Do I stop breastfeeding?

I think this is wrong information as the NHS website even says breastfeeding till 2 years old is best

That is definitely wrong information. Me and all my siblings were exclusively breast fed till 4 and our teeth are fine! It is recommended to breastfeed till 2 years also. I’ve know so many people to breastfeed past 1 year and a lot past 2 years and their children’s teeth are great

That is incredibly false information I’m actually shocked your pediatrician said that- I would consider looking for a new provider. Breastfeeding your baby is absolutely safe and healthy and does *not* cause tooth decay or malformations. If your baby still wants breastmilk and you still have the desire to nurse, keep going!! My babies have been breastfed for far longer than the 12 month mark and I was always encouraged by my pediatrician to continue especially while they’re learning to take in more nutrients from solid food.

That's night feeds only as far as I know, night feeds in general, not just BM. My friend is a dentist and we've talked about this. She strongly encourahed to stop if possible around the 1 year mark from a medical perspective.

I would make a formal complaint about that health visitor. There is no need to stop breastfeeding at all or at night. https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/twitter-and-blog/breastfeeding-after-12-months-and-dental-decay

@Reagan health visitors are not paediatricians and their level of training can vary widely. In the UK you get the health visitor you’re assigned, we don’t choose providers like you do in the US as it’s all provided via our National Health Service.

Thank you everyone for the comments. I thought what she said was a bit weird. She never mentioned that it was just night feeds that could cause issues but it's good to know ❤️

My nephew was breast fed until 3 the last 6 months only night feeds and his teeth are perfect. Dummies can cause an issue and so can bottles but that's usually formula not breast milk from my underatanding

You can breastfeed until 2 or so. In many countries moms breastfeed even longer (3-4) because of the benefits for health not nutrition

This is misinformation. It it biologically normal for kids to breastfeed up to the age of 3 and even beyond, it’s not u common in other parts of the world. Misinformation like this is why the UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates. This has actually made me angry 😭 they’re called ‘milk teeth’ for a reason. Keep going girl!!

I would make a complaint about HV. NHS and WHO advice is 2 years or more. You stop breastfeeding when it stops working for you and/or your baby, not when some stranger who can't even stay updated with relevant things to her job tells you. Sorry, but rubbish HV piss me off big time 🙃 Breast milk doesn't accumulate in mouth like formula does, it's expressed at the back of the mouth and gets swallowed in small amounts

I agree I would also make a complaint - it’s completely ridiculous information - even worse that HVs are the ones responsible for increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK and you hear stories like this!!!!!

@Aglika breast milk does not cause tooth decay, even when given as a night feed. Formula and other milk does, though. My mom is a pediatric dentist and has been for many years. You can continue to nurse your baby at night without worrying that it will cause cavities. In fact, breastmilk has immunoglobulins in it that helps to prevent tooth decay. What will cause decay, however, it is a high sugar diet and not brushing and flossing a child’s teeth enough. After 2 years, however, some studies have suggested that there may be an increase in the risk of cavities due to nighttime feedings. The issue, though, is that these studies did not take into account the child’s oral hygiene and diet during waking hours. So there isn’t really any good evidence suggesting a real risk in nighttime feeding. Only speculation.

Omg thank you so much everyone. I'm glad I asked because I thought I was doing something wrong by breastfeeding. I don't want to stop breastfeeding and I know my little one isn't ready either😅

She doesn’t know what she’s on about.. also formula / cows milk would definitely decay more then breastmilk (if it was to) but it’s foods and sugars that do.. ‘Breast milk was found to be nearly identical to water in this study and did not cause tooth decay. In fact, in a follow-up study, it was found that breast milk actually made the teeth healthier! Almost all cavities in infants are caused because of supplemental foods, sugars and other substances besides breast milk.’

I was told by my dentist that it is fine to feed at night, we do it and I don’t brush her teeth after. My LO is 14 months

@Kizzy I even make sure to stay away from sugar and I brush his teeth twice a day. I went to my dentist and she never said that breast feeding was bad. She only mentioned dummies to me but nothing about breast feeding so I don't know why my HV said that.

Omg no that's absolutely wrong! The current recommendations are to breastfeed until 2, and natural weaning usually happens around 2-3. These things wouldn't be the case if it was detrimental to their dental health.

This information is very wrong. WHO and NHS recommend bf to the age of 2 and beyond... keep going for as long as you are happy to! There's also new research to suggest bf at night does not harm teeth. Follow @thebreastfeedingmentor on insta for more info. She's brilliant and provides factual info.

They recommend breastfeeding until the age of two. Obvs people can go beyond that. I think your HV has got mixed up with bottle feeding. Bottle feeding you should stop at 12 months. My first breastfed until 20 months and had perfect teeth.

My pediatrician told me to breast feed as long as possible. Who reccomends until 2 years old or older

That is incorrect advice. I still breastfeed my son at nearly 23 months old despite two doctors telling me I should stop. It’s advised by the WHO to breastfeed up until 2 years old. If you want to continue then do so and don’t listen to what others tell you. If you stop because of peer pressure then you may regret it later down the line. When you are ready to stop breastfeeding you’ll need to drop one feed at a time so that you don’t end up engorged or with mastitis.

@Amy why do they tell people to stop? I don’t get it it’s better then cows milk

@Kizzy I really don’t understand it either. I think sadly it seems that many people are not educated enough on the benefits and recommendations of breastfeeding.

@Kizzy I find it so bizarre! Stop giving them milk that's specifically created for them and give them milk from a different species instead 🤨

@Rebecca I know it the best milk for toddlers / baby’s it’s ridiculous

Do not listen to this health visitor, and please report her as her knowledge is put of date and can be dangerous. Breastfeeding till 2+ is the world standard, we know the nutrition from breast milk is second to none and can prevent deficiencys and help their immune system all the way into toddler hood and more.

I was always told that bottles are bad for the teeth but breastfeeding was okay. I wouldn't stop if you don't want to, but if you pump at any point and give him a bottle I would switch to a sippy cup.

Switch to a straw cup or open cup NOT sippy cup!!!

Health visitors are so misinformed it’s actually pointless even going to see them sometimes. Breast milk is great for babies and you’ve done amazing doing it for tvis long, stop when you want not when they tell you xx