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Are you ready to stop breastfeeding your child? If so, you may be unsure of where to start, or stop the process. Each child is different and it is very important for a parent to make the right decision for their child. To accomplish this, it is very important consider if your child is ready. Here are some steps to follow to help you through baby weaning. Step 1: Determine If Your Child Is Ready A child under the age of six months should switch to a formula if they are not breastfeeding any longer. A child that is over six months should be eating some solid food. Once they are eating most of their calories from solid food, you can consider switching them to a cup instead of breastfeeding. Step 2: Keep Security As you stop breastfeeding, one normally scheduled meal a week, keep in mind that your child still needs lots of security. Each week, remove one breastfeeding from the schedule. During that time, do things that keep the child occupied but also secure and comfortable. Cuddle together. Spend time playing together. This keeps them emotionally strong through the event. Be sure that the child is able to let go in this way. Step 3: Keep It Positive Each child will be different amount stopping to feed from the breast. Some will ask for it. Others will never think twice about it. It is best to keep the child who is asking distracted so there is no concern about the process. If they ask for it, tell them they can breastfeed later. Right now, you should have something fun for them to do, like going outside to play. Step 4: Encourage Dad To Participate Now is a great time for dad to start helping with meals and to start playing with the baby during breastfeeding times. It is often important for dad to get involve in feeding the child solid foods so that they can break from thinking that only mom provides this. Step 5: Know That Nights Are Toughest Night breastfeeding, like that prior to bed, is often the most difficult time to break from. Encourage the child to read or just spend time cuddling together. Have a bedtime snack first. The process should be gradual. Encourage your child to breastfeed if it is needed. But, work towards breaking the habit slowly. You and your child will appreciate the process if you go through it like this. Dealing With People Who Tell You To Wean Many families will have a few people within them that encourage a breastfeeding mother to stop breastfeeding. For some reason, they believe that the process should stop before you do and since you are the child's mother, you are not happy about their remarks. After all, do you not know what is best for your child? Many families have this type of situation happening to them. If you are a breastfeeding mom, it can help to have some information and tips to deal with those who tell you to stop breastfeeding. · Did you know that the American Academy of Paediatricians recommends that children be breastfed at least until the age of 12 months old? There is neither reason nor benefit to stopping prior to this. · Did you know that the World Health Organization encourages mothers to breastfeed their children until the age of two years old? In fact, in many countries throughout Europe, Asia and Africa, children are breastfed until they are between the ages of two and four years old. · There is no evidence that a child that is breastfed is any less able to develop. In fact, children who receive the nutrients from breastfed actually develop better and are less prone to illness including everything from infections to cancer. · Babies should be encouraged to stop breastfeeding only when they are ready to do so. You should not feel like this is something you are doing wrong especially since it is quite common and natural for a mother to breastfed their child far longer than what many people in the United States do. · Consider your child's paediatrician the best tool in aiding you in making the decision to stop breastfeeding. They know you and they know your child. They also know your child's health and well being. These are the tools needed to make the right decision about when to stop breastfeeding. Every child is different. Some children want to stop breastfeeding much earlier. When this is the case, allow them to do so. There is no reason to force it. On the other hand, never allow someone else to tell you when your child should stop being breastfed. The fact is, your child will help you to make this decision naturally. It is most effective and most beneficial for the process to happen naturally so that the child and the mother are both well prepared for it. Making The Switch From Breast Milk To A Cup As you start considering stopping to breastfeed your baby, you may be wondering how you will get them to skip the bottle and go straight to the cup. There is really no reason to have to put a breastfeed baby onto a bottle, unless you are stopping them from all breastfeeding before the age of about one. In this case, it may be necessary to consider the need for a bottle for a few months, or until their doctor recommends that, they no longer need a bottle at all. The first step in making the transition from the breastfeeding to the cup is to start introducing the cup into their day to day lives. For example, when the child is between six months and nine months old, the child may be able to use a sip cup where they are taking in a few ounces of breast milk, juice or water each day. Give this to them throughout the day, to help quench their thirst rather than to feed them. These cups should not interfere with their feedings. If they do, the child is getting too many of them. For the next few months, keep using the sippy cup. As you introduce more and more solid foods into the child's diet, allow them to stop breastfeeding during the day. Allow them to drink breast milk, if you like, out of a sippy cup throughout the day with their solid food meals. This will depend again on the age of the child, but most children by the age of nine months should be consuming solid foods. Work towards your paediatricians goals here, though. Keep breastfeeding at night, such as right before bed. This allows for that comfort and security to be available to the child. As you work towards the end goal, keep allowing the child to naturally wean from the breast. You want to allow this process to work until it is most comfortable for the child to stop breastfeeding. For example, your child may want to stop breastfeeding altogether because he wants to watch a movie with his brother or sister instead of sitting on mom's lap. When you allow this process to happen as naturally as possible, you will find that it is satisfactory to both you and them. Plus, it allows them to skip having to use a bottle altogether. This process is an excellent benefit for each person involved. Medical Reasons For Baby Weaning There are instances when it may become necessary for an individual to stop breastfeeding for medical reasons. For example, if you and your child have been breastfeeding successfully for months, chances are good that the both of you have become very attached to the process. Now, mom needs to take a medication that interferes with the breastfeeding process. What can be done? Before you simply stop breastfeeding all at one time, it may be necessary to work through the process carefully. Is There Another Option? If you have been told by your doctor that it is medically necessary to stop breastfeeding due to a medication you are taking, one of the most important things to do is to tell the doctor that might not be an option. For example, if your child has been nursing regularly and is not yet eating a sizable amount of food outside of breast milk, inform the doctor of this. Many doctors are simply not familiar with the baby weaning process and the importance of allowing the process to happen gradually. Find out if there is another medication that can be taken that is safe for baby. In many cases, it is an option to do so. If you are not sure if he medication you are taking is safe to take when you are breastfeeding, it is a better option to first do some research. It is common for doctors who are unsure if you should be breastfeeding to simply say that you should not be. Do some research on your own, using only trusted sources, of course. it is often a good idea to use the Physician's Desk Reference for this type of information. In addition, you can call your paediatrician and ask them if you can breastfeed, taking the medications prescribed, since they are more likely to know if you should or should not. There may be instances when you simply have to stop breastfeeding right away. It could be caused by the baby or because of something that happens to do. If there is a risk to the child, don't do it and work to wean the baby. If there is an option of weaning the child slowly, take this route. It should be rare that the situation requires that you have to abruptly stop breastfeeding. In most cases, it is best to work slowly at the process to help protect the child from any potential stressors and to avoid any complications on your side, too. Back To Top Next Page |
