How to make weaning from breastfeeding painless for mother and child

About the benefits of breastfeeding at the moment, quite a lot is said. However, there comes a time when the child grows up, gradually turning to adult food, but at the same time continues to demand from the mother of the breast. And then many women begin to worry about whether they are too tightened the process. When is it necessary to start weaning from breastfeeding, and how?

Almost all pediatricians and specialists in this field claim that breastfeeding should be at least a year. According to WHO, it is advisable to extend this time to two years. However, do not look at the calendar and focus on someone's advice. Each kid is individual, for some, weaning from breastfeeding is easy at the age of one and a half years, others will be able to transfer this painlessly only in 3-4 years. One of the main advice of counselors on HB and child psychologists is not to rush with this process.

There is a myth that after a year the milk of a woman not only does not contain any useful substances, but it is harmful to the child. No doubt, this version is absolutely absurd. From the fact that the child will cope with his first birthday, the quality of the milk produced by the woman's body can not decrease. Determine how much the child is ready to be delivered, on several grounds.

When a mother starts weaning from breastfeeding, and her son or daughter behaves restlessly, fusses, looks for a chest from strangers or other relatives, sucks fingers or other objects, all this indicates that while it should be delayed. Most of the children from 1.5 to 2.5 behave as they do. There are babies who refused to breast till a year. However, this happened, in most cases, due to the incorrect introduction of complementary foods, poorly organized natural feeding, the introduction of bottles and pacifiers (it is much harder to wean them later).

Timely excommunication from breastfeeding, most often, coincides with the involution of lactation in the mother, that is, the natural process of ending milk production. Breastfeeding, as they do since Soviet times, is absolutely contraindicated, as it threatens the appearance of mastitis. It is also not recommended to use drugs to suppress lactation (unless there is special evidence). The main recommendations that specialists give for this period, the reduction of the consumed liquid to a minimum and, if necessary, cold compresses.

Do not advise starting the excommunication of the baby from breastfeeding during the hot season, after preventive vaccinations, during illness, when entering kindergarten or other situations that cause stress.

Also the way when a woman leaves for a while, "until the baby is used to it," is not effective. In most cases, a child after a year needs a breast not as in food or drink, but as a means of comfort, comfort, psychological intimacy with the mother. If he is deprived of this, and there is not the closest person next to him, the stress that he is already receiving is intensifying.

Correctly organized process, how to wean a child from breastfeeding, can take no more than 10 days. It is important that both sides are ready. Most often, in the period from a year to a year and a half remain feeding before the day and night sleep. If a woman decides that the time has come (she should not doubt it, because the excitement and uncertainty are transmitted to the baby), at first it is necessary to move away from the daily attachments to the chest. In this case, it is necessary to closely monitor the reaction of the baby. If he persistently searches for a breast, try to distract him, develop a certain ritual of retreatment to sleep.

After that night feedings are removed. At this time, it is worth to be especially attentive to the child, to show him that his mother continues to love him and give him time, and their relationship simply goes to a new level.