Breastfeeding Duration

Breastfeeding longer than 12 months may increase a child’s risk for iron deficiency.

Breastfeeding is best… that’s the advice most new moms get from their doctors and it’s supported by strong research on the health benefits. But now, a study out of Canada suggests there may be an issue to look out for if you breastfeed more than 12 months.

Parents of healthy children ages 1 to 6 were recruited during routine doctor visits between December 2008 and July 2011. In all, 1647 kids were included.

The team asked the mothers about their breastfeeding history then cross-referenced that information with lab tests that measured iron levels in their baby’s blood.

While the average breastfeeding duration was 10 months, 27-percent of participants breastfed for more than a year. The startling find…when breastfeeding continued past the 12 month mark, the risk of iron deficiency went up… nearly doubling.

Iron is important to a child’s brain and neurological development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors conduct risk assessments for iron deficiency anemia.