The World Health Organization recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and that appropriate complementary foods should be started from 6 months and breastfeeding should be continued for 12-24 months.
In the light of this information, mothers and breastfeeding can be terminated at a time convenient for the baby. If the baby decides to stop breastfeeding, this process will last shorter and will be overcome more easily. However, if the mother starts the weaning process, it may be a longer and more difficult process. How long this takes may vary from baby to baby. The ideal is to wean the baby gradually, giving time for both the baby and the mother's body to get used to the new situation.
When is It Not Appropriate to Wean the Baby?
For babies, sucking is not only a way to satisfy hunger, but also a way to find peace and relax. For this reason, they want to suckle more often when they are restless and tense. If there are important changes in your life such as starting a job, moving, changing caregivers, or if your baby is sick or teething, this is not a good time to wean off the breast.
How to Wean a Baby Under 6 Months?
If a baby under 6 months has to be weaned from the breast, he will be fed with bottle formula. Therefore, it will be necessary to get used to both the food and the bottle beforehand. It would be appropriate to gradually switch from breastfeeding to feeding one meal a day and gradually increasing the number of bottle meals. However, the baby who is used to taking the breast from the mother may not want to take the bottle given by her. Better results may be obtained if someone other than the mother (could be the father or a family elder) makes the first bottle attempts and if the mother is a little away. If the baby still does not accept the bottle, different bottle heads can be tried. Different foods recommended by the doctor can be tried. A bottle given during sleep may also be more easily accepted.
How to Wean a Baby Over 6 Months Old?
If the baby is over 6 months old, a bottle may not be necessary. He has now started to take complementary foods with a spoon, glass or cup. Breastfeeding can be reduced by slowly giving one meal of supplementary food or formula instead of one meal of breastfeeding. The sucking sessions that babies are most addicted to are when they wake up in the morning and before going to sleep at night. It would be appropriate to leave these to the end. Moreover, it will be easier to keep the baby occupied and distracted with different activities in different environments during the day.
What Problems May the Mother Experience During the Process of Weaning the Baby?
Especially suddenly. If it is necessary to stop breastfeeding, the fullness and tightness of the breasts will disturb the mother. In this case, it will be soothing to express and empty the breasts little by little. However, if you pump until you empty it completely, your body will continue to produce milk. Empty only enough to make you feel relaxed, the body will eliminate the rest itself. If necessary, painkillers can be used. A cold compress or a compress with cool cabbage leaves will also be soothing.
When terminating breastfeeding, blockage in the milk ducts or an inflammatory condition called mastitis may occur. If, in addition to symptoms such as local swelling and redness in the breast, the mother also has complaints such as fever, chills, and weakness, it will be necessary to consult a doctor.
In some cases, your doctor may also recommend that you use medications that will stop milk production. It is risky to use them without a doctor's advice, as they may have side effects.
Weaning also has an effect on the mother's psychology. While mothers think that they will feel comfortable when they stop breastfeeding and will no longer be dependent on the baby, they may also experience unexpected sadness and a sense of loss. Of course, breastfeeding creates a very special relationship between you and your baby. However, the end of breastfeeding is not the end of this relationship, it just takes a different shape.
It is an important milestone in your baby's growth that will be welcomed with joy. During this period, pay more attention to the baby, hug and cuddle him. This will be good for both of you. However, when waking up at night, it would be more appropriate for the baby to be comforted by the father or a family elder until he gets used to the new situation, so that he will not think of asking for the breast.
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