Mothers who are ready to wean their babies or to decrease the frequency of breast-feeding may wonder how to make the process easier.

Weaning takes time, especially when a baby has been breast-fed for an extended period.

The following strategies can help both a mother and her baby adjust to a new feeding routine and manage whatever stress or discomfort that this transition may cause.

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Weaning tin can be a long and challenging process, for both mother and child. It is important to accept a strategy in place in order to wean properly.

Women do not need to stop breast-feeding if they are not ready, and exercise not demand to continue breastfeeding if they take had enough.

Nevertheless, a few simple guidelines can assist mothers determine whether they desire to continue breast-feeding their baby.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that infants exist exclusively breast-fed for the first 6 months of their life. Solid foods may be introduced around 6 months. Subsequently that, breast-feeding can go on for ane year, or as long as the female parent and baby wish to proceed.

Infants over a year quondam primarily utilize breast milk every bit a supplemental food, a source of comfort, and to support the allowed system.

Women sometimes consider stopping breast-feeding because of pain, breast engorgement, social pressure, or fear that the infant is non getting enough milk. Women who want to continue breastfeeding, just who are concerned about these issues, should speak with their doctor or a breast-feeding specialist.

Women weaning infants less than 1 yr old must supercede breast milk with infant formula or donor breast milk.

Babies older than 6 months yet need formula or donor chest milk, just can also transition to historic period-appropriate solid foods. Children less than 1 twelvemonth former should never be given cow's milk, soya milk, or other like products.

Infants who eat solid foods need adequate protein, fe, and other nutrients. If worried, parents tin consult a pediatrician nearly the right rest of nutrients and platonic daily caloric intake.

Some babies may demand a multivitamin or other supplement, peculiarly if they exercise not get plenty iron or vitamin D.

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If a woman is unsure, a medical professional tin offering advice on when it is appropriate to starting time weaning.

Some infants wean easily, while others protest. Planning for a difficult transition tin help make the weaning process easier. Going slowly tin also help prevent stress for the mother and the baby.

A adult female can try to choose a time when there are no other significant stressors, such as a deadline at work or a awaiting holiday.

If possible, it is helpful to spend actress time with the infant, as they are sometimes anxious or clingy during weaning.

Parents should program on the weaning process taking a few weeks. If the baby needs to be weaned by a particular date, it is a skilful thought to beginning the process early on.

When they are between 6 months and 1 yr onetime, nigh babies feed less often during the night. This procedure, known as night weaning, can help mothers get some much-needed rest.

It may as well mean that women tin can sustain breast-feeding for longer, as fewer nighttime feedings tin help mothers nurse comfortably during the day.

It may be tempting to quit breast-feeding in one go, but doing and then can crusade engorgement, nipple hurting, and psychological distress to both the female parent and infant.

An easier strategy is to reduce breast-feeding sessions slowly over several weeks.

Starting time with the session that seems least important to the infant or the 1 in which the baby eats the least. Give the baby a few days to adjust before stopping the adjacent feeding session. Repeat the process to eliminate each feeding session, upward to the concluding.

The terminal remaining feeding session, usually an early on forenoon or evening feed, is ofttimes the most difficult to give up. Women should let time for the baby and themselves to adjust. Some women cull to keep this final feeding session going for several additional months.

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Using a breast pump can assist to alleviate discomfort while weaning. It is best to pump only a small amount, to avoid more than milk beingness produced.

Breast-feeding operates co-ordinate to supply and demand. When a baby drinks more milk, or a woman pumps regularly, her trunk will keep producing milk.

A women's supply of chest milk tends to taper off as the baby eats less. However, many women feel engorgement and generalized discomfort during this fourth dimension.

One manner to alleviate discomfort is by pumping a small quantity of breast milk. Avoid pumping lots of milk, as that can increment supply. Instead, endeavor pumping for 2-iii minutes, or until whatsoever pain has gone.

Women who are weaning their baby can give this pumped milk to the baby at a later feeding session. This pumped milk means that a woman will not have to breast-feed the baby at the later on session, which volition help the woman's milk supply shrink faster.

If pumping for a few minutes does not assistance, breast-feeding women can find other ways to manage discomfort.

Both pumping and breast-feeding can increase the supply of breast milk, which may prolong discomfort and ho-hum the weaning procedure.

Some strategies that may reduce discomfort include:

  • Applying cabbage leaves to the breast. Chilling the leaves may assist with swelling.
  • Taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain.
  • Applying warm compresses to the breasts earlier feeding, or taking a hot bath.
  • Applying cold compresses (such as bags of frozen peas) after feeding.
  • Discussing nascency control pills with a physician. Some women find that taking birth control reduces breast milk supply, which reduces the discomfort of weaning.
  • Massaging the breasts to reduce the risk of plugged ducts.
  • Wearing a supportive bra, equally the breasts may feel heavier. Tight wear and binding can brand pain worse and may fifty-fifty crusade a breast infection.

Weaning can be stressful simply is rarely unsafe. The two primary risks of weaning are a breast infection and malnourishment in the baby.

Some mothers develop low or feet, and some infants struggle to soothe themselves without breast-feeding.

Contact a doctor if:

  • the mother develops a fever
  • the breasts are swollen, red, or hot
  • at that place is dark-green or foul-smelling belch from the breasts
  • the female parent has symptoms of low or anxiety
  • the mother no longer feels bonded to the baby
  • the infant has less frequent wet or soiled diapers
  • the baby experiences a pregnant change in sleep patterns that final longer than a week or two

Breast milk is more than a source of nutrition. Chest-feeding also offers babies comfort when they are stressed or agape. Many babies fall asleep while feeding.

Strategies for comforting an infant during weaning include:

  • property baby in skin-to-pare contact
  • offering a pacifier
  • distracting a baby who wants to nurse by playing, singing songs, or going for a walk
  • rocking the baby
  • giving the infant a teething ring chilled in the freezer if they are teething
  • establishing a new bedtime ritual that helps the baby fall asleep

Having some other parent or caregiver condolement the baby can as well assist. Infants in the process of weaning may aggressively try to feed. Allowing someone else to comfort or feed the baby can significantly reduce stress for the mother and baby.

Once your infant has been weaned off breast milk, yous will want to stimulate the body to cease producing it, or "drying information technology up."

Firmly supporting the breasts and reducing the amount of milk expressed from them tin help to gradually reduce milk secretion.

This can be a painful process, and milk can back up and cause swelling and agonized.

Breast pads can exist used in a bra to soak up any leaking milk. Painkilling medication and common cold or gel packs inserted into the bra tin aid to resolve discomfort or pain. Common cold cabbage leaves also have a soothing issue on the breasts, merely be sure to store them in a refrigerator and change them when they get limp.

If you feel pain in the breasts while lying downwardly, sleep with a pillow supporting the breast area. Those who sleep on their front tin can use a pillow under the breadbasket and hips to support the breasts.

Mothers should be patient with infants who do not want to wean. The babe may temporarily backslide to an before stage of development, be broken-hearted or clingy, or cry more oft than usual. After several weeks, these issues volition improve.