have even called "the mass feeding of artificial human milk...one of the greatest experiments ever undertaken on human beings."
Many people are familiar with the recommendation that, to achieve optimal growth, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. What some don't realize, however, is that there are benefits to nursing a child beyond six months. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends nursing for a minimum of two years, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) advises the same. The American Academy of Pediatrics (A Even after 12 months, babies continue to benefit from human milk. At one year of age, a baby's immune system is functioning at only 60 percent of adult level and because formula has no live antibodies, it is strongly associated with high rates of infection (Huggins 2007). A child's immune system isn't functioning at adult level until age six (Dettwyler 1994).
AP) recommends breastfeeding for at least a year.
The benefits of breastfeeding make it the optimal feeding choice. Also, there is no easier way to comfort a sick or upset child than to simply breastfeed. According to Norma Jane Bumgarner in MOTHERING YOUR NURSING TODDLER
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for babies to 6 months of age, and thereafter for breastfeeding to continue alongside suitable complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond.1
The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council recommends exclusive breastfeeding for around 6 months and then for breastfeeding to continue alongside complementary food until 12 months of age and beyond, for as long as the mother and child desire.