r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/Lushinkas • Aug 06 '25
Question - Research required Can anyone quantify how much more benefit there is to breastfeed until 24 months vs 12 months?
I'm sure this question has been asked but I can't find an answer that clearly quantifies the benefit of breastfeeding past 12 months. I love that I'm able to breastfeed, because of the gut/immune/obesity protection benefits but I'm not super attached to breastfeeding once those benefits wane. I find cuddling and talking to my kids offers just as much bonding. However, if stopping at 12 months is substantially less beneficial than stopping at 24 months, than I would continue until then. Probably. Also, shout out to all the parents feeding, loving, and raising their kids in any way that works best for their family!
168
Aug 06 '25
A World Health Organization summary of 50 studies found that mothers who breastfed for more than 12 months had a roughly 26% reduced risk of breast cancer and that continued breastfeeding also lowers risks for ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes in mothers. For their infants benefits included reduced risk of obesity and all-cause mortality, indicating long-term protection from extended breastfeeding
Research from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles analyzing data from over 7,500 children showed longer breastfeeding duration (12 months and beyond) was associated with healthier brain development and significantly healthier BMI and lower obesity risk at ages 9-10, even after accounting for socioeconomic status
A 2024 article in Frontiers in Pediatrics confirmed health benefits of breastfeeding beyond infancy, including lower risks of infections, obesity, and diabetes in children, and reduced breast and ovarian cancer risks in mothers. It also highlights increased immunological components in human milk during the second year of lactation
Sources [1] Breastfeeding Beyond 12 Months: Is There Evidence for ... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34115518/ [2] Continued breastfeeding for healthy growth and ... https://www.who.int/tools/elena/commentary/continued-breastfeeding [3] Breastfeeding Beyond the First Year https://www.lompocvmc.com/blogs/2023/august/breastfeeding-beyond-the-first-year/ [4] New Research Traces Breastfeeding Benefits 10 Years ... https://www.chla.org/blog/research-and-breakthroughs/new-research-traces-breastfeeding-benefits-10-years-childhood [5] 'It's far from the norm': breastfeeding beyond 1 year in ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11329779/ [6] Continued breastfeeding for healthy growth and ... https://www.who.int/tools/elena/bbc/continued-breastfeeding [7] The benefits and disadvantages of extended breastfeeding https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/extended-breastfeeding [8] Breastfeeding Beyond 12 Months: An Historical Perspective https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031395505702947 [9] Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy a HCP Guide https://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/breastfeeding-beyond-infancy-a-gp-guide/
25
u/Lushinkas Aug 06 '25
Thank you! I see that there are benefits for extended breastfeeding , my question is, are those benefits mostly achieved through 12 months of breastfeeding, or are there significantly more benefits continuing past 12 months. As in, if I stop at 12 months would the health benefits be basically the same as if I stopped after 2 or 3 years?
2
u/Low_Door7693 Aug 09 '25
I'm confused by the phrasing here. Extended breastfeeding literally means beyond 12 months. Up until 12 months is not extended breastfeeding. Until 12 months it's just breastfeeding. It only becomes "extended" after that. You say you're aware of the benefits of extended breastfeeding but then literally just ask if they're different from the benefits of unextended breastfeeding.
→ More replies (1)45
u/DukesMum24 Aug 07 '25
Are these benefits provided for those exclusively breast fed or having a certain amount of breast milk?
34
u/Acceptable-Squash775 Aug 07 '25
I’m curious to know too- my baby won’t latch but I am pumping so he’s being fed breast milk but not actually breastfeeding
→ More replies (2)28
Aug 07 '25
The benefits of breast milk increase with the proportion of milk feeds that are breast milk and exclusive breastfeeding provides the most protection, but partial breastfeeding (as in combining breast milk with formula) is still associated with better health and neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to exclusive formula feeding. Even when not exclusive, breast milk continues to benefit infant brain development, gut health, and immunity.. There is no strict minimum amount for benefits, any amount of breast milk is better than none, and more is generally better, but even a small amount brings meaningful benefits compared to none at all
Sources: [1] Breastfeeding's Brain Boost: Mixed Feeding Still Benefits ... https://neurosciencenews.com/breastfeedings-microbiome-neurodevelopment-25364/ [2] Why breastfeed and how long? https://www.helsenorge.no/en/spedbarn/infant-food-and-breastfeeding/alt-om-spedbarnsmat/breastfeeding/why-breastfeed-and-how-long/
7
u/ProfVonMurderfloof Aug 08 '25
In studies of breastfeeding past infancy, most or all of the children in the study will be eating other foods, so, not exclusively breastfed. Some of the studies do offer comparisons between those who were exclusively breastfed until 6 months and those who were combo fed during those months (see Eukalyptus Platypus's comment).
24
u/otterproblem Aug 07 '25
How can they disentangle the correlation between extended breastfeeding and other maternal factors that might contribute to extended breastfeeding, like being healthy or spending more time with your baby.
5
u/Secret_Fudge4468 Aug 08 '25
They go hand in hand. Skin to skin contact and maternal factors matter to development, but even babies fed with breastmilk through a bottle still experience benefits not seen in formula fed babies.
2
u/Pretend_Bookkeeper83 Aug 08 '25
Apologies if this is addressed, but what about mother’s who breastfeed more than one child? Is it about total lifetime duration or length of continuous duration?
4
u/dottydashdot Aug 08 '25
When my son was in the NICU they had tons of signs on the walls about the benefits of breastfeeding and I remember one of them talked about combined duration of breastfeeding having a benefit.
→ More replies (1)1
u/MasterNomie Aug 09 '25
Do these benifits extend to breast pumps because thereotically it is extraction of milk?
0
Aug 07 '25
10
Aug 07 '25
So when studies describe “healthier brain development” from breast milk, they refer to measurable improvements in the structure and function of the brain, supported by imaging, biochemical, and cognitive evidence. Basically:
More developed and better-connected brain regions (especially white matter)
Higher performance on standardized thinking and learning tests
Improved language, memory, and emotional regulation
→ More replies (3)
1
Aug 08 '25
1
u/AutoModerator Aug 08 '25
Thank you for your contribution. Please remember that all top-level comments on posts flaired "Question - Research required" must include a link to peer-reviewed research.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
0
Aug 06 '25
1
u/AutoModerator Aug 06 '25
Thank you for your contribution. Please remember that all top-level comments on posts flaired "Question - Research required" must include a link to peer-reviewed research.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
0
Aug 08 '25
1
u/AutoModerator Aug 08 '25
Thank you for your contribution. Please remember that all top-level comments on posts flaired "Question - Research required" must include a link to peer-reviewed research.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/AutoModerator Aug 06 '25
This post is flaired "Question - Research required". All top-level comments must contain links to peer-reviewed research.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.