Breastfeeding may enhance a child's cognitive abilities, academic success, and professional capabilities.
In the Morning Expresso, we delve into a timely discussion surrounding the importance of parent-child bonding time over strict breastfeeding licensing rules for children up to two years old. This perspective is championed by retired professor of Public Health at the Nova University of Lisbon, Isabel Loureiro.
Bonding between parent and child is a multifaceted process that can be nurtured through various feeding and care methods, not solely through breastfeeding itself. The quality of emotional connection and security established between parent and child is critical, regardless of whether the feeding is at the breast or via expressed milk or formula.
Physical closeness and interaction, such as skin-to-skin contact, touch, and the parent’s voice, foster trust and emotional development in the child. These bonding moments can occur during bottle feeding with expressed breast milk or formula with attentive caregiving. While breastfeeding naturally triggers oxytocin release—a hormone promoting love and attachment—similar bonding effects can be fostered through other nurturing caregiving behaviors.
Loureiro's argument emphasizes the diversity of family situations and promotes supportive, non-judgmental approaches rather than rigid mandates focused solely on breastfeeding duration or exclusivity. The discussion on breastfeeding licensing is focusing on the age of two, and this approach recognizes the importance of respecting parental choice and the multi-faceted nature of nurturing beyond just feeding methods.
In conclusion, while breastfeeding offers nutritional and immunological benefits, the central argument for prioritizing bonding time over strict breastfeeding licensing rules is that strong, secure emotional bonds can be created in multiple feeding contexts. This approach is paramount for child development during the first two years, respecting parental choice and the multi-faceted nature of nurturing beyond just feeding methods.
The current rules for breastfeeding licensing are under discussion, and this article aims to shed light on the importance of prioritizing the bond between parent and child during these crucial early years.
In this perspective, various feeding methods, such as breastfeeding, bottle feeding with expressed milk, or formula feeding, can all contribute to fostering strong emotional bonds between parents and children (regardless of age). Furthermore, Loureiro advocates for a more inclusive approach to families, focusing on supportive and non-judgmental care, rather than stringently enforcing breastfeeding rules, recognizing the multifaceted nature of health-and-wellness, including mental-health and women's-health, during the child's developmental phases.
