Weaning
Weaning is defined as the stage in which the child can rely on any food sources other than breast feeding, that is, the child stops taking milk from the mother, a process that should be gradual and not abruptly, so the weaning needs patience and good understanding by the mother, Weaning begins after the child reaches the age of six months. If the child does not complain about health problems, height, weight and the circumference of his head is appropriate since birth and other, the doctor may recommend the introduction of supplements in addition to breastfeeding.
Weaning the child definitively
There are ways we weaning the baby out and dispense with the mother’s milk in full, and these methods are:
- Abrupt weaning: This is a complete cessation of breastfeeding once and without any introductions. This method is very difficult for a child who is breastfed by his mother’s breast, but this method may be used for compelling reasons such as maternal illness, This method is suitable for a child who has been breastfed three or more times a day.
- Gradual weaning: This method requires weaning the child gradually and sequentially, so that the replacement of breastfeeding with food one meal a week (lunch), and so until access to the total dispensation of breastfeeding meals, taking into account that the pre-sleep meal is The last meal to be dispensed with, and this method is suitable for the child who breastfeed twice or less a day.
- Partial weaning: Reduce the number of feeds a day to once or twice before the second dose before bedtime, and the rest of the feeds should be replaced with external food.
- Natural weaning: the way in which the mother leaves the child with the option to wean himself; the child chooses the right time to stop breastfeeding, and may be gradual or sudden.
Tips when weaning
- Make the child busy with fun games, or take a picnic at the time of the usual lactation.
- Try to change the habitual feeding of the child.
- The child can be trained and trained to drink milk by cup or cup if the child is under one year old.
- Let the child suck his finger during this period; because he wants to adapt himself to the new stage.
- Stay away from weaning during periods that do not fit the baby like teething stage.
- Weaning from breastfeeding is easier with industrial breastfeeding.
Foods to avoid during weaning
- Pre-year-old: strawberry, egg whites, bovine, chocolate, beans, honey.
- Pre-three years: uncooked islands, grapes, popcorn.
- Avoid sugar and excess salt in meals.