Weaning your breastfeeding kid(s)

Weaning a baby is one experience that is tough on a lot of mums. Even though people just assume it's not a big deal. The emotional turmoil for both the mother and child no longer having that bonding experience that's different to anything else. The dependence on the mum by the kid that's now going to take another unfamiliar form. The process of withdrawing that special bond that makes you sometimes question why you shouldn’t just continue. Most of all, the literal transformation happening in a woman’s body as the milk from her breast dries up. It's a lot.

As with every good thing, the process might not be great but the outcome is definitely worth it.

So, we get a lot of questions on how to go about weaning your baby. And here's what I found out;

• As soon as your baby turns 6 months, breast milk is no longer sufficient to satisfy their appetite. So, introduce solid food to them. A lot of mothers talk about how their children do not take solid food at that point. Regardless of that, do not stop. Continue to present them a variety of fruit, vegetables, cereal and other solid food until they see it as a staple.

• Also introduce them to formula. That brings to them a variant to breast milk. Even if they reject it at first, continue to try until they get comfortable with it

• As you draw close to the time when you feel you no longer want to breastfeed your baby, gradually reduce the number of times that they breastfeed.

• From 6 months, familiarise them with the use of plates, spoons and bottles to feed as opposed to feeding from you.

• When the time draw near, interchange a breastfeeding time with snack time or solid food time. For instance, instead of breastfeeding during the day, you can feed your child solid food or formula instead.

• Keep your child engaged and entertained at all times.

• Let your partner help with providing distractions, feeding and entertainment to your child at the times when he/she would normally breastfeed.

• Usually midnight feeding is the last to wean off. You can start to wean that off by pumping for midnight feed and having your husband feed your child instead of you. Gradually replace pumped breastmilk with formula and then water.

• Usually the reason there's so much hassle is because we are trying to stop at once. That’s going to put a strain on your health and that of your child. Stop gradually until eventually, you stop.

• As a matter of fact, as you continue to increase feeding your child solid food and snacks, they may be the one to stop breastfeeding by themselves.

• Do not attempt to stop breastfeeding at a period when your baby is experiencing discomfort as a result of teething or fever. Ensure the baby is healthy when you begin the process.

• Do not combine weaning your baby to a major transition in your life or that of your baby. In a nutshell, make sure you and your baby are comfortable before you begin the process.

  Based on advice from practitioners and from my research, these are what I did and it worked like a charm. Try it.

  
  Please try to breastfeed your kids for at least a year before you attempt to stop altogether. There are so many benefits associated with breastfeeding that should not be deprived to any child. So, try for at least a year and then you can gradually stop.
  
  What did I miss? What was your own experience with weaning your child? I'll like to know.