Sooner or later, Mothers Need to Know How to Wean Children

Weaning or stopping a baby from breastfeeding can sometimes be an emotional time for both mother and baby. Not only will there be a change in the way the baby gets nutrition, but because most babies get peace by breastfeeding directly from the mother's breast. Don't worry, weaning does not always signify the end of an intimate bond between mother and child. Mothers can look for other ways such as hugging, playing or reading books together.

When is the Right Weaning?

Actually, in determining when to wean a child depends on the choice of each mother. However, the optimal recommended period for babies to get exclusive breastfeeding is six months. While the general period of breastfeeding mothers is until the baby is two years old. After the baby is six months old, he can start getting additional nutrition in addition to breast milk, through MPASI (Complementary Food for Mother's Milk). Some experts describe several signs that babies can be weaned, including:

• Babies can sit with their heads upright for a long time.
• Opens his mouth and is interested when he sees someone else eating.
• Coordination of the eyes, mouth and hands begins to work well, so they can take and put food in the mouth.
• Baby's weight has reached twice the birth weight.

In a one-year-old child, he may start drinking from a cup and start looking for ways other than breastfeeding for comfort. Instead of breast milk, you can provide solid foods that are rich in vitamin C, iron, and calcium, such as cheese, vegetable porridge, cereals, and fruit mixed with breast milk or milk. However, there are certain conditions that make you need to delay to wean your child. Some of these conditions include:

• Children are at risk for allergies if they consume food or drinks other than breast milk. For the same reason, breast milk is recommended to be given at least until the baby is six months old.
• If you or your child are sick, or if the child is teething, this condition can make weaning your child more complicated.
• If there is a big change, like you and your family moving house or traveling in the long run, because it can make your child experience stress.

How to get started?

How to get started really depends on the needs and character of each child and mother. It is important to know the signs that the child is ready to be weaned, as explained above. The following guidelines can be a general benchmark for how to start weaning:

• Start slowly

Start weaning gradually not only beneficial for children, but also for you. Reducing the frequency of breastfeeding will slowly make the production of breast milk decrease gradually. This slow reduction is important to avoid the risk of breast swelling and pain.

• Try to wean during the daytime

Babies usually breastfeed in the morning and evening for comfort. How to wean a child can begin gradually by stopping breastfeeding during the day, replacing it with solid food, but still giving milk at night.

• Substitute one time for breastfeeding with bottled or cup milk

Keep following the same schedule for a week. Then, the next week add the time you give the bottle milk and reduce breastfeeding directly. Infants one year and above can be given cow's milk instead of breast milk.

• Try to put the child to sleep without breastfeeding gradually

Create another fun ritual before going to bed, like reading a book or listening to music. Make him feel comfortable by still hugging or stroking her.

• Start using cups more often than bottles

Place more water in the cup than in the bottle. Alternatively, place the drink that your child likes in a cup and place the one he or she doesn't like very much in the bottle. For example, putting milk and juice (for babies over 6 months) in a cup and only mineral water in a bottle.

The most important thing when weaning is to focus on the comfort of your baby and yourself. There is no need to worry about yourself by comparing how others wean children, because each experience is unique. You may have your own deadline for when a child should not breastfeed, but it would be better to be flexible with that deadline.