Steps for weaning a baby:
It is possible to wean a child from breastfeeding without affecting his behavior or health, by following these steps:
- Avoid nervousness and anxiety about weaning, and not draw the child's attention to changes related to the new lifestyle and nutrition devoid of breastfeeding.
- Make sure to make suitable and healthy meals for the child, at all stages of weaning, because this helps the child to gradually forget breastfeeding.
- Occupy the child with many activities such as: playing with mud, drawing, and others. Going out with the child and spending a lot of time outdoors, such as taking a walk in the park, or playing in the backyard of the house.
- Continuing to wean, even if it did not succeed at the beginning, because every child has physiological and emotional needs that distinguish him from other children.
- Avoid sitting in places where breastfeeding takes place, and it is preferable not to wear her own clothes.
Procedures to help wean the infant:
1- Reducing breastfeeding times:
Children usually refuse to stop breastfeeding from breast milk, especially after they reach the age of 18 months, so the mother can accustom her child to this gradually by reducing the times of breastfeeding with the spacing between the times she breastfeeds her child naturally, and not giving the child room to breastfeed from her whenever he wants That, and at bedtime, another person can be asked to give him milk with a bottle.
2- Reducing breastfeeding time:
In order to wean the child, the mother can resort to reducing the duration of breastfeeding, for example: she can breastfeed him for five minutes instead of ten minutes, or she can feed him some light and healthy meals before the feeding time if he is more than six months old, so this makes him He satiates quickly, and thus the duration of his lactation is reduced.
3- Choosing the right nipple for milk bottles:
In order to endear the baby with milk bottles, the mother must take into account the shape of the nipple that her baby prefers and is comfortable with when buying feeding bottles; Where some babies prefer nipples that are in the shape of the mother's breast, while others prefer other shapes of nipples
Other tips for weaning:
In order to avoid making the child feel insecure and disturbed when weaning him from breastfeeding, the mother must be careful to take some steps, including:
- Whisper to the child and talk to him lovingly.
- Embrace the child. Look into his eyes.
- Stay as close to him as possible.
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Breastfeeding