When should I start weaning your baby?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with resident Doctor Ho Thi Hong Tho - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.
Weaning a baby is quite a difficult journey for both mother and baby. Adjusting to weaning will take more time and patience than ever before. Many people will wonder when is the right time to wean their baby and is there any way to make weaning easier?

1. What does weaning mean?

Babies are considered weaned when they stop breastfeeding and can get all their nutrients from sources other than breast milk. Alternatively, babies can also be weaned from breast milk, which usually refers to when babies start to stop breastfeeding.
If you regularly care for your baby to make him comfortable, you can find other ways to help him feel more comfortable. You can read books, sing to your children or take them to play outside. If your baby doesn't like the above, try to be calm and patient to comfort or cuddle.

2. When should you start weaning your baby?

The mother is the best judge of when to wean her baby, and you don't have to set a weaning date until you and your baby are ready. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed for at least a year, even longer if both mother and baby want to.
You should not strictly follow weaning advice from friends, relatives or even strangers, because there is no right or wrong way to wean your baby. You can completely choose the time that is right for you or let your baby wean naturally when he is older.
Weaning at the child's discretion:
Weaning is easiest when your baby begins to lose interest in breastfeeding, and this can happen any time after the baby has started solid foods (about 4-6 months). Some babies by the age of 12 months also begin to be more interested in solid foods instead of breast milk, especially after they have tried many different foods and can drink from a cup.
Besides, toddlers are often less interested in breastfeeding as they become more active and don't tend to sit still long enough to breastfeed. If your baby is fussy, impatient or easily distracted during feedings, this could be a sign to let you know that your baby is ready for weaning.
Weaning at the discretion of the mother:
You can decide for yourself to start weaning your baby when you want to go back to work. Or you simply feel that this is the right time to wean your baby. If you're ready but your baby doesn't seem to want to stop breastfeeding, you can gradually wean your baby off.
Weaning often takes a lot of time and event rings. It also depends on the age of the child and how the child is changing to adapt to weaning.
In addition, you should avoid applying the “cold turkey” method of weaning – abrupt weaning. Experts say that sudden weaning can be traumatic for the baby and lead to blocked milk ducts or breast infection for the mother.

3. How to wean the baby?

Weaning should be done slowly and patiently. Here are some methods you can use:
Skip a feed:
Observe what happens if you give your baby a bottle or cup of milk instead of breastfeeding. You can replace breast milk with formula or whole cow's milk (if your baby is at least a year old). In addition, you should reduce feeding times one by one over a period of several weeks so that the baby has time to adjust. Your breast milk supply will also gradually decrease this way without causing your breasts to become engorged or develop mastitis.
Shorten breastfeeding:
You should start limiting the amount of time you breastfeed. If you usually breastfeed for ten minutes, try shortening it to five minutes. Depending on your child's age, offer a healthy snack, such as unsweetened apple sauce, a cup of milk or formula. However, some babies under 6 months of age may not be ready for solid foods. Solid foods are added to breast milk until your baby is one year old. Bedtime feeds can be more difficult to shorten because they are often the last.
Postpone feeding and distracting your baby:
You can try postponing feedings if your baby feeds several times a day. This method will work if your child is a little older. If your baby asks for a feed, reassure and distract him with another activity. In case your baby wants to feed in the early evening, try to make him wait until bedtime. To ease the transition to bottle feeding, you can try placing a few drops of breast milk on your baby's lips or tongue before putting the nipple of the bottle in his mouth. Alternatively, you can also try giving your baby a small amount of breast milk in a bottle a few hours after feeding, but it should be done before your baby gets too hungry to get impatient and frustrated.

4. Is the baby getting enough nutrients at weaning?

Even breastfed babies need extra nutrients that breast milk can't provide, such as vitamin D. If you weaned your baby before he was 1 year old, he'll need to continue drinking breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Then, when your child reaches toddler age, you need to offer him a wider variety of foods to provide him with all the nutrients he needs to grow.
>> See more: Choosing formula milk for babies - Article written by Dr. Dr. Pham Thi Viet Huong - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

5. Effects of sudden weaning on babies

You may experience physical changes and emotional ups and downs as your milk intake increases. When the body stops producing milk, some side effects may appear.
For example, you may find yourself engorged because the milk isn't coming out as often. Accompanied by blocked ducts or mastitis . In addition, the breasts can also leak an excess of milk, making you feel sad, anxious, or angry.
So how can some of these unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms be minimized? Experts say you'll experience fewer (or less severe) side effects if you prolong weaning.
By giving your body more time to adjust and reduce milk production, engorgement can be reduced, resulting in less swelling and pain in the breasts.

6. Measures to help reduce discomfort when weaning babies

If you're ready to wean your baby, a good rule of thumb you should know is to plan on giving up one feed every 3-5 days. However, weaning can cause some unpleasant side effects for both mother and baby. Here are some ways to help reduce these discomforts, including:
Preventing mastitis:
Mastitis is a condition caused by an infection, which can be accompanied by painful symptoms. To avoid the risk of mastitis when you stop breastfeeding, you can refer to some of the following tips:
Give yourself time to gradually wean your baby. One of the causes of mastitis is the accumulation of milk inside the breast tissue. The gradual reduction of feedings will give the body more time to gradually reduce the milk supply and the amount of milk that accumulates. Make sure to continue taking good care of the breast tissues as bacteria can enter through any sores or open wounds leading to infection and mastitis. Use only the right breast pump If you have any signs of mastitis, such as fever or hard red bumps while weaning, tell your doctor right away to receive treatment. treatment as soon as possible.
Facing emotional ups and downs:
Even if you wean your baby slowly and steadily, your hormones will change. You may find it difficult to stop breastfeeding, and even feel like you are losing closeness to your baby. However, don't worry because your bond with your baby will deepen as the years go by.
Here are some tips for dealing with emotional changes if it happens:
Make sure you get enough rest and nutrition. This will help regulate your body's hormones and help you feel more comfortable. Get support from friends, family or a psychologist Make time for your favorite activities and hobbies Overcome breast pain and engorgement:
Here are some ways to cure breast pain and effective lactation at home:
Use cold packs and over-the-counter pain relievers eg Paracetamol or nosteroid anti-inflammatory pain relievers to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Use your hands to squeeze some breast milk out of the breast tissue to relieve pressure. You should not express all of your breast milk as they can stimulate your breasts to produce more milk Support your baby during weaning:
Honestly, weaning can be difficult for both mother and baby. If you find your child is angry, take a deep breath and try the following:
Give your baby a pacifier instead of a real one. Give your baby plenty of solid, age-appropriate foods. Also, visit your baby to make sure all of their nutritional needs are met. Continue to spend more time cuddling and comforting your baby, helping to bond more closely.

When a child shows abnormal signs of health, parents can take the child to Vinmec Health system for timely examination and treatment.
Besides, parents also need to supplement their children with essential micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1, ... to fully meet the nutritional needs of children. The addition of these essential vitamins also supports digestion, enhances nutrient absorption, improves anorexia, and helps children eat well. Parents can simultaneously apply dietary supplements and functional foods derived from nature for easy absorption. The most important thing is that improving your baby's symptoms often takes a long time. The combination of many types of functional foods at the same time or continuously changing many types in a short time can cause the baby's digestive system not to adapt and completely not good. Therefore, parents must be really patient with their children and regularly visit the website vimec.com to update useful baby care information.

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Reference source: babycenter.com; medela.com