How to wean a baby from the breast: effective ways and useful tips

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Breast milk is the he althiest food for a newborn. But sooner or later the time comes when a young mother needs to stop lactation. How to wean a child from the breast with minimal losses? Any mother can cope with a difficult task. You just have to be patient and stick to some rules.

When to wean a baby?

Experts differ on this issue. Some believe that after a year there are no useful substances in breast milk and the continuation of lactation does not make sense. Others advocate that the baby should be fed as long as possible. In this case, the child himself refuses to breastfeed by three or four years. What about mothers who plan to go to work? Parents should make their own decisions. All pediatricians agree on one thing: everything must be done to keep lactation up to 12 months.

At what age should a baby be weaned? If the child is weak, born prematurely, often sick, it is recommended to keep lactation as long as possible. Experts are right that nutrients in the breastmilk is no longer enough for the full development of the baby. At the same time, it contains immunoglobulins that contribute to the he alth of the child. As long as the baby is breastfed, there is a much lower chance of encountering dangerous infections.

Early weaning is always stressful. In this case, not only the baby suffers, but also the mother. For a woman, this is a terrible pain in the chest. Often, young mothers are faced with stagnation of milk, lactostasis. Children are also psychologically traumatized. Why do they take away what they enjoy? After all, a mother’s breast for a baby is not only a source of nutrition, but also a sedative. While suckling, the baby forgets about discomfort and fear.

How to wean a baby from the breast correctly? It becomes clear that the cessation of lactation for an infant is associated with a blow to the immune system. Therefore, many experts recommend completing feeding during the demi-season. April or October is ideal. It is too cold in winter, and the baby can catch a cold. In summer, the risk of intestinal infections increases.

As for age, everything is individual here. If possible, it is worth feeding a child up to three years. But even if lactation is completed correctly after a year, there will be no problems.

Typical mistakes moms

How to quickly wean a baby from the breast? Very simple! You can smear the nipple with green or mustard. Will the baby want to return to the breast? Probably not. But such actions will certainly lead to unpleasant consequences. The fear of a child will not go in vain. Psychological trauma can cause stuttering, isolation, speech disorders. How to smear the chest to wean the child? Nothing! Such actions will only cause harm.

Many older women advise their daughters and daughters-in-law to leave for a few days to complete breastfeeding. This technique will really help a young mother to get through a difficult period easier. But the baby will have to go through the same psychological trauma.

Replacing classic breastfeeding with a bottle of formula is another common mistake. This can only be done if lactation must be abruptly stopped for he alth reasons of the mother. Otherwise, the process should be gradual. A breastfed baby is transferred to a complete diet. Blends are not necessary.

If the baby himself refuses to breastfeed

Sometimes it happens that the baby refuses the breast on its own. This can happen for several reasons. Most often this happens after the baby tries water or milk from a bottle. After all, with the help of this device, it is much easier to “get” food. If the child refuses to breast closer to 10 months, you should not panic. At this age, the baby can be transferred to adult food - cereals, vegetable soups, dairy products.

What if the baby is less than 6 months old? If attempts to offer the breast to the baby are unsuccessful, you can continue to express and offer the baby milk from a bottle. Translationa formula-fed baby is a last resort.

Pills to complete lactation

Before weaning a baby for a year, many mothers study a lot of information. At the same time, not everyone consults with professionals; they prefer to discuss the problem on forums on the Internet. Often you can find recommendations on the use of special tablets for the rapid cessation of lactation. Such drugs are actually offered in pharmacies. However, they are not intended for young mothers at all. Such pills help stop lactation that occurs against the background of hormonal or other disorders in the body.

Drug suppression of milk production can be shown to young mothers in exceptional cases. So, if there are he alth problems that do not allow to continue feeding, while milk continues to be produced in large quantities. Only a doctor can prescribe special pills.

Gradual cessation of lactation

How to properly wean a baby from the breast? The process may not be difficult at all, but it can be quite lengthy. The abrupt end of lactation is a mistake that 80% of mothers make. Every breastfeeding woman has a moment when it seems that there is no more strength. Sleepless nights, lack of free time - all this causes negative emotions. At this stage, many mothers decide to abruptly stop lactation. Such a manifestation of selfishness can lead to bad consequences.

How to wean a baby from the breast gradually? How long can the whole process take?Such questions arise in women who have decided to follow the right path. Here everything is individual. It all depends on the immunity of the baby, as well as his temperament. The entire process of completing lactation can take up to 6 months. The older the child, the easier it is to cope with the task. In some cases, it is possible to negotiate with the baby in just a few weeks.

Plan the cessation of lactation in such a way that the complete completion of the process occurs in early spring or autumn. By the age of one, a child usually has a feeding schedule. Mom should gradually replace classic attachments with regular meals.

Night feeds are removed last

Feeding a baby at night tires a new mother the most. It is from such attachments that many women tend to refuse in the first place. Indeed, after the baby stops breastfeeding during sleep, the night becomes calmer, without awakenings. But for those who do not know how to wean a child from the breast in a year correctly, you should understand that lactation at night is very important.

There is another misconception that eating at night overloads the baby's stomach. This is justified only in relation to mixtures, cereals, compotes or kefir. A mother's breast milk cannot harm a baby, no matter how many times a night it is fed.

Night awakenings in breastfed babies are the norm. A baby under one year old can wake up two to four times. In winter, the number of applications may increase. Central heatingdries the air, the baby may be thirsty. This is another reason why weaning during the winter is not recommended.

What are the benefits of night feedings? Why should they be the last thing to do? Firstly, it is at night that prolactin is produced - the hormone responsible for lactation. In the absence of night feedings, the amount of milk in the breast decreases sharply. Secondly, a baby up to a year old, who is fed mother's milk at night, completely fills the need for food and drink. Such children have strong immunity, gain weight well, rarely get sick.

Special attention deserves the habit of putting the baby to sleep with the breast. Closer to the year in feeding just before bedtime there is no need. It is enough for a kid to sing a song, tell a fairy tale, pat on the back. How to wean a baby from the breast before bed? It is worth simply not offering feeding for several days. Within a week, you will be able to completely get rid of the habit.

Replacing night feeds

Stopping lactation, some mothers decide to offer their baby to a friend food instead of breast milk. Before weaning a baby from the breast, it is worth understanding the goals. Mom doesn't want to get up at night? Does your child have restless sleep? Then replacing the breast with another food will not give any result. Moreover, preparing a bottle of formula or kefir requires more effort.

When the baby is ready to go to the common table, he no longer needs nightly feedings. Any food will be wrongdigest at night. Many babies who eat kefir or semolina at night suffer from overweight in the future. What to do when weaning a baby from the breast? The maximum that can be offered to the baby is a bottle of water. It is possible that the baby is thirsty.

It is also recommended to refuse feeding the baby just before bedtime. Nothing should prevent the baby from falling asleep normally. If the baby falls asleep at 9 pm, the last feeding should be scheduled at 7-8 pm.

Inconsistency is a huge mistake

How can I wean a baby from the breast correctly and as quickly as possible? First of all, the mother must finally decide on the end of lactation. Of course, the baby will be capricious, demand breasts. It is very difficult to endure children's tears. Some mothers break down and breastfeed their baby for several feedings. Then the weaning starts from the beginning. Such inconsistency does not give good results. The kid understands from an early age that tears help to manipulate his mother. A woman, on the other hand, delays the process of completing lactation for several months.

The first thing a young mother should do before weaning her baby is to prepare psychologically for the laborious process. A difficult few weeks will have to endure. They cannot be avoided if a woman wants to complete lactation relatively quickly. It is important not to succumb to feelings of guilt in front of the baby or children's whims. Breaking down won't do any good.mother or child.

Natural completion of lactation

How to wean a baby from nighttime breastfeeding? How to quickly suppress lactation? Such questions arise in women who plan to stop the natural process ahead of time. The natural completion of lactation is the most correct choice. This happens when the mother's body is completely ready to stop breastfeeding, and the baby does not need maternal immunoglobulins. When does it happen? Here everything is individual. Some children themselves refuse to breastfeed as early as two years, some have to be fed until four. And there's nothing wrong with that!

Proper completion of breastfeeding is a natural process. With age, the baby has new activities, interesting hobbies. He receives all the nutrients from an adult table. Every day there are less and less attachments. Accordingly, milk in the mother's breast is produced in smaller quantities. Gradually, lactation fades. Once the baby completely forgets about the breast, he no longer needs it.

But even if a mother decides to end breastfeeding naturally, there are some rules to follow. It is necessary to explain to a baby over two years old that feeding is an intimate process and it is impossible to demand “sisu” in public places or with outsiders. The child must clearly understand the rules of breastfeeding. Ideally, in the last months of feeding, only nightly attachments remain. Thus, the baby receives all the nutrients fromproducts from the general table and strengthens the immune system through lactation.

Weaning should not be stress related. Often, mothers decide to end lactation when the baby goes to kindergarten. It is not right. The kid is under a lot of stress. At this time, the number of attachments, on the contrary, should be increased.

For those who want to complete lactation before the child starts preschool, the process should start several months in advance. Initially, daytime attachments are removed, then nighttime ones.

Breastfeeding after three years

In 80% of cases, lactation ends naturally closer to the age of three. Human milk is a valuable source of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. If mom eats right, there is nothing wrong with lactation. Long-term lactation is especially useful for sickly children, babies suffering from allergies. In addition, scientists argue that prolonged feeding has a positive effect on the formation of the maxillofacial apparatus.

Lactation is good not only for the baby, but also for the mother. Statistics indicate that the chance of encountering breast cancer is much lower in women who breastfeed their babies for more than a year. In addition, lactation reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, improves the emotional state of a young mother.

In some cases, it happens that the child is not going to give up the breast even after three years. Attachment to the mother leads to the fact that a woman cannot lead a full-fledged lifestyle, she cannot go to work, meet withfriends. This situation is possible if the young mother initially incorrectly built a strategy of behavior. It allows the child to be capricious, to demand breasts at any opportunity. If it is not possible to agree with the baby, you should think about stopping lactation.

The process of stopping breastfeeding is different for everyone. It will be completely painless if mom does everything right. Whims, lactostasis, stress - all this is a consequence of a sharp incorrect completion of breastfeeding. If you cannot cope with the task on your own, you should take the help of a lactation consultant.