Every year, World Breastfeeding Week highlights what decades of research have consistently shown: human milk is one of the most remarkable biological systems we know. Last year, we explored why it remains the gold standard for infant nutrition and why donating breast milk can transform the lives of vulnerable newborns. This year, another question takes center stage: does breastfeeding still benefit children after their first birthday?
Many parents who continue breastfeeding beyond infancy are told that breast milk has “lost its value.” Yet both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfeeding for up to two years or longer if mother and child wish. A new prospective study published in Pediatric Research provides some of the strongest evidence yet supporting those recommendations.
The study
Researchers followed 185 children from birth to two years of age, comparing three groups: formula-fed children, children breastfed for up to 12 months, and children who continued breastfeeding to 24 months. They assessed growth, diet quality, parental feeding practices, and cognitive and motor development.
At 24 months, children who continued breastfeeding had lower weight-for-length scores than both formula-fed children and those breastfed only during the first year, meaning that they tended to be leaner for their height, consistent with previous research suggesting breastfeeding may protect against later overweight and obesity. Importantly, all groups showed healthy growth, suggesting that extended breastfeeding supported normal development rather than undernutrition.
The researchers also found differences in diet quality. Formula-fed children ate less fruit, while toddlers breastfed beyond one year consumed more seafood, both indicators of healthier dietary patterns according to the Healthy Eating Index. Feeding practices differed as well. Mothers who continued breastfeeding reported less pressure on their children to eat, although they were somewhat more likely to restrict certain foods.
Perhaps most reassuringly, the study found no evidence that prolonged breastfeeding delayed development or reduced interest in solid foods. Cognitive, language, and motor development, measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, were similar across all three groups.
The authors note that human milk continues to provide valuable nutrients beyond the first year of lactation. Although this observational study cannot prove that breastfeeding directly caused the differences observed, its prospective design and comprehensive assessment add important evidence supporting breastfeeding beyond infancy.
The takeaway
Breastfeeding does not suddenly lose its value after a child’s first birthday. In this study, continuing breastfeeding into the second year of life was associated with healthy growth, a healthier overall diet, responsive feeding practices, and normal cognitive and motor development. During World Breastfeeding Week, these findings offer an important reminder: for families who choose to continue, breastfeeding beyond infancy remains a scientifically supported option.
Reference
Crimmins, M. R., Sims, C. R., Williams, D. K., Andres, A., & Sobik, S. (2026). Breastfeeding beyond infancy supports adequate growth, development, and nutritional intake. Pediatric Research, 99(1), 240-247. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04111-z
Lecturer at the Sociology Department, University of Barcelona