My Favorite Breastfeeding Advice. 10 Tips for Breastfeeding Past 12 Months
10 Tips for Breastfeeding Past 12 Months
This post is sponsored by + created in partnership with Evenflo Feeding.
Evenflo Feeding is a parent-led organization on a mission to ensure better care for every baby by providing families with quality, innovative products, at a price that does not break the bank. We are here to make feeding available and accessible to all, regardless of wealth or status or community, because Evenflo Feeding is…
Every Baby’s Advocate & Every Parent’s Ally™
Feeding a child is a universal act of love that is unique to every family.
I have breastfeed 4 babies for 12 months and beyond. Each experience was unique, had different challenges + had different experiences that felt like ease + peace. Your experience will be: Your experience. Find confidence + peace in your choices. Accept that there may be some unexpected twists + turns + possibly some choices made for you. But, no matter what: fed is best.
Have a clear goal for breastfeeding. And, be open to the path of life opening up unexpected directions for your nursing journey. The first few weeks are the hardest, so take it one day at a time, initially.
Aiming to breastfeed for 12 months? Maybe it goes well and you continue until 3 years. You could have enough milk stored to stop breastfeeding at 9 months + baby is still getting breast milk past the first year. Maybe you have a surgery at 10 months + baby is introduced to formula, like my experience with my 4th baby.
Plan to nourish yourself. I think this advice is so important because honestly, I haven’t done a great job with this over my ten years of breastfeeding experience. I am constantly trying to improve in this area.
If the thought of swallowing prenatal vitamins makes you nauseous thinking about the pregnancy days, find a powder to use, or gummies, or drops. Get creative + show yourself kindness + support. If you are able, get a physical after your baby is born so you are able to check your blood and vitamin levels + correct any vitamin deficiencies, if you have them.
Use a pre-made delivery meal service to nourish yourself. I did this well after my daughter was born + it made a world of difference in my nutrition. My husband also ate the meals + it was a great support to us.
Plan simple + nourishing meals. If you have additional kids, make sure you eat too, when you are feeding them.
When in doubt, drink fresh lemon water. It makes everything better.
4. Have bottles on hand for when you are ready to introduce them. Or, for an unexpected emergency. You may intend to introduce bottles right after birth, but maybe you are too tired + find nursing easier.
Or, you might find that your partner can support you by allowing you to rest while they bottle feed. It is great to have options open because unexpected things can open up + it can be so helpful to meet the opportunity where it is rather than researching bottles at the last minute.
5. Choose a pump that you have sterilized and ready for use when you get home from the hospital. This is a must! Honestly, How did women survive post-birth before pumps were invented?! Even if you do not intend to pump or bottle feed, a pump is absolutely necessary in the first days + weeks after birth.
6. Get creative with what you fill your bottles with. What is your first thought when you think about filling a bottle? Breastmilk or formula? Totally. But, there are so many additional options.
Did you know that the LEAP Study (Learning Early About Peanut) determined that early introduction of peanut powder in infants as young as 4 months significantly reduced peanut allergies? Add a small amount of peanut powder to the bottle. You can also add additional powdered forms of foods to bottles to help prevent allergies to additional foods. I personally skin tested my two youngest babies before our early introduction because I do have one son with life threatening food allergies.
Rice milk. Almond milk. Oat milk. Get creative as your toddler grows. Add vitamin D drops or probiotics.
7. Wear high-waisted yoga pants, bike shorts or skirts. I personally do not even use a cover while nursing anymore. I wear high-waisted pants or shorts + carefully hold my baby while I lift my shirt to get her to latch + no one sees a thing. It is all personal choice + comfort + try it all until you find what works best for you + your baby.
8. Go ahead and use a pacifier! I think many moms are very concerned about introducing a pacifier + possibly negatively impacting the feeding + nursing journey. From my experience, if a pacifier is used to soothe, it does exactly that + makes for peaceful days for both baby + mom. If you choose to try a pacifier, have confidence in your choice.
9. Baby wearing. Baby wearing can reduce crying by 43%. Trust me. This will absolutely make your feeding experience more peaceful.
10. This goes against traditional advice, but skip the nursing bras! I have personally never found them comfortable. I love a comfortable + cute sports bra.
Feed your baby wherever they need to be fed. Trains, planes, mountain tops, running trails, hallways, football fields, the floor, the bed, the rocking chair. You can do it. The beauty of breastfeeding is you can listen to your baby + go with the flow.
My bonus tip: listen to your gut. If something feels right or wrong for you or your baby, listen to yourself + your little one. Then, head forward or change course, if needed.
Cheers to your feeding journey. You're doing great.
