Critics of the government�s latest advice to mothers are calling it yet another example of the dictatorial nanny state.

Critics of the government's latest advice to mothers - to extend the period they breastfeed to two years to improve their baby's health - are calling it yet another example of the dictatorial nanny state.

The current guidance from NHS Health Scotland is that babies should be breastfed for the first six months of their lives and that breast milk should not be complemented by any other food or drink.

However, new advice from NHS Health Scotland, which will be issued to all pregnant women later in the year, states that babies should be given only breast milk for the first six months and then continued to be breastfed for a further 18 months while they have moved on to solids.

The public health education agency said the advice follows guidance from the World Health Organisation, which is based on increasing evidence that babies who are breastfed not only enjoy better general health later in life, but also develop higher IQs.

However, critics say that the new advice is an example of the nanny state dictating to mothers and that it will add to the anxiety of those mothers who cannot breastfeed.

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."

Breastfeeding has in recent years been credited with a number of health benefits for both mothers and babies.

Evidence suggests that it can protect babies against gastroenteritis, obesity, asthma, eczema, ear infections, diabetes and childhood leukaemia as well as reducing the risk of cot death.

In addition, it is claimed that mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop ovarian and breast cancer.

Nevertheless, many women who attempt to breastfeed encounter problems that make it impossible for them to continue, and this can trigger or exacerbate postnatal depression.

Carrie Longton, a mother of three and founder of the popular parenting forum Mumsnet, said the prospect of breastfeeding for two years may discourage mothers from breastfeeding completely.

She said: "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."

Shona Robison, the Minister for Public Health, said: "We recognise that breastfeeding has many major health benefits for both mother and baby, and agree that it is a key health intervention in reducing health inequalities."

A spokeswoman for NHS Health Scotland said the guidance was based on WHO advice. She said: "A breastfeeding DVD will be launched in the autumn. A copy will be provided to every expectant mother in Scotland."