Suggestions for Weaning (Weaning the Baby)

Breastfeeding is one of the most important things that strengthens the bond between baby and mother. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful about weaning the baby from the breast. In this article, we talked about the steps to follow to wean the baby, how to choose the right time and the most effective weaning methods!

When is the baby weaned?

There is no right or wrong answer about the best time to wean a baby. Hisar Intercontinental Hospital Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. According to follow-up Göçmen, the baby should be fed with breast milk for the first 6 months, and after 6 months, it should start with additional food and take breast milk until the age of 2 years. After this period, breastfeeding should be stopped gradually.

However , it is not easy to wean a 2-year-old child . Because just at this time, the 2-year-old syndrome begins. In this period when your little one starts to declare his freedom by going through his most difficult attacks, it is very important that you look for the right time to attempt weaning.

Mayo Clinic experts, who wrote the book “Your Baby’s First Year Guide”, are of the opinion that a 1-year-old baby should be weaned.

So, which foods should you keep your little one away from until they are 1 year old?

Breast milk is the most superfood for the baby’s immune system, but after a point, this miracle has to be said goodbye. But when you wean your baby is a personal decision.

Weaning often begins spontaneously at 6 months , when babies usually transition to solid food. Some children start to turn away from breast milk over time and turn to other foods when they reach the age of 1, which is the period when they can be fed with various foods and drink water from a glass.

Some children also move away from the breast after they start walking. Because they are now too active to stand still during breastfeeding. Considering your child’s directions is also an option, rather than deciding the timing yourself.

How to wean the baby from the breast?

Weaning the baby from the breast can cause some adverse effects for both the mother and the baby. When the baby is suddenly weaned from the breast, the mother’s milk ducts may become blocked or a condition called mastitis may occur. The effect of this situation on psychology is undeniable. In order to survive this process with the most pleasant damage , we explained step by step what to do to cut it from the breast .

• Take it easy when you start the weaning process. Skip one feeding session during the day, every 2-3 days. Gradually reducing the number of breastfeeding sessions each day will reduce milk production gradually and prevent the discomfort of milk collection.
• Children are more fond of the first and last feeding times of the day. For this reason, it would be more appropriate to leave one of the mid-day sessions first.
• You may also consider ditching the daytime sessions and continuing to breastfeed your baby only at night. It’s up to you and your child.
• If your baby is younger than 6 months, replace the missed meal with formula milk , and if he is older than 6 months, add one meal of solid food.
• Avoid sitting in the usual breastfeeding corners with your child while skipping a feeding session. Instead, try to distract yourself with books, toys, or fun activities.
• When the baby is weaned, he may suck his thumb or a blanket for relief. This is normal and healthy behavior. Don’t forget to take care of him when he wants more attention.
• You may wonder how many days it takes to wean from the breast . Weaning the child from the breast can take days, weeks or months, depending on your approach. Rushing the weaning process can upset your baby’s balance and cause you to collect milk, so be patient.
• Gradually reducing the breast can also reduce the emotional impact of motherhood. The period of weaning is a period when hormonal changes are very intense, as is the period of weaning, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum periods. It’s normal to experience mild depression, irritability, and mood swings. Letting go of the special relationship between you and your baby can cause you to experience a sense of loss and sadness. Beware of!

Weaning methods

There are different methods tried to wean a child. While some of these are very effective methods, some can be jarring for the baby. We have talked about every right and wrong method that has reached the present day for you. Here are the ways to wean the baby from the breast!

1. Weaning with practice

Weaning the baby suddenly can be very hurtful for him, both physically and emotionally. For the mother, it can cause problems such as swelling of the breasts, leakage, clogged milk ducts, infection.

Weaning the baby is a two-step process. In the first stage, it is necessary to ensure that the baby receives milk or formula from a place other than the breast. It can take some time for a breastfed baby to get used to a bottle or cup. Therefore, it is necessary to start practicing before weaning the baby completely from the breast.

2. Patience to wean the baby from the breast

The yellow patience stone is the most popular method of weaning babies from the breast. Don’t let the name mislead you, although it is a yellow patience stone, its color is actually close to black. You can get it from the dealers. So, how to use the patience stone to stop breastfeeding ?

First of all, you need to slightly wet the patience stone and apply it to your chest. Stopping breastfeeding with a patience stone is that simple. According to the mothers who tried this method, babies who taste the patience stone do not want to suckle again.

3. Weaning with disgust

It sounds a bit strange, but these are all weaning methods used to cool your baby off the breast. We don’t know what your conscience would say to the idea of ​​making your baby disgusted by the breast by rubbing any of the foods such as lemon, vinegar, tomato paste and coffee on his chest. However, these are some applications that have survived to the present day with years of experience.

4. Tape the nipple

Although it is not as cruel as the disgust method, we can say that it is a creative method among the ways of weaning the child. Taping the nipple with a parcel or a band-aid to interrupt breastfeeding is also among the most frequently tried methods. Since the baby will not be able to see the breast in this way, he may give up the desire to suck after a while. There are mothers who have experienced and achieved results.

5. Applying to herbal solutions to cut breast milk

Artichoke, parsley, mint, sage and chamomile have effects that reduce breast milk. You can also apply to such herbal solutions, but it is better to act early as it will take longer to get results.

6. Using drugs to wean milk from the breast

This is a method that neither we nor experts recommend unless absolutely necessary. However, we wanted to inform you as it is one of the ways to wean the baby from the breast.

Unless you have any health problems, it is not right to use drugs that cut off breast milk. If you have a health problem that prevents you from breastfeeding only your baby and if continuing to breastfeed will harm your little one, you may need to take some steps with the advice of your doctor. Natural methods are enough for a healthy mother to stop breastfeeding.

Do not make these mistakes when cutting from the breast!

• Avoid comparing your own situation to that of other families. Reconsider the date you’ve set your mind to weaning while you’re pregnant or when your baby is just born.
• Once you’ve made the decision to wean your child, it’s important to remain determined. It is an extremely wrong attitude to wean from the breast first and then breastfeed again. By doing this, you may damage your child’s sense of trust.
• Do not wean your baby suddenly. Spread this process over 2-2.5 months, gradually reduce the frequency of breastfeeding. When breastfeeding is stopped suddenly, a blockage in the milk ducts or an inflammatory condition called mastitis may occur.
• It is important that you perform weaning gradually so that the psychology of the baby is not damaged. Because the baby weaned from the breast may have negative feelings that he is not loved and does not want.

• Postpone weaning if your baby is not in good health, is teething, or is toilet trained. For a successful outcome, coincide this transition period with a period when both of you are healthy.

• If there is a major change in your home life, such as moving to a new home or adding a new member to your family, you may want to consider postponing weaning.
• Some studies show that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months has a protective effect on children with a family history of food allergies. If you have a family history of food allergies, talk to your doctor about the potential benefits of delaying weaning.