Hello everyone, I'm Eleven Mom! Welcome to eleven moms' breastfeeding tips. Weaning is a big part of your baby's growth, and perfect weaning is good for both your baby and you. Today I will talk about the three key issues of weaning, which are the timing of weaning, the way weaning is weaned, and the precautions for weaning.
First, the timing of weaning: It is recommended to start weaning after the age of 2, and the earliest must be after the baby is 6 months old
Let's start with when it's appropriate to wean.
In general, I recommend that you start weaning your baby after your baby is two years old.
The World Health Organization recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed until the baby reaches the age of six months before starting to add complementary foods; and between the baby's six months and 1 year of age, breast milk can still meet half or more of the baby's nutritional needs.
Breast milk still provides one-third of the baby's nutrition between the ages of 1 and 2 years, and breastfeeding is irreplaceable in providing immune protection.
The American College of Pediatricians also shows that as long as you and your baby need it, you can continue feeding for no upper limit.
That is to say, the earliest weaning time is after the baby is six months old, but because breast milk will provide the baby with a lot of irreplaceable nutrition and immune protection. I recommend that you wean your baby after you turn two years old.
If you and your baby need both breast milk, you can continue to feed. Breastfeeding has no upper limit.
Second, weaning method: natural weaning and gradual weaning
When a mother decides to wean, there are two options for mothers: natural weaning and gradual weaning.
Natural weaning is to completely obey the baby's wishes, the baby decides when to wean, the baby will not stick to the mother's breast forever, and one day the baby will say to you [I don't eat] Natural weaning will be completed.
The duration of this process is determined by the baby, it can be a year, it may be several years.
If you can't wean it naturally, you can also take the gradual weaning method. The specific method is to slowly reduce the original frequency of breastfeeding.
For example, it used to be three times a day to breastfeed, after getting up, before going to bed, and after you left work. First of all, to reduce the breast milk after work, you can use the baby's favorite complementary food instead, you can also take the baby out to play and divert attention.
After a week or two, your baby gradually adjusts and you can reduce your waking up breastfeeding. After a period of time, the baby's pre-bed milk is reduced.
Of course, the actual weaning process may not go as smoothly as I say.
For example, the baby may have to drink milk, you can't control the number of breastfeeding, here I have to remind you, want to reduce the number of feedings, you must increase other ways of companionship.
For example, add some small desserts to the baby, accompany the baby to the park to play, bathe with him, etc., so that the baby can not think of milk, he will naturally forget to drink breast milk.
Now there are many ways to suddenly wean the mother in the folk tradition, such as letting the mother apply purple potion and bitter melon juice to the breast, eat some special foods or Chinese medicines, and tie the breast with a belt to reduce the milk secretion.
I don't recommend these things very much, because not only does it not solve the problem, but it is also a harm to both the baby and the mother.
Third, precautions: give the breast weaning time, do not use drugs to return milk, residual milk does not need to be discharged, breast pain should not be endured
During the weaning process, the mother may also experience discomfort such as breast swelling and fever.
Here I would like to tell you that you must be kind to your breasts. During the weaning period, how to treat your breasts well, I give you four points of advice:
1. Time to wean the breasts
Weaning is not done in an instant, it is a process. You should definitely give your breasts a month or more to complete the weaning.
2. Do not use drugs to return milk for a short time
These medications tend to cause damage to the breasts or the body.
3. No need to drain residual milk
Now the society has begun to circulate the service of milk production, which will never appear in regular hospitals. Because the so-called residual milk is not a toxin at all, but the milk left in the breast after weaning will be slowly absorbed by the breast and will not bring any adverse consequences.
On the contrary, if you drain these so-called residual milk, it will only stimulate the breasts, causing the breasts to secrete more milk, resulting in more and more milk being discharged.
So you must remember to cherish your breasts and stay away from milk stumps.
4. Breast pain should not be endured
During the weaning process, breast swelling and pain are inevitable. Although the milk will be reduced faster if you hold back more, weaning is a process, you do not have to shorten the time of weaning, painful restlessness, sleepless nights, and seriously reduce the quality of life.
Here I give you three methods:
First, a small amount of expressed milk can relieve discomfort.
Second, if the mother has a low-grade fever and headache, she can take safe medication during lactation, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for relief.
Third, during weaning, you can apply cold compresses to the breasts to relieve pain. For example, with cold cabbage leaves, breastfeeding cold packs, medical ice packs, etc., the frequency of cold compresses is not limited, and it can be applied to make yourself feel comfortable.
Weaning is a process, not an action. The purpose of weaning is not to let the mother quickly reduce the milk, but to separate the baby and the mother's breast and accept more adult food.
This is a very different exploration for the baby, and it also requires the mother to work with him, and can try to make the process of separation more natural and comfortable.
Well, today's article is shared here, I hope that we can have the opportunity to become a better self because of the arrival of our children, be better parents, learn to think, learn to judge, learn to analyze, and accompany our children to grow up with him.
This article is original by the little man at home, welcome to pay attention, take you along with long knowledge!