06/08/2026
You're still breastfeeding?"
That question genuinely caught me by surprise.
My daughter had just turned one year old, and although I personally wasn't planning to breastfeed until two years, I had set a goal of breastfeeding for at least 18 months.
So, when someone expressed shock that I was still breastfeeding, I couldn't help but wonder...
Why are we surprised when a mother continues breastfeeding beyond one year, when global recommendations encourages it?
What made the experience even more interesting was that I studied Nutrition and Dietetics which made me knew the recommendations. I knew the science. Yet I still found myself having to mentally push past comments that could easily make a mother doubt herself.
And that got me thinking.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons many mothers do not meet the recommended duration of breastfeeding is discouragement from people around them.
Sometimes it's: "Your milk is no longer enough." "The baby is too old to breastfeed." "Why are you still doing that?"
These comments may seem harmless, but to a tired mother trying her best, they can be enough to make her stop before she is ready.
This is why support matters.
The World Health Organization recommends:
🤱 Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.
🍲 Appropriate complementary feeding from 6 months while continuing breastfeeding until at least two years and beyond.
Breastfeeding after one year is not "just for comfort." It continues to provide nutrition, immune protection, and emotional security while supporting healthy growth and development.
This message is especially important as Nigeria strengthens its focus on the First 1,000 Days of Life which is a period from conception until a child's second birthday. These 1,000 days are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay the foundation for lifelong health, learning, and productivity.
As parents, families, friends, and communities, our words matter.
Instead of discouraging mothers, let's encourage them.
Instead of questioning their decision to continue breastfeeding, let's celebrate their commitment.
And to every breastfeeding mother reading this: expect that some people may not understand your journey. Don't let uninformed opinions make you abandon your goals, provided you and your baby are healthy and there is no medical reason to stop.
Sometimes, the support a mother needs isn't another supplement or another gadget.
Sometimes, it's simply hearing: "You're doing a great job. Keep going." 💚
