EXPECTANT mothers are to be told they should breastfeed children up to the age of two in a bid to boost the health and IQs of Scottish children.
The new guidance from public health experts will be given to every pregnant woman later this year.
It states that they should give their newborns nothing but breast milk for the first six months, then continue breastfeeding once the baby is on s
olids for a further 18 months.
The recommendations have been issued amid growing evidence that breastfed babies may have a higher IQ and better general health.
But last night critics warned the move would make mothers who struggle to breastfeed feel guilty and could even put women off trying breastfeeding altogether.
The new guidance is being produced by the Scottish Government's health education body, NHS Health Scotland, in a DVD that will be given to all pregnant women.
The current advice is that women should breastfeed their babies for six months, with no other foods or drinks, for the best health benefits.
A spokeswoman for Health Scotland said the guidance was based on World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. She said: "A breastfeeding DVD will be launched in the autumn. A copy will be provided to every expectant mother in Scotland."
Recent research suggests that women who breastfeed are at lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Their babies are at lower risk of a range of health problems than those fed on formula. Breast milk is believed to protect against the risk of cot death, childhood leukaemia, gastroenteritis, obesity, asthma, eczema, ear infections and diabetes.
But there is debate about whether breastfeeding offers significant benefits beyond the age of one. There is also concern that the WHO guidelines – which include developing countries where the quality of water supplies and food can be poor – are applicable in Scotland.
Scottish Conservative health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: "No-one could have missed the message that breastfeeding is good for baby and mother. But telling mothers to breastfeed for up to two years is becoming a political dictatorship.
"Some mothers find breastfeeding very difficult and painful and they should not be made to feel guilty if they can't breastfeed for one month, six months or two years. The Scottish Government has got a bit carried away with some of its public-health messages."
Carrie Longton, a mother-of-three and a founder of the popular parenting forum Mumsnet, said the prospect of breastfeeding for two years might put mothers off altogether.
"Some women stop breastfeeding after a couple of days because they find it difficult. They should be targeting those mothers instead, and getting these people to breastfeed at least for a little while.
"I can understand why the WHO has these guidelines as two years would be best for babies in developing countries. But we have to interpret these guidelines intelligently and I am not aware of any evidence for this to be recommended."
The number of Scottish mothers who breastfeed up to two is not known. However, it is likely to be very small. Around half breastfeed newborns, but just 20% are still doing so nine months later and many stop breastfeeding between six and 12 months as their baby's appetite for solid food grows.
However, Anna Burbridge, of the breastfeeding support group La Leche League, welcomed the move.
She said: "This is the optimal thing to aim for because the benefits of breast milk continue and it is still the optimal food for the child in terms of preventing allergies and illnesses."
