How to wean? Scientific and reasonable weaning methods and precautions

Many babies need to prepare for weaning when they are about one year old. However, many parents believe that weaning is a painful process. Today, let’s talk about how to wean scientifically.

How to wean

1. View weaning as a natural process.

First of all, parents should not be too concerned about weaning. They should feed their babies normally according to the plan. When the baby shows a strong interest in food other than breast milk, they should be encouraged and reinforced in time. They should let the baby try new flavors according to the principle of from less to more, from thin to thick, and guide the baby to like complementary foods, so that they can psychologically regard weaning as a natural process.

2. Decide whether to wean the baby based on the baby's physical condition.

Before a mother decides to wean her baby, she must take the baby to a health care doctor for a comprehensive and detailed physical examination. Only when the baby is in good physical condition and has normal digestive function can she be weaned. Otherwise, it will affect the baby's healthy development.

3. Gradually reduce the number of feedings.

When you first start reducing milk supply, your baby will be very attached to your mother's milk, so it is best to start by reducing the number of breastfeeding during the day. Because there are many things that attract babies during the day, they will not pay much attention to their mothers, but in the morning and evening, babies will be particularly attached to their mothers and need to get comfort from breastfeeding.

Then, gradually transition to reducing the number of nighttime feedings until the baby is completely weaned. Breast milk can be gradually replaced with cow's milk or formula milk, and the amount of complementary food can be increased accordingly.

4. Do not wean your baby when he is sick.

If the baby is sick, teething, or has a new nanny, moves, travels, or the mother has to go to work, it is best not to wean the baby yet, otherwise it will increase the difficulty of weaning the baby.

5. Do not allow your baby to touch your nipples.

When weaning, do not let the baby see or touch the mother's nipple. When the baby sees other babies drinking breast milk, tell the baby "you have grown up, the little baby drinks mother's milk, you don't need it anymore".

6. No avoidance during weaning.

The International Breastfeeding Association believes that children in the weaning period need more love and physical comfort from their mothers. Mothers can use methods such as hugging and caressing the baby more, playing games that interest the baby, eating with the baby, and coaxing the baby to sleep to communicate with the baby and soothe the baby's anxiety, so as to compensate for the loss of maternal love that the baby feels due to the loss of breast milk. Do not hide away in order to quickly wean the baby and give the baby to other family members for feeding.

Weaning method

1. Gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding times: You can first reduce one breastfeeding meal for your baby every day, and increase the amount of complementary food accordingly; after a week, if the mother feels that her breasts are not too swollen and the baby's digestion and absorption are also very good, you can reduce one breastfeeding meal again, and at the same time increase the amount of complementary food, gradually transitioning to weaning.

2. Reduce milk supply during the day first and then at night: When you first reduce milk supply, your baby will be very attached to your mother's milk, so it is best to start with the milk supply during the day. Because there are many things that attract babies during the day, they will not pay much attention to their mothers, but they will be particularly attached to their mothers in the morning and at night.

3. Do a physical examination before weaning: When mothers are ready to wean their babies, they should first take them to a health care doctor for a comprehensive physical examination. Weaning can only be considered when the baby is in good physical condition and has normal digestive ability.

4. Do not wean the baby when he is sick: If the baby is sick, teething, or has a new nanny, moves, travels, or the mother has to go to work, it is best not to wean the baby first, otherwise it will increase the difficulty of weaning the baby.

5. Spend more time with your baby: During the weaning period, mothers should pay special attention to and take care of their babies, spend more time with them, and comfort their babies' anxiety. Mothers should never hide away in order to wean quickly and leave their babies to others to feed.

6. Dad helps the baby through the weaning period: When preparing for weaning, the father should give full play to his role and reduce the baby's dependence on the mother in advance. Before weaning, the mother can consciously reduce the time she spends with the baby and increase the time the father spends taking care of the baby.

Weaning precautions

(1) Gradual and natural transition. The timing and method of weaning depends on many factors. Every mother and baby has different feelings about weaning, and the method they choose also varies from person to person.

Quick weaning: If you have made adequate preparations, and both you and your baby can adapt, the time for weaning is ripe, and you can quickly wean your baby off breast milk. Especially with objective factors, if the mother must go on a business trip for a period of time, it is very likely that the baby will be completely weaned in a few days. If the mother no longer pumps milk after work, the daytime milk will also be weaned quickly.

Gradual weaning: If your baby is very dependent on breast milk, rapid weaning may make your baby uncomfortable. If you attach great importance to breastfeeding and stay with your baby every day, you may feel lost if you suddenly wean your baby. Therefore, you can adopt a gradual weaning method. Reduce breastfeeding from 6 times a day to 5 times a day, and then gradually reduce it after both mother and baby are adapted, until breastfeeding is completely stopped.

(2) Eat less breast milk and more milk. When weaning begins, you can give your baby some formula milk or fresh whole milk every day. It should be noted that you should try to encourage your baby to drink more milk, but as long as he wants to drink breast milk, the mother should not refuse him.

(3) Stop feeding before bed and at night. Most babies have the habit of feeding in the middle of the night and before going to bed at night. Babies are very active during the day, so it is relatively easy to stop feeding. The most difficult thing to stop is probably feeding before bed and in the middle of the night. You can stop feeding at night first, and then stop feeding before bed. At this time, the active cooperation of the father or family members is needed. When the baby is sleeping, the father or family members can coax the baby to sleep, and the mother can stay away for a while. The baby will definitely cry and make a fuss at first when he cannot see his mother, but he will not want to cry anymore and will fall asleep after a little coaxing. Weaning will be a struggle for a few days at the beginning, until the baby's fuss becomes less severe each time, until one day, the baby does not make much noise before going to bed and lies down to sleep obediently, and does not wake up in the middle of the night. Well, congratulations, you have succeeded in the first battle of weaning.

(4) Reduce dependence on the mother. The role of the father cannot be ignored. Before weaning, the mother should consciously reduce the time she spends with the baby and increase the time the father spends caring for the baby, giving the baby a psychological adaptation process. In the first period of weaning, the baby will be more attached to the mother. At this time, the father can play with the baby more. The baby may be dissatisfied at first, but later he will get used to it. Let the baby know that the father will still take care of him, and the mother will definitely come back. Trust in the father will make the baby less dependent on the mother.

(5) Cultivate good behavioral habits in children. Before and after weaning, mothers tend to indulge their babies because of psychological guilt. They will hold their babies whenever they want and give them whatever they want, regardless of whether the baby's request is reasonable or not. But you should know that the more you indulge your baby, the worse the baby's temper will be. Before and after weaning, it is necessary for mothers to hold their babies more and give them more caresses. However, you should not easily give in to the baby's unreasonable requests. You should not let weaning develop bad habits in your baby. At this time, the father's rationality is needed to balance the mother's emotions. When the baby cries and makes a fuss, the father can come forward to coordinate, and the baby is more likely to obey.