Most of you probably saw the new and very talked about cover of Time Magazine picturing a mum breastfeeding  her  3-year-old son. Whether you saw it or not, it is bound to turn heads and cause a reaction. Whatever your parenting style, you can’t deny the benefits that come through breastfeeding. I personally am all about breastfeeding, not only because that is what my business is founded upon, but because of all the great benefits that come through that special season.

Here are some benefits to think about when you are deciding to try breastfeeding, or continuing it for longer.

For Baby:

-Liquid Gold: you may for heard the saying that early breast-milk is like liquid gold to your baby. Well, it’s true! The amount of colostrum you produce is most likely the amount that your baby needs, even though it may only be a small amount. Your breast-milk also changes in nutrients as baby’s body grows.

-Easy Going: breast-milk is much easier to digest than formula for most babies. (Obviously, not all mums can breastfeed due to medical or other issues, but this is for those who can )

-Fighters: in the best sense of the word, breastfeeding can help fight off disease. Studies have been shown that babies who drink breast-milk over formula are less likely to get a number of different health issues including ear infections, lower respiratory infections, asthma etc.

For Mum:

-Physical Touch: this not only is important for mum, but also for baby. The bonding that comes during this time of nursing is like none other between you and your little one.

-Less Hassle: at first it might take awhile to get used to, but after you have a good routine down breastfeeding is loads less hassle than bottle feeding; cleaning, sterilizing, buying and keeping bottles and nipples in good condition can be quite time-consuming. In breastfeeding you only have to take care of one pair of nipples!

-Healthier Choice: mums who breastfeed normally have been shown to be more healthy all around and have less of a risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes. It also can help lose the baby weight faster! That’s a bonus!

These are just some of the benefits that come through breastfeeding. Whether you are an extreme breast-feeder (it’s the newest extreme sport, if you hadn’t heard ), or new to the whole breastfeeding thing, there are many benefits for you! Remember that your baby’s health is the most important thing as a mother, no matter how old baby is. So do what’s right for you and your little one. If you are not able to breastfeed this time, try again with the next. You can be an advocate for breastfeeding even if you are not able to do so!

How old were your kids when you stopped breastfeeding?