, or tearful.