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How long should I keep breastfeeding to get the benefits?

For full benefits, guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, then continuing to breastfeed alongside solid foods for 2 years or beyond, as long as it works for you and your child.

Benefits appear to be dose-dependent, meaning more months of breastfeeding (and more exclusivity early on) are linked with greater protection against infections and other health outcomes.

Strength of evidence

Strong

This is based on international and Canadian clinical guidelines built on systematic reviews of observational studies and trials; exact benefit sizes come mainly from cohort research, not RCTs, since randomizing feeding method isn't ethical.

What the evidence says

The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, then continuing to breastfeed alongside solids for as long as it's comfortable for you and your baby, even into the toddler years. This matches WHO and Health Canada guidance, which specifically supports breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.

The AAP and ACOG in the US updated their guidance to match, supporting continued breastfeeding as long as mutually desired by parent and child for two years or beyond, alongside appropriate solid foods introduced around 6 months.

Research suggests the benefits are dose-dependent: longer duration and more exclusivity are linked with stronger protection for baby against infections, and for the breastfeeding parent against certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. That said, there's no single 'cutoff' where benefits suddenly stop — any amount of breastfeeding offers some benefit, and continuing longer generally adds more.

There's no medical requirement to stop at any particular point, and natural (child-led) weaning often happens gradually sometime between 2 and 4 years of age. What matters most is what's sustainable and comfortable for you and your baby — even shorter durations or combination feeding with formula still provide meaningful benefits.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked July 27, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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