Baby Weaning
Baby weaning from the breast or the bottle is a natural process. The La Leche League motto is to do it
gradually, and with love. If possible, your baby will nurse till it no longer needs to be breast fed. This is called baby led weaning. This prevents us from setting a time limit on how long a baby should nurse, thus allowing the baby to develop at its own rate. Weaning is a process that begins when you first offer your baby solid food. For both of your wellbeing, it’s best not to begin too suddenly.
If you have to cease breast feeding abruptly, then expect your breast to become engorged with milk. A breast infection of abscess can set in. Your hormone levels drop dramatically which can lead to depression. If you have a history of depression, then please take this into consideration and plan baby weaning carefully under a doctor’s supervision. The baby’s experience in withdrawing from the breast can also be traumatic. First, there is no way to explain to baby why the change is taking place. Think of ways to make up for the loss of closeness while the baby is weaning. If you must stop suddenly, make sure there are no other options to consider.
For instance, if you are prescribed a medication that you must take, and the doctor advises that you do not need to breastfeed, then ask your doctor if there is another option. Your doctor will err on the side of caution and may not be that familiar with medications that are acceptable during breastfeeding. If he seems uninterested in helping you make the best decision, or feels that breastfeeding is something you can just stop and start, then get another doctors opinion and, maybe, his care. Baby weaning is just that important.
The pros and cons of breast feeding are many. Still, the longer the infant can successfully breastfeed, the healthier your baby will be as it grows into the next stage, and is ready to start solids. Breastfeeding for a year is what most specialists in child care recommend, as it offers the best protection of immunity as the infant develops. Beginning to offer appropriate foods around the age of 6 months will encourage your baby to become more and more reliant on solid food to feel full. This can still be a bonding experience as baby weaning begins.
If you and baby are ready there are some guidelines to consider. Eliminate one feeding each day every couple of days, to allow your milk to dry up slowly. After 2 weeks, baby should just be nursing a couple of times a day. It is fine to eliminate the feedings in between first and last to begin with. That way, the bonding experience is not so totally disturbed. You may even want to extend first thing in the morning feeding and last feeding before bed a few weeks longer. This making the transition into formula easier, as baby weaning concludes.
