Dealing With Possible Sickness
When a little baby is sick, one of the best things you can do for them is to breastfeed them. Breast milk can help your child through a sickness, and it’s also very comforting to breastfeed. However, if you have started the weaning process and your child has become sick, try and stick to your weaning schedule, but provide your child with breast milk instead. Also, in some cases, babies feel too sick to breastfeed, and providing them breast milk though other means can be the best option.
Some babies may be able to start weaning themselves just fine, but their stomachs may be too sensitive to take on formula or solids. If your baby becomes sick every time you try a different type of food with them, keep them weaned but on expressed breast milk. Also hold your child a lot to help them through the sickness.
After a terrible sickness, your child may not want to try eating solids again because they will remember how they felt before. Introduce the solid foods to your child slowly. Get them used to seeing the materials used for eating. If they are old enough to sit up, have them sit with you while the rest of the family eats. While your baby sits, let them hold a spoon and put an empty bowl in front of them. Sometimes letting them play with these materials can help ready them for solids.
Remember that it takes some babies up to eight months before their stomachs can handle solids or anything other than breast milk. While this is rare, it is something you should be prepared for. It doesn’t need to interrupt your weaning process; you just have to keep pumping breast milk for your child.
In order to avoid illnesses from happening in the first place, talk to your doctor about giving your baby supplements. These supplements can be given through a medicine dropper, medicine spoon, or medicine pacifier. Helping your child build an immune system and strong stomach will help them be able to accept solid foods. Breastfeed them for up to six months so that their stomachs and intestines benefit from the protective powers of breast milk that help prepare the stomach for solids. Pretty soon, your baby will be completely weaned and eating solids.
Next Article: Fixing Routines Around “Normal” Feeding
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