Weaning The Child

What is weaning?

Weaning is the gradual replacement of breastfeeding with other solid foods. Its first stage lays the foundations of healthy eating habits and teaches the baby how to eat from a spoon, chew and swallow. Weaning is an extremely exciting time for babies who are trying new flavors and textures. And first and foremost is fun, learning and experimenting.

The baby is considered weaned when breastfeeding is completely stopped and he receives his food from sources other than the breast. The end of breastfeeding does not end the intimate relationship between you and the baby. The word "weaning" means moving from one relationship to another, not losing or breaking away from one relationship. The end of breastfeeding means that you are starting a new stage of nutrition and upbringing.

If you have breastfed your child more for comfort than for feeding, you will need to find other ways to make him feel better (read him a book, sing him a song, or play outside together). If it protests, try to stay calm and be firm.

When should it start?

You know best when it is time to wean a child and there is no need to set a deadline. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the baby until the age of six months, after which it should continue with the introduction of solid foods for at least 12 months (and may continue as long as the mother and child wish). The World Health Organization recommends that babies be breastfed only for the first 6 months of life and that breastfeeding continue for up to two years or more if desired by the mother and child.

All children reach an age at which they are ready to be weaned. While one may be 18 months old, others may not be ready by 2 or 3 years of age.

Is the baby ready for this or not?

As a rough orientation, you can start weaning at about 6 months. When your baby is ready to begin this process, he will find a way to show you. Here's what could guide you:

• the baby sits and holds his head steady;
• is interested in your food;
• takes food from your plate;
• takes objects and puts them in his mouth;
• he swallows foods when you offer them to him.

Weaning is easiest when the baby begins to lose interest in breastfeeding. It can happen at any time after you have started eating solid foods (from 4-6 months of age). Some babies are more interested in solid foods than breast milk at about 12 months of age after trying a variety of foods and can drink from a glass. Young children are less interested in breastfeeding when they become more active and are reluctant to stay in one place for long periods of time to breastfeed. If the child is nervous and impatient while breastfeeding or easily distracted, these may be signs that he is ready to be weaned.

You may decide to start weaning as you return to work or feel that this is the right time. If you are ready for this, but the baby shows no signs of wanting to stop breastfeeding, you can wean him off the breast gradually. When weaning is an idea of ​​the mother, it can take a lot of time and patience, as it depends on the age of the child and how he adapts to the changes.

Sudden weaning of the baby is not a good option - for example, a weekend away from the baby is not a suitable way to end breastfeeding. Experts say that abrupt cessation can be traumatic for the baby and also lead to problems such as milk duct obstruction or mastitis (breast infection). If there is tension in the breasts or severe pain, it is good to continue breastfeeding or to switch to pumping. It is desirable for the mother to consume less food and fluids. As a last resort, medications should be used that should only be taken with a prescription.

How to stop?

See what happens if you offer a bottle or glass of milk. You can replace breastfeeding with expressed milk offered in a bottle, formula or whole cow's milk (if the child is at least one year old). Reducing feedings one by one for weeks gives the baby time to adapt, and breast milk gradually decreases.

Limit the time the baby is breastfeeding. If he usually feeds for ten minutes, try breastfeeding him for five.

This method works well if you have an older child. If the child wants to breastfeed, assure him that it will be soon and distract him with various activities. If he wants to breastfeed in the evening, explain to him that he has to wait until it's time to go to bed.

Physical changes that can be detected during weaning

Expect some physical changes that often occur after the baby is weaned. The most noticeable is the change in the sequence and frequency of bowel movements. It will probably decrease and children will usually have a little harder bowel movements (stools will be harder). Some mild gastrointestinal disorders can also be expected. Depending on the age of the baby, cramps and gas may be present, especially if the infant is between 6 and 12 months old.

To avoid these problems, it is best to offer the child an adapted formula, not fresh (cow's, goat's) milk until he is one year old. After the child is one year old, his digestive system is more mature and you can enter the milk.

If you stop breastfeeding beforehand, experts say you can expect your baby to be nervous and cry. The option is to spend as much time with him as possible so that he can cuddle and have contact with your body. This is highly recommended so that the child does not feel rejected by the mother.

Will the child get enough nutrients?

Even extremely breastfed babies need extra nutrients that breast milk cannot provide, such as vitamin D. If you wean your baby before he or she is one year old, you will need to continue offering him or her breast milk or iron-fortified formula until he or she is full. Then the child enters an age when you will offer him a greater variety of foods that contain the necessary nutrients for his growth and development.

What to do when weaning becomes a struggle

If you have tried everything to wean the child and nothing works, maybe the time is not right!