Nobody doubts the benefits of breast milk for babies. In fact, breast milk contains the most complete nutrition a baby need compared with the most expensive formula. However, sometimes a problem will arise when it comes the time for weaning from breastfeeding. This article will focus about this crucial process; how the child shows that he or she is ready for transition, the suggested method and tips on weaning from breastfeeding successfully.
Weaning from Breastfeeding-Is Your Baby Ready?
Baby should have only breast milk for about first 6 months of its life, this period is often called “exclusively breastfeeding”. Breastfeeding then continued until the child reaches the age of 2 years. This is what WHO suggested. After 2 years, mothers usually start weaning their babies from breastfeeding and turn into bottle or cup. Some mothers even start weaning from breastfeeding earlier. This transition sometimes causes some difficulties for both mother and the child. Some children will cry excessively, some others prefer to starve and refuse their breast milk’s replacement. Now, how to make sure your child is ready to be weaning from breastfeeding, either “fresh” breast milk or “expressed” one? 1. Your baby eats solid food at least 3 mealtimes a day. Solids will directly reduce the amount of breast milk they usually consume. When the child has a growing appetite, it would be a good time for mothers to start introducing another form of milk instead of breast milk. By consuming solids, baby has already adjusting their meal pattern and recognized that there are other varieties of food besides breast milk. 2. Your baby can drink from glass or able to use straw or hold his milk bottle by himself. Mothers can use glass, cup or bottle as different media for serving their milk. 3. Understand some simple statements. A child who already able to understand what mommy says is somehow easier to accept explanations of why he or she should separate from mom’s breast. You can easily tell him that there’s no more milk in your breast and ask him to drink formula from bottle. (I always tell my son to drink with “the trumpet” instead drinking from bottle, I though it would be more attractive ^-^). However, weaning from breastfeedingis not an instant process. Some mommies might not face any difficulties in this process, while some others did. Keep on reading the next section about the suggested method of weaning baby from breastfeeding.
Suggested Method of Weaning From Breastfeeding
The preferred suggestion to do this process is by doing gradually. Weaning from breastfeeding in “slowly but sure” way will make the transition from breast to bottle or cup an easy one. Not only mother who is involved in this process, baby has an equal right on deciding when he or she is ready for this process. Weaning from breastfeeding is not a short process which happens overnight and it will be much easier if the child decides the time and mother will only need to follow his or her lead. The suggested method (or maybe the only way) to achieve the goal of weaning is by changing routine, especially before bedtime. If you usually nurse the child before bedtime, try to substitute milk via bottle or cup. Or you can allow him to snuggle beside you and read him favorite books. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, avoid nursing him and give him bottle instead, or if possible hold him until he go back to sleep. The most important key in weaning from breastfeeding is: PATIENCE. Don’t push your child to be separated from breast milk dramatically if he has not ready yet, it will lead into excessive crying which put your nerves on the line. If you decide to eliminate a feeding, do one at a time and give your child a couple of days until he used to it. Then go to the next elimination or substitution. In my experience, I started to change the nursing ritual by eliminating one feeding time in the afternoon and replace it with formula. The next elimination would be in the middle of the night when he usually woke up for breast milk, again I replace it with formula. So far my 19 months Kairo didn’t complain with this transition. So by the time I wrote this article, I only need one more feeding time to be replaced (before bedtime), which is probably the most difficult. Weaning from breastfeeding gradually will give opportunity to your body adjusting the transition. It will be painful for your breast if you stop nursing suddenly. I’ve tried it once before doing it “step by step” and the result is my breast is harden like a stone and make me breathe hardly. Once again, don’t force the child. You will know if they’re ready weaning from breastfeeding anytime they think it’s time to say goodbye to breast milk. I hope, the following tips will help you through this transition.
Tips on Weaning From Breastfeeding
A child is suggested to have breast milk until up to 2 years. Unfortunately changing routine to weaning from breastfeeding (as I mentioned above) is not that simple. Crying child or rejection is normal in this process, so I’d like to give you some tips how to have an easy transition for both mommy and baby: 1. Follow the sign of your child. The weaning process involved both of you, or probably more about your child. Mother will find it much easier if the initiative to weaning from breastfeeding come from the child. 2. Give the solids. Solid foods will instantly reduce the passion for breast milk. It will make them adjust with new taste or texture of various foods and help them understand there are many more different foods beside breast milk. 3. Introduce them with bottle as soon as possible. I used to express my breast milk and put them in a bottle since my baby was 1 month. Actually I did this as I have to go back to work so I didn’t want my baby refuse the artificial nipple just because he didn’t used to it. So as the transition period to formula begin, it’s not difficult for me to ask him using milk bottle because he was already familiar with the “artificial” nipple. 4. Introduce them with cups as they start growing teeth. Many experts say that drinking with bottle in a long period is not really good for the child’s teeth structure. You can sometime bring him to the store and let your child choose his own cup. By using cup, you introduce him how we should drink and teach him to be more independence. 5. Explain them how’s your breast milk condition. “See, mom’s is empty. Why don’t you drink with your trumpet?”. That’s what I often say to my boy, sometime he believed but sometimes he didn’t. But as he grows up, he started to notice that there’s no more breast milk even when he sucked, then he said: “It’s empty, I want my trumpet”. You can also tell your baby that he or she has already grown up, so it’s time for them to say “bye bye” to breast milk. Weaning from breastfeeding should be a fun process for mother and her baby. Enjoy doing this transition and you will get through this successfully. Last but not least, I would recommend you a very useful reference which gives you lots of information about weaning from breastfeeding. It is Hello Milk, Bye Bye Milk: An Expert Mom’s Ultimate Guide to Breastfeeding and Weaning 
What makes this ebook so special is that it’s not only discuss about weaning from breastfeeding, but also answer all matters regarding with the world of breastfeeding mothers, including: a. the importance of breastfeeding and how breastfeeding affect baby’s brain development. b. proper latching techniques while breastfeeding. c. different positions while breastfeeding d. how to influence your milk supply e. how to express breast milk and store it. As well as the answers for all problems you may encounter while weaning from breastfeeding, such as: a. how to recognize signs that your baby is ready for weaning. b. different techniques when weaning your child c. how to stop lactation without causing any problems towards you and the baby d. how to introduce your baby with solid food and formula milk. I strongly recommend you to have a copy of this e-book because this is a one stop ultimate guidance for a breastfeeding mother, either you’re working mother or a stay-at home one. Get interesting bonus if you purchase this e-book like: – The Hello Milk, Bye Bye Milk – Comprehensive Instruction Manual – Yummy Healthy Tummy: The Secrets of Raising Healthy Kids Every Parent Needs to Know!
