Great Tips For Weaning Your Child
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with the addition of complementary foods thereafter. For that second six months, breastmilk should still be your baby’s main source of calories as you introduce novel foods into his or her diet. Whether you’re just starting on your breastfeeding journey, or you’re mid-trip, you will eventually be interested in weaning your baby from the breast. How can you make the easiest transition?
When you were pregnant, you probably weren’t even considering weaning – you were solely focused on getting breastfeeding off to a good start. As many as two-thirds of women, however, wean before they – or their babies – are ready. While difficulties establishing breastfeeding and fears about low milk supply are the top two reasons for premature weaning, setting goals and establishing a support network can go a long way to helping you achieve breastfeeding success. Whether plan to nurse for two weeks or two months or two years, just knowing you have a goal and then meeting that date will help you feel like a sense of accomplishment – and it may keep you going longer!
Starting solids is the first step in weaning
Remember that any time your baby gets anything other than breastmilk, it is a step towards weaning. If your baby is younger than one year, these feedings will need to be replaced by formula. Most babies are ready to try solids around 6 months of age, but these first solids are more of an experiment with taste and texture rather than a replacement of calories from breastmilk. Once your baby reaches the one year mark, you can begin to make the transition from breastmilk to cow’s milk and solid foods. But you can continue to nurse as long as you and your baby both find it enjoyable. There’s no expiration date on breastmilk, and your toddler will continue to benefit. In fact, the World Health Organization recommends nursing for two years or more.
Most of the time, babies younger than age one do not self-wean. Sometimes moms have a decreasing milk supply in the second half of the first year. This is especially true for moms who have returned to work and see a slump in the amount of milk they’re able to pump. The solution is simple: nurse or pump more often to give your supply a boost. Baby’s behavior can be misinterpreted, too. Your baby may simply be easily distracted and may only want to nurse for short periods. Or he may be meeting major milestones like teething, crawling or walking, and these distractions lead to nursing less during these temporary developmental stages.
- Don’t go cold turkey – Abrupt weaning can be difficult for your baby, and can be extremely uncomfortable for you. Sudden weaning can increase your chances of developing a plugged duct or mastitis, so be cautious if you go this route.
- Slow and steady wins the race – Gradual weaning, where you drop one feeding every few days, is easy on your child and can be faster than other methods.
- Don’t ask, don’t tell – Don’t offer the breast, but don’t refuse it, either, if your baby or toddler asks. This technique tends to take longer, but is the most natural means of weaning.
- Distraction – When your child asks to nurse, offer something else instead – read a book together, offer a sippy cup of water, etc. This will be easier with an older child, and shouldn’t be overused.
- Trash the routine –Try replacing your usual nursing times with other fun activities.
- Change it up – Along the same lines as changing the daily routine, try not to sit in your normal nursing chair or wear nursing clothes. Limit access and associations.
- Bring in the reinforcements – Ask your partner to put your baby to bed if you usually nurse to sleep, or to distract your child during normal nursing times.
- Later – Some toddlers are able to handle postponement – often they get so busy doing something else they forget they wanted to nurse.
- Know when NOT to wean – If you are in the midst of a major change – you’ve recently moved or started back to work, for example – you may want to wait until a less stressful time to start weaning. Also, if your child is sick, wait to wean.
- Expect emotions – If weaning is going too fast for your child, you may experience more emotional outbursts and regression from him – a strong signal to slow down the changes. And remember, for some moms, weaning is bittersweet. Don’t be afraid to be emotional about it. Seek your support network for an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on!
Weaning is a natural transition, and a sign that your baby is growing and thriving. Keeping everyone comfortable and happy during the process will help you wean without worrying!