A colleague of mine, breastfeeding for 6 months, was too busy at work and her superiors gave her the opportunity to be promoted, and she decided to wean the child.
In this regard, her mother-in-law has a great opinion: "The women in our hometown are breastfeeding until 2-3 years old, you wean the child at 6 months, what if my eldest grandson is hungry?" ”
Colleagues helplessly spread their hands: "I have no way, milk is already less, and children can eat complementary food, my position competition pressure is high, rare promotion opportunities, of course, to grasp." ”
After listening to her colleague's words, the mother-in-law was so angry that her face went black.
In the evening, a colleague called me: "Am I really doing something wrong?" ”
I comforted her: "First, the weaning time varies from person to person, not all mothers have the conditions to feed the child naturally, if there is no way, it is also a good choice to give the child milk powder." Second, it is not easy for women in the workplace, you have just given birth to a baby, you have the opportunity to go on, do not worry too much. ”
After listening to my words, my colleague said that he was suddenly cheerful and felt much more comfortable.
When should breastfeeding be?
"When should I wean my child?" For this problem, many mothers are very entangled.
Let's first look at what the authorities have to say.
WHO recommends that infants under 6 months of age should be exclusively breastfed, supplementary foods can be added after 6 months, and breastfeeding can be continued until 2 years of age or older.
The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, and solid foods can be added as appropriate until the baby reaches the age of 1.
According to the Maternal and Child Branch of the Continental Nutrition Society, the best age for babies to be weaned is 2 years old.
Taken together, it is not recommended to wean babies under 6 months of age, regardless of whether the recommended weaning age is 1 or 2 years.
Because breast milk is not only the best ration for the baby, but also the spiritual pillar of the baby, it is one of the main ways to enhance the parent-child relationship.
Before 6 months, by sucking on the mother's breast, the baby can obtain sufficient security and satisfaction, which is more beneficial to the development of physical and mental health. Although some babies have begun to eat complementary foods at the age of 6 months, the nutrition provided by complementary foods is not enough to meet the needs of the baby's physical growth, and it is ultimately inseparable from breast milk or milk powder.
Breastfeeding can not be forced, the time is ripe to "do"
However, for some mothers, due to work, illness, emotions and other reasons, the baby may not have reached the age of 1, and it is not impossible to wean.
After all, the situation of different people is not the same, there is no uniform standard for weaning time, and mothers can adjust according to the actual situation, which is good for their own and baby's physical and mental health.
In general, weaning usually has 3 times:
First, after the baby reaches the age of 6 months. On the one hand, this is because most mothers have less than 6 months of maternity leave, and before the baby reaches the optimal weaning age, they will have to return to work and continue to struggle. Some mothers work close to home, and they can also squeeze out the milk in the unit, carry it home for the baby to drink, and mix feeding. But the mother who is busy at work and far away from home has no way, in order not to let the baby go hungry, she can only choose milk powder feeding. On the other hand, because when the baby is more than 6 months old, he should generally eat complementary foods, and milk powder plus complementary foods can also meet basic nutritional needs.
The second is when the baby has just turned 1 year old. More than 1 year old baby, teeth have erupted, gastrointestinal function development has been further improved, can adapt to many types of complementary foods, can be completely through complementary foods and milk powder to obtain nutrition. In addition, the baby begins to learn to walk, has a sense of curiosity about the new things around him, is no longer inseparable from the mother's "sticky essence" all day, the desire for breast milk has gradually weakened, and will not stare at the mother every day. Coupled with the fact that the amount of activity during the day will be relatively large, the sleep at night, the frequency of needing to drink milk is gradually reduced, and it is easier to wean.
The third is when the baby turns 2 years old. From a scientific point of view, 2 years old is the best time to wean. Psychology believes that children's autonomous development begins from about 1 and a half years old, and weaning after 1 and a half years old is more appropriate, so many authoritative institutions recommend weaning around 2 years old. Of course, if the mother and baby are willing, breastfeeding until the baby is more than 2 years old, it is not impossible to eat naturally away from milk, but it is recommended not to wean too late. Weaned too late, the baby may become overly dependent on the breast, which is not conducive to the development of mental health.
Pay attention to these few details, weaning is easier
It's just that it's easier said than done. Weaning is a tough "war" for both mom and baby. Babies will feel uncomfortable with the sudden loss of breast milk and make a lot of noise every day. When the mother sees the baby's sad appearance, she will also be in a bad mood, feel guilty, self-blame, remorse, and sometimes even can't bear it, re-feed the baby, resulting in weaning failure.
In fact, as long as you master the scientific method, you can wean smoothly.
1. Gradually reduce the number of feedings and do not wean suddenly
Sudden weaning can easily cause the baby to have an overreaction, serious uneasiness and anxiety. It is recommended that the mother reduce the number of feedings by stage and give the baby a process of adaptation. For example, the first phase is reduced once a day, the second phase is reduced twice a day, and the third phase is reduced three times a day... Until completely weaned. During this period, the number of feedings of complementary foods can be increased, and there is no need to worry about the baby's hunger.
2. Distract the baby's attention
When it is close to the time of feeding, when the baby shows the need to drink milk, it is necessary to shift his attention in time, take the baby to play outdoors for a while, or temporarily ask other family members to take care of the baby. Speech induction can also be strengthened, encouraging the baby to eat complementary foods, arousing the baby's interest in complementary foods, so that they are naturally away from breast milk.
3. Let the baby adapt to the bottle in advance
Some mothers may encounter the situation that the baby does not drink milk powder after weaning, in fact, before weaning, it is necessary to adapt the baby to the use of the bottle. Usually, you can give your baby a bottle, add some water or breast milk to it, and teach your baby to use it. You can also clip the bottle under your arm and feed your baby in your usual breastfeeding position.
The baby also needs to go through a certain amount of time to adapt to the bottle, the mother should not be in a hurry, do not force the baby, patiently guide, wait until the baby fully accepts the bottle, willing to drink milk powder, weaning will be much easier.
4, weaning should make up your mind
Since you have decided to wean, you must stick to the end, do not see the baby crying pitifully, can't bear it, and feed the baby again, otherwise it will never be weaned. If your baby is really dependent on her mother, you can try to sleep in a separate bed or room with your baby. In non-feeding time, we should accompany the baby more, so that the baby knows that although the mother does not breastfeed, the love has not disappeared, or will be with herself.
Write at the end:
If conditions permit, breastfeeding is best to adhere to the baby's natural withdrawal from milk around 2 years old, but it is still necessary to make decisions based on personal actual conditions, usually there will be no problem in weaning the baby more than 6 months old. Mothers should not force themselves too much, otherwise the physical and mental health of mothers and babies is not good.