Breastfeeding Weaning Rules
To wean breastfeeding babies off breast milk, there are certain rules – some are common, some unspoken – that should be followed. These rules are meant to help you and your baby to make the transition as easily as possible.
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Avoid places normally associated with breastfeeding during feeding times. Being around places where you normally breastfeed your baby should be avoided during the weaning stage. This is because your baby is used to being breastfed when he is in that area so being there will only remind him of breastfeeding. When introducing solids or bottle feeding, it is best to feed him in a new environment which your baby can then associate with this new way of feeding.
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Have somebody else give him the bottle. If your baby refuses to take the bottle from you, then ask other members of your family to do it for you. In most cases, the baby responds to the bottle when a different person is feeding him. This is because he is used to getting the breast from you and so he is more reluctant to try a new way of feeding when he is with you. In fact, his senses are so heightened that he can actually smell if you are there in the room with him. (Actually, some studies have shown that a baby can smell his mother from a distance of at least 20 feet.) So ask someone else to give it to him. Besides, this will also give other people a chance to bond with your baby.
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Create positive associations with the new way of feeding. If your baby doesn’t take to the bottle at the first try, don’t force him. Try again after letting a couple of days pass by. If you are impatient and you force the baby into drinking from a bottle, it will only result in frustration and tears. You must remember that drinking milk from a bottle involves a slightly different skill than drinking from the breast, so it's best to give your baby time and a lot of positive encouragement to learn this new skill. Your baby will eventually understand and learn this new way of feeding.
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Offer a bottle a little earlier than her feeding time. In this way, she won’t be so hungry that she is frustrated by the bottle, and she’ll be hungry enough to give it a try.
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Use distraction. Keeping your baby busy during feedings is a great way to take his mind off breastfeeding. For kids who are at least 9 months old, you can put some finger foods on his plate to keep him occupied. Or you can also give him a sippy cup to practice drinking with.
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Never go cold turkey. Some moms may claim that it worked for them, but possibly because they do not have much milk to begin with. For mothers who lactate a lot, it will be a different matter. Do not stop breastfeeding abruptly as there is a possibly of getting mastitis (inflammation of the breasts due to clogged milk ducts). Also, this might cause your baby to feel a bit abandoned by you.
These are all simple, yet effective tips in weaning. I’ve tried this, and in my research, I found out that a lot of moms have done these as well. Breastfeeding weaning takes time and patience, but in the end, having a happy baby is worth all the effort you put into it.
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