How old is the child suitable to stop breastfeeding? How to stop breastfeeding

Unconsciously, my baby is already over one year old. Is it time to stop breastfeeding? At what age is it appropriate to stop breastfeeding a child? How to stop breastfeeding a baby?

It is recommended that 6-month-old infants can add complementary foods appropriately, and it is more appropriate to stop breastfeeding at the age of 2. Breast milk is rich in immune substances and trace elements, which are beneficial to the intellectual and physical and mental development of infants and reduce the risk of disease; breastfeeding also helps to cultivate infants' sense of security and self-confidence, and prevents infants from being overweight, because the quality and quantity of breast milk change with the age of infants to adapt to infant absorption, and the thick milk can easily lead to infant obesity; breastfeeding can effectively reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in mothers, and is beneficial to the mother's body recovery and uterine contraction. Therefore, breastfeeding is good for both babies and mothers. If conditions permit, mothers can continue to breastfeed until the baby is 2 years old. At the same time, it is recommended that mothers pay attention to the proper intake of sufficient nutrients during this period to ensure the quality of milk.

If possible, it is best for mothers to exclusively breastfeed until the age of two. If not possible, try to feed until the age of one. It will be easier to wean the baby after the baby has completely added complementary foods. When weaning, you must first stop the night feeding and feed the baby before going to bed. Then slowly reduce the number of breastfeeding, gradually shorten the breastfeeding time, and extend the interval between breastfeeding, so that the baby gradually gets used to drinking less breast milk. This step-by-step approach is also very beneficial for the mother's weaning and can avoid a lot of pain. When you first make formula milk for your baby, make a little less and dilute it, or you can mix a small amount of milk powder into the rice cereal that the baby usually eats, let the baby adapt first, and when the baby adapts, give the baby normal milk powder alone.

1. Let the baby get used to the bottle first: In daily life, if the baby is suddenly weaned from breast milk and fed with milk powder, the baby will naturally not be able to adapt to milk powder and milk bottles for a while. However, babies of mothers who breastfeed are more likely to accept milk powder because such babies are used to the bottle at an early stage. Therefore, mothers must let the baby use the bottle first if they are ready to wean.

2. Need a suitable pacifier: Some babies are unwilling to drink milk powder after weaning, mainly because they cannot accept the cold and hard pacifier. The pacifier should also be very close to the nipple, so that the baby can adapt better and feel that he is still sucking the mother's breast milk.

3. Choose the right time to wean: Although weaning is a process that every baby has to go through, it does not mean that you can wean whenever you want. You also need to choose the right time to wean. If mothers are sick, traveling, or growing milk teeth, they should not wean, because this will increase the baby's anxiety and make weaning more difficult.

1 Set aside a 24-hour period during which you only feed with a bottle. Choose a day when someone will be there to help. You may need to express your breast milk to prevent engorgement and soreness, and then you can give it to your baby with a bottle.

2 On this day, do not give your baby anything to eat or drink for at least two to three hours before giving the bottle, until the child feels hungry and has an appetite.

3 Try different bottles and nipples. A soft, nipple-shaped nipple is best. Use a regular, slim bottle that will fit any size nipple.

4 If possible, it is best to use expressed breast milk at first because your baby is used to the taste. If breast milk is insufficient, other formula milk can be used.

5 Use a sterilized needle to poke a larger hole in the nipple, ensuring the flow is greater than that of breast milk.

This measure is very effective for a baby who cries as soon as the pacifier is placed in her mouth, because it makes her feel that the milk can flow out very smoothly.

6. The milk in the bottle should be completely warm. Many breastfed babies like the milk in the bottle to be a little warmer than usual, of course, provided that it does not burn the baby.

7. Sit your baby upright on your lap to avoid choking or panic caused by excessive flow. Do not let your baby lie in your arms as you would when breastfeeding, as this position makes your baby feel uncomfortable when feeding with a bottle.

8. Use toys or TVs around you that can make noises to distract your baby. Before your baby realizes that the pacifier is in his mouth, he has already started sucking unconsciously.

9. Be patient. If your baby shows signs of choking, straighten him up immediately but keep the pacifier in his mouth.

10. Be persistent. So far, we have found that 24 hours is the longest time that babies can persist, and most babies quickly and naturally give up insisting on breastfeeding.