Letter to a health care professional who is unsupportive of breastfeeding past infancy
May 2025
A few years ago, a member of NWL Breastfeeding - 6 months and beyond, was criticised by a consultant paediatrician for breastfeeding her toddler. In a situation like this, when put on the spot, it can be very difficult to come up with a coherent response. It can also be daunting (not to mention time consuming) to make an official complaint, but if every mother who has this kind of experience does complain, health care professionals will have to take notice and might even decide to educate themselves a bit more about breastfeeding, and either change their attitude or at the very least, be more careful about they say to mothers who are breastfeeding a toddler or older child.
The mother in question wrote an excellent letter to PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) at the Royal Free Hospital, which I have put here in case anyone else in a similar position needs some inspiration and information on what to write.
Subject: Complaint regarding lack of breastfeeding knowledge in your paediatric Accident and Emergency department
I am writing to complain about unsupportive personal opinions and inaccurate information about breastfeeding given to me by the consultant while I breastfed my 2.5 year-old son.
The following happened on 27 October 2021 at 5pm in the paediatric a&e waiting room.
The consultant checked my son for a dislocated elbow in the waiting room after the nurse had put it back in place 30 minutes prior. He gave the all-clear and as he was leaving, my son asked to breastfeed and given the room was empty, I did so there. This was the exchange as the consultant was walking away:
Consultant: how old is he?
Me: 2.5
Consultant: there’s no nutritional value at that age
Me: that’s not what the WHO says and actually they recommend feeding until 2 and beyond
Consultant: that’s not for this country
Me: isn’t the UK part of the “world”?
Consultant: smirked and walked off
Given the NHS’s position: ‘Breastfeeding into your baby's 2nd year or beyond, alongside other foods, is ideal’ (from your own website: https://www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/your-questions-answered/ ) I imagine I don’t need to make the case below, but just for clarity:
Breastfeeding in public in the UK is protected by law, and there is no upper age limit to this. https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/breastfeeding-in-public-places/
The World Health Organisation and the Department of Health recommend that breastfeeding continues, with the appropriate additional of complementary foods, for two years and beyond. This is because of the benefits for both child and mother and includes developed countries such as the UK.
The UNICEF report, entitled Preventing Disease and Saving Resources, published 18 October 2012, sets out the ways in which the longer a child is breastfed, the greater the health benefits for both mother and child. It takes between two and six years for a child’s immune system to fully mature. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered.
Breastmilk remains rich in vitamins, minerals and fats through toddlerhood and beyond, and immune components unique to human milk actually increase as the child ages. Children who are breastfed beyond 1 year have a reduced risk of acute otitis media, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Breastfeeding beyond infancy may have psychological benefits for the child (Scientific studies in document attached).
Based on this, I’m sure you will agree the consultant’s statements were bordering on illegal, and certainly unhelpful and potentially harmful when made to families who trust their doctors to provide them with accurate, up-to-date information.
I would like to request that you provide the necessary training for your staff members to bring them up to date with medical science and NHS policy in this area.
This ABM document: https://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/breastfeeding-beyond-infancy-a-gp-guide/?fbclid=IwAR0x0Pnp0vbLecp6s1gtJgNB4s71vvDqtlVFebrjjyusKfWKZ2EPfo2pJT4 quotes US research which has shown that even a very brief educational programme can improve doctors’ attitude to and knowledge about breastfeeding beyond infancy. (Cockerham-Colas L, Geer L, Benker K, Joseph MA. Exploring and Influencing the Knowledge and Attitudes of Health Professionals Towards Extended Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2012;7)
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Best regards,
LK
Links:
For much more research into all the benefits for mother and child of continuing to breastfeeding past infancy, please see this article: