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Weaning Your Child
Whenever you decide to wean your baby, it's important to understand that weaning is a gradual process that calls for patience and understanding from both you and your child. The right time to wean Pediatric recommend feeding your child only breast milk for the first 6 months of life. After that, a combination of solid foods and breast milk should be given until your baby is at least 1 year old. Some experts say that after the first birthday is the best age to start the transition from the breast because a child is more adjustable to change at that age. Engorgement will also become less of a problem for the mother around this time because as the demand for breast milk decreases, so does milk production. When it is time to wean, it's better to do it gradually rather than all of a sudden. The pace of weaning is up to you and your baby, but in general, the slower the better. Weaning is easier if a child has taken milk from some other source besides your breast before that time. So it's a good idea to giving an occasional bottle of breast milk to your child around 4 to 7 months - even if you plan to continue breastfeeding, this can facilitate the weaning process in the future. If you decide to wean before 1 year and you find that you are not making enough milk to feed your child, or if you no longer want to breastfeed your child, you will need to switch to formula. Some children wean themselves earlier than the mother had intended for it to happen or the child may not be ready to be off the breast as soon as the mother is ready. The best way to approach weaning is being flexible and paying attention to what works for you and your baby and your situation. Although some children are content to nurse indefinitely and will wait for their mothers to initiate weaning, others will give subtle - or even not-so-subtle - clues that they are ready to wean. They may express indifference or irritability when presented with the breast or they may nurse in shorter sessions than they did before. Child-led Weaning Child-led weaning occurs when a child no longer has a need to nurse - nutritionally or emotionally. A baby who self-weans is usually well over a year old, is getting most of his nutrition from solids, is drinking well from a cup, and cuts down on nursing gradually. If children are truly allowed to self-wean in their own time, most will do so somewhere between the 2nd and 4th year. Obviously, some will wean before this time and some will wean after this time, too. Mother-led Weaning If you feel that you need to encourage weaning before your baby is truly ready, it is possible to gently and lovingly "help" your child along the way, while at the same time remaining as flexible and as respectful to his needs as possible. Some children, even though they're not truly ready, can be gently weaned without too much of a protest. It's important to always conduct mother-led weaning in a way that is gentle, gradual, flexible, patient, and as respectful to your child's needs as possible. Be aware of any signs that the weaning process is going too quickly for your child and be ready to slow things down some if necessary. If you want to take an active approach to weaning before baby show signs on his own, you might consider waiting until at least the age of 18 months. At this age most children can be told "no" and asked to wait on nursing more easily than a younger child can. Sudden Weaning Stopping breastfeeding abruptly can be very distressing for both mother and baby and can cause plugged ducts, breast infection, or even a breast abscess. Partial Weaning Weaning is not an all-or-nothing process. You can always keep one (or more) feedings per day and eliminate the rest. Here are some other signs that may indicate your child is ready for solid foods: • Has your baby's "tongue-thrust" reflex disappeared? This reflex causes babies to instinctively push objects out of their mouths. If it is still present and your child gags whenever you give him or her food, it may be a sign that your baby is not ready to be weaned. • Can your baby sit up and hold his or her head up? If so, your baby will be able to sit in an upright position for feeding. • Does your baby look at or try to grab food when he or she sees it? If your baby shows an interest in the food on your plate, it could mean he or she is ready to move on to solids. • Does your baby seem very distractible when on the breast and does it seem to take forever to get through a feeding? This could mean that your baby is ready to be weaned. How to Wean The transition to weaning may be easier if you first introduce your baby to a cup instead of a bottle. Breastfed babies easily learn to drink from a cup as early as six months of age (try expressed breast milk). Try a ‘partial' wean: substitute one or more feedings with a cup or bottle and breastfeed at other times. This can work well if you are going back to work but still want to breastfeed. When you do this, make sure you check your baby's weight gain regularly. If your breasts are uncomfortable while you are weaning, try expressing enough milk so that you are comfortable. Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also help. Cold compresses or gel packs applied to your breasts can also be of some comfort. You shouldn't bind your breasts or drink less fluids while you're weaning. Check your breasts regularly to make sure you aren't developing a blocked duct, which will feel like a firm tender area of the breast. Watch the cues you give to your baby. If you sit in the same chair you usually use when you're nursing, he'll likely want to breastfeed. He probably won't be satisfied with a cup or a cuddle. Sometimes your baby can suddenly refuse to breastfeed. This doesn't mean your baby is ready to wean. It can be caused by many different factors, such as teething, an ear infection or other illness, the onset of your period, or a change in your diet, soap, or even deodorant. Try making feeding time quiet and spend more time cuddling your child. Don't ‘starve' him, but instead, try offering the breast when he is sleepy. If you can't figure out the reason for the strike, see your doctor. Gradual Weaning Gradual weaning allows you to gradually replacement other kinds of nutrition, affection and attention to compensate for the loss of nursing. Gradual weaning also allows the immunity levels in your breast milk to increase (as overall milk supply decreases) and thus give your child a last bit of extra protection against infection. Weaning should occur as slowly as your situation permits to make it easier on both you and your child. How long weaning takes depends upon too many variables to predict. Be as patient and as flexible as you possibly can. Weaning will happen, but you may feel at times that you're taking one step forward and two steps back. When you're actively weaning, be sure to offer lots of cuddling and extra affection during the day. As your child grows older, nursing becomes much more than a way to satisfy hunger and thirst. It provides him with much comfort, security and closeness, so be as sensitive to his needs as you possibly can be throughout the process. Making the Transition Easier Many mothers make the decision to wean with mixed emotions. On the one hand, weaning brings with it more freedom and flexibility for a mother, as well as the proud realization that her child is reaching a major milestone. On the other hand, nursing is an intimate activity that fosters a strong bond between mother and child - and some women find it hard to let that go. For many mothers, weaning is the first realization that their child may never again depend on them as much as they did in those earliest months. Expect that you're going to experience a wide range of emotions, and understand that your child may be ambivalent about weaning, too. But also remember that there will be countless other ways to nurture your relationship with your child in the days, months, and years ahead. Here are some tips to make the transition easier for you and your child: • Avoid sitting in your usual nursing spots or wearing your usual nursing clothes. • If your baby is younger than a year, it's a good idea to introduce a bottle or cup when you would typically be nursing. If he or she is older than a year, try a healthy snack or maybe even just a cuddle. • Try changing your daily routine so that you are otherwise engaged when you would typically be breastfeeding. • Engage your child in a fun play activity or an outing during the time when you would usually nurse. • Delay weaning if your child is trying to adapt to some other change in his life. Trying to wean your child when he or she is just beginning child care or when teething is probably not a good idea. • If your child begins to pick up a comforting habit such as thumb sucking or becomes attached to a security blanket, don't discourage it. Your child may be trying to adjust to the emotional changes of weaning. As you begin to wean your child, remember that he or she needs time to adjust to eating from bowls and cups. Be patient as your child begins to explore the world of food. Substitute Foods Appropriate substitute feedings depend on how old your baby is when you start to wean:
After 12 months of age, your baby should not take more than 24 ounces of milk products per day. Otherwise, she'll fill up and won't want to eat solid foods. Also, she may develop iron deficiency anemia. If your baby has a milk allergy, talk to your doctor about appropriate substitute feedings. Solid Foods Introduce solid foods one at a time and in small amounts at the beginning. Some babies get very constipated if they are given too much solid food early on. You can also offer your baby small amounts of water once or twice a day. Your weaning experience is ultimately up to you and your baby. If you're feeling that something is wrong or if the baby is not taking what you consider to be enough other foods or liquids, you should see your doctor.
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