Weaning Tips
When it comes to weaning, there is no “right” time for your baby to stop breastfeeding. Every baby is different and will wean at his or her own pace. Some babies are ready to stop breastfeeding sooner than their parents expect, while others continue well beyond their parents’ expectations. Here are some of our top tips for weaning a baby:
-Be patient and understanding with your child
-Remember that you are still the parent, so even if your child decides he doesn’t want your breast any longer, you should still be the one to make the final decision
-If possible, give your child a chance to show you when he’s ready; he may surprise you!
-Avoid forcing weaning as much as possible (this will only cause stress for both of you)
-It’s a good idea to make sure that you’re both emotionally ready—your son or daughter might need some extra support during this transition
Breastfeeding is amazing, but it’s also hard work. The baby wants to nurse more often than you can physically manage, and the hormones that help you produce breast milk make you feel like a zombie. Weaning often results in mixed emotions for new moms: on one hand, it’s a huge milestone for your child to learn how to eat solid foods; on the other hand, it’s a loss of independence for you.
We want to share our experience with weaning, and give some tips we learned from our own trial-and-error process. The following is what worked for us; your mileage may vary!
More Weaning
When it comes to weaning, there are a few things you should know. First, you should start weaning from the breast or the bottle before four months. That’s when the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you stop giving your infant human milk or formula in favor of solid foods. You’ll want to be aware that some babies cry when they’re weaned, but if your baby is fussy and you think she might be hungry, try feeding her again before moving on to solids.
Although you’ll hear plenty of opinions about how to get your child used to eating solid food, there’s no one right way; do what works best for your family. If you plan to go back to work soon after having a baby, remember that introducing solid food at the age of four months will allow baby to start eating while you’re away. If you’d rather wait longer until your child is closer to six months old, that’s fine, too—but keep in mind that it means more time without nursing or bottle-feeding for both of you.
The most important thing about weaning is that it’s something you can do at your own pace and in whatever way feels best for both of you. As with any other part of parenting, trust your instincts.
Our weaning bibs are here.
https://babybeloved.ie/product-category/bibs/baby-weaning-bib/
