How to wean a baby from the breast?

Sooner or later, every mother deals with weaning a child from breastfeeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends full breastfeeding until the end of the 6th month of the child's age, then it is suitable to combine breastfeeding with complementary foods, up to the age of 2 years. Breastfeeding is not only a source of food for the child, but also a way of communication. It gives the child confidence and calms him down, often showing tiredness.

Weaning the baby from the breast is best done slowly, not only for you, but also for the baby. It will be easier to get used to the change if you stop breastfeeding gradually. First of all, limit breastfeeding during the day, because it can be replaced with a snack/ snack and the baby will tolerate it better. If the little one looks for comfort and love from you while breastfeeding, compensate him by cuddling him, give him your full attention, read him a fairy tale, play with him. It is also helpful if you explain everything to the child. Tell him why he won't get any more milk, that mommy is running low and breastfeeding needs to be limited. You have to be consistent, if you deny your child breastfeeding once, you cannot allow it the next time.

Try to involve your partner in the whole process. It can help you not only mentally, but also in caring for you, so that you are not always in sight of the child. He can even justify to the child why you will no longer breastfeed. Many babies fall asleep while breastfeeding, if this is also the case for you, change your bedtime rituals. Try creating new sleep habits, e.g. wearing a scarf, rocking, reading a book, singing or cuddling before sleep.

In the beginning, it is recommended to limit breastfeeding to once a day and gradually increase the number of denied breastfeeding.

If it is not possible to gradually skip breastfeeding and replace it with solid food, there is a worse option - to end breastfeeding abruptly, from day to day. It should be a last resort, because it is a shock not only for your body, but also for the child. In this case, you will not be able to wean the child without crying. You can wean a one-year-old or a 2-year-old child, but if you have the opportunity, you should breastfeed for at least half a year.

Mothers advise if you decide 100% that you want to wean your child from breastfeeding, hold on. Crying and throwing tantrums can be uncomfortable, but they won't last forever. If for the child the breast and breastfeeding are a way to fall asleep and wet themselves, the rituals must be changed and the feeling of security must be communicated in a different way. Some have tried rubbing the nipple with pepper, mustard, vinegar or salt when weaning.

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