How to wean a baby from breastfeeding if he suckles the breast all night? How to wean a child from the breast for medical reasons, before and after a year

Weaning is a very important moment in the life of mother and child. It should be a conscious decision that won't hurt both of you. Breastfeeding provides the baby with a special emotional bond with the mother, so weaning can be a big stress for the baby. How to wean a baby from breastfeeding, while avoiding problems and helping the baby quickly switch to regular food, you will learn further.

When to start weaning a baby

Our parents were advised by doctors to wean the child at 11 months. At that time, this was in line with established medical standards. But over time, everything has changed, WHO recommends doing this between one and a half and two years. This is in tune with the old customs, when a child was fed until two or three years old. In different sources, you can see information that will present you with different information, but in reality it all depends on the physiological characteristics of your child.

For its part, each nursing mother can help ensure that the moment of weaning is as painless as possible. There are good times to stop feeding and times to avoid it. In addition, there is also a mother's own instinct, suggesting that the baby is already ready to be left without milk and switch to a varied feeding.

How to wean your baby from breastfeeding

If you do not know how to wean your child from breastfeeding, do not listen to the advice of those who suggest doing it abruptly. Forced cessation of feeding can turn into a huge stress for the child, therefore it is better to do it gradually so that the child gradually weaned:

You can start by replacing one breastfeed with complementary foods (porridge, vegetables, dairy products).
After a week, replace another feeding - the baby will eat new food with pleasure, perceiving it with interest.
Morning breastfeeding is easy to replace with fermented milk products, they are light, tasty, healthy.
Last on the list will be evening feeding, because it also serves as a way to calm and lull the child.

From night feedings

You can start weaning from nighttime breastfeeding as soon as you introduce complementary foods. This happens somewhere around the age of 4-6 months. Since the baby eats well during the day, eats additional foods, it is no longer necessary to feed at night. The child is unlikely to get hungry at night, but will still wake up because of his formed habit. Therefore, you must understand that the process of weaning from night feedings can take some time.

If the baby is experiencing a certain crisis (he has not seen his mother all day, he is teething or his tummy hurts), the presence of the mother next to the crib is simply necessary. The child may want to handle, suck on the breast or bottle. To minimize these situations when you wean your baby from breastfeeding, try to be around during the day, giving the baby as much time as possible. So you will provide the baby with maximum psychological comfort, and he will not have such a pronounced need to see his mother at night.

Options for weaning from night feeding:

replacement of feeding with warm water;
reduction in the duration of feeding;
increasing the intervals between two feedings;
mixture or porridge before bed;
restriction of access to the chest at night.

From daily feedings

So that a one-year-old baby does not ask for breasts during the day, you need to come up with another interesting activity. It's easy: play with him, distract him with games, books, swings, etc. When it's time to breastfeed, replace your breast milk with something equally healthy. Baby food may consist of formula milk, vegetable juices, baby yogurt or milk diluted with water.

You can try to break the feeding ritual by changing the usual place for the crumbs to have lunch. The new environment will disrupt the usual feeding circumstances and distract from the breast, which will help you quickly switch to a bottle or a bowl of porridge. If the baby began to behave aggressively, is naughty, there is insomnia, he cannot fall asleep without his mother, this may be a signal that you have decided to end breastfeeding prematurely.

Ways to stop breastfeeding

For those who decide to stop breastfeeding, milk production is no longer a necessity. However, even after completing the feeding, you may encounter the fact that the milk will arrive. The chest will begin to suffer from severe stretching, this will be accompanied by painful sensations. But all the consequences can be minimized so that the end of feeding is painless not only for the child, but also for the mother.

The natural way to stop lactation

Be sure to wear a solid bra made of natural fabric. You must not part with it until the milk is gone. Instead, you can bandage your chest with an elastic bandage, but be prepared for the fact that this is a painful process. If a lot of milk accumulates in the breast, you can pump a little to reduce pain, and over time, milk will simply stop being produced in such a volume. You can use a breast pump, pumping until your breasts are soft. This method will help stop lactation much faster.

Medical method

Modern drugs will help you stop the process of lactation, but you can use them only as directed by a doctor, because these are hormonal drugs, which an experienced specialist can choose correctly. Such tablets are indicated for oral administration, they act on the hypothalamus and stimulate the production of substances that block the appearance of prolactin. They can be taken only in accordance with strict adherence to the instructions. There are also non-hormonal drugs, the course of which lasts a long time, but side effects are almost not observed.

Folk methods

If medications are contraindicated for you, the production of breast milk can be stopped with the help of folk remedies: the use of medicinal plants was popular among our great-grandmothers, such methods may be useful to you. Sage does this well, because it contains a substance called phytoestrogen. This is an analogue of the human hormone, which is responsible for the proper functioning of the female organs and the production of breast milk.

Sage has a good effect on the state of the body as a whole. The use of herbs helps to significantly reduce the lactation period, reduce unpleasant, painful sensations in the chest area. To enhance the effect of the tincture, you can make special oil compresses and follow a diet. For compresses, take 250 ml of any vegetable oil and mix with two drops of sage, cypress, geranium and mint oils. Soak a gauze in the resulting mixture and apply to the chest. Repeat the procedure every day.

Not sure how to wean a small baby from breastfeeding quickly? Take your time, because there are several rules that absolutely cannot be violated when weaning a baby from the breast:

It is better to avoid stopping lactation in the cold season: the child's immunity is reduced, frequent colds may appear. Only mother's milk can provide reliable protection due to the high content of immunoglobulins and antibodies.
Summer is also not the best time because it is hot outside. There is a risk of infection.
Even if you have already started the weaning process, you can make an exception when the baby is excited or scared. This will give the baby a sense of security at first.
Even if you want to stop breastfeeding because you're pregnant, you don't have to leave home, as some suggest. This can cause stress for you and your baby.
The period when the baby is sick, he is teething or he has been vaccinated, according to experienced mothers, will not be favorable for stopping lactation. Now give the baby as much milk as he wants to calm him down.

If you like the advice of experienced thinking doctors, you can listen to the methodology of the pediatrician Komarovsky. He will tell you how to properly wean a child with minimal problems. His methods are somewhat unconventional and can come across as harsh. They are divided into two categories: some help reduce lactation, while others show how to take the baby from the mother's breast. Watch the video and draw your own conclusions:

Thanks to our advice, weaning will become the most painful, long and painful process (for both the mother and the baby). And an unforgettable experience awaits you!

Buy any means to stop lactation

Indeed, why go to the doctor who will select the right pills for you, waste time visiting the clinic if your mother / sister / girlfriend has already taken some pills to stop lactation? Everyone's body is the same. Therefore, rather run to the nearest pharmacy and take the cheapest drugs. Everyone does it, and nothing!

Stop breastfeeding immediately after procedures

Did the kid have to go through unpleasant vaccinations, painful massages and other manipulations? Well, here was the perfect excuse to wean him off the breast. This also tempers the character: a small person from childhood will know what stress and deprivation are. After vaccination, children usually become capricious and irritable, often have a fever and mope. Not a bad moment to deprive the baby of the main consolation!

Wean at an early age

Is your little one not yet a year old? Great. Now everywhere they write and say that you need to stop feeding as soon as possible. The reason is very simple - it is much more convenient for a young mother to walk with a bottle than to breastfeed. Marketers can’t lie: if a can of formula says that it is a “natural and healthy” product, a replacement for mother’s milk, then it is so. Grab the package without hesitation!

Drag your chest

The old way, which was used by our grandmothers 200 years ago. There are, of course, disadvantages: there may be stagnation of milk in the breast, and then you will have to turn to specialists (a surgeon, for example) to get rid of pain and discomfort. But trust me - it's worth it! The milk will definitely disappear.

Explain to the child that he is already big

Six months after birth, it would be time to understand that you are an adult. Explain to the child that breast milk is for babies, and he has grown up a long time ago. Your little genius will surely understand what happened and stop asking for breasts. How did the others not think of this before? And then let psychologists deal with any trust there: we have no time.

Moms take note!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me, but I’ll write about it))) But I have nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too ...

Tell that other baby needs milk

Let's say a newborn brother or sister. It is necessary to encourage generosity from infancy: let him share the most precious with his relatives. The baby does not feel sorry for anything for a brother or sister. No car, no crib, no mother, no milk. Children should not only be fed, but also educated!

Stop feeding at the most inopportune moment: wean at the moment of moving, immediately after a flight, divorce or tsunami

A move, a scandal, a natural disaster... Against the background of these misfortunes, a child can forget about the existence of breastfeeding. We, too, endure these trials. Welcome to adulthood!

Rub your nipples with something sharp

Mustard, pepper, brilliant green and other unpleasant things - the baby reached for his mother's delicious and beloved milk, and then - an ambush and betrayal ... Yes, the baby will burn himself a couple of times, cry sobbing, but then it won’t come to his head to reach for his chest. Good lesson.

Leave the baby for a while

Of course, suddenly the baby has little stress from the fact that he has stopped breastfeeding? Add stress to your baby's life: let him spend a few days without his beloved mother. Yes, he will be sad and lonely. Cry, scream, and so what? Life is full of disappointments.

Of course, if you want a delicate and gradual weaning, then it is better to ignore these tips and do the opposite: take care of your health, be patient and gentle with the baby, and use common sense.

We also read:

Breastfeeding was pretty easy for me. And during the first year of my life, I was firmly convinced: I would start weaning no earlier than 1.5-2 years, in the most gentle way, and only when the child himself stopped constantly sucking the breast ... But ... My plans were not destined to come true , and already a year (read about us in the article "") I faced a difficult task ... How to wean a child from breastfeeding if he suckles his breast all night?

Why did I decide to wean my baby?

In fact, there were many reasons that made me violate my principle. I won't list all of them. I will name only the main ones.
1) After 11 months, my daughter began to use her breasts as a sharpener for her teeth. And each new tooth was accompanied by gnawing the chest to the blood. As soon as I did not try to fight it! Yes, my daughter understood that it was impossible to do this, and she did it very rarely ... But one unsuccessful feeding was enough for me to then find it difficult to breastfeed for a week or two. And such wounds healed very slowly.
2) My daughter is used to hanging on her chest at night. She slept, and she herself, half asleep, sucked her breast. Often applied to the chest every hour. I thought it was normal when the baby was 3 months old, half a year, 9 months old... But when the baby is already a year old... It starts to get very annoying.
3) During the day, my daughter also liked to constantly suck her breast. About once an hour and a half. At the same time, she already ate all the adult food very well ... (More on this - “”) And if I left home, leaving the baby with dad ... My daughter easily did without a breast for at least a whole day.
4) If I left the house for more than three hours, my chest began to hurt and stone from the rush of milk. It didn't happen often, but about once or twice a month.

However, the main reason still was the chewing of the chest with teeth. If not for this, I would still feed at least a few more months.

And so, when our miracle turned one year old, I began to interrogate all the mothers I knew with a typical question - how to wean a child from breastfeeding?

Sleep was my main problem. How to do without a breast at night? How to stop night feedings? It all seemed very complicated and unlikely...

How to wean a child from breastfeeding?

I quickly figured out that there are only two main approaches to weaning. You can stop breastfeeding abruptly, in a few days, simply by stopping breastfeeding your baby ... Or you can do it gradually. Slowly reduce the number of feeds. Of course, the second way is preferable. This method is ideal for both mom and baby. However, the reduction in feeding was given very hard. With a fight, I stretched the interval between attachments to 3 hours ... But then I still gave up, and we returned to the chest again every hour and a half. I could keep the defense for several days, constantly distracting the child ... But no more. And when I thought about the need to again increase the interval to at least 4-5 hours ... Depression rolled over me.

At night, the situation was especially neglected. Yes, I forgot to say that our daughter could well fall asleep in the evening without a breast if I was not in sight. My husband rocked her safely in his arms in a few minutes. However, this number was held only in the evening, not at night! For several nights we tried to "breast less often", rocking the baby in our arms in shifts. These attempts turned out to be a complete failure. For the first ten minutes, my daughter just screamed. And then - finally woke up and no longer wanted to sleep. What to do? How to wean a child from breastfeeding in such a situation?

How I weaned my baby from breastfeeding

But there was a way out! Moreover, our weaning turned out to be quite simple! Without crying, without any serious problems... The tactics were simple. Many authors advise to get rid of night feedings first... But for us it was unrealistic. Therefore, we got rid of the day ones, leaving all the night ones. Moreover, they got rid of it abruptly ... Taking advantage of a short trip to rest.

We went to rest in a boarding house. For a week. This is an optional item of the program, but it helped us a lot. It is quite possible to do the same at home if there is some other person nearby - a husband, grandmother or someone else. In the boarding house, we decided to breastfeed the child only when I felt that I definitely needed to express. I was not able to express myself at all. So on the first day I fed three times.

The first day was unpleasant for me. Soreness in the chest, overflowing with milk ... But it had to be endured. We only had a week. During this week, the daughter had to wean herself from applying during the day. What did we do when she wanted to taste milk? Tritely distracted her. Both my husband and my mother were on vacation. They took turns taking the child somewhere ... In the boarding house there were so many new and interesting things for the baby that the daughter did not throw tantrums. Although, of course, the first few days could not be called very easy.

On the second day, I already understood better how to wean a child from breastfeeding. On this day, the daughter received milk only twice. On the third day - also twice. On the fourth and fifth day - only once each ... And then I did not feed at all during the day. Surprisingly, night feedings also decreased by themselves. Only 2-4 times per night. Instead of 5-7...

However, how to stop feeding at night? How to wean a baby from night feedings?

A week later, when we returned home, my daughter completely stopped asking for breasts during the day. Even if I was alone at home with her. I remember how worried I was before the first night in which we decided to do without a breast ... But everything went pretty calmly. Yes, I got up 5 times, but there were no tantrums, my daughter fell asleep again when I carried her in my arms or rocked her in the crib ... Each time I gave her a little water to drink. Apparently, it affected that the child had already lost the habit of sucking the breast constantly. And he began to treat much more loyally to other means of calming.

After a few nights, the baby learned to fall asleep without motion sickness. She just laid on top of me, and soon fell asleep. For a while (3-4 days), she slept well only in our bed, cuddled up to me. But it was still better than constant feeding. And then the daughter began to wake up less and less often ... A week after weaning, she already slept well in her bed. And now he wakes up no more than 1-2 times ...

How to wean a baby from breastfeeding if he suckles the breast all night?

1) First, stop feeding during the day. If you can't do it smoothly, stop abruptly.
2) If possible, ask your husband or someone else for help.
3) Watch your sensations in your chest! Express when you feel firm.
4) If you can't pump, breastfeed your baby at night. Even if you have gone through one night without feeding... The next night, you can give your baby one time on both breasts. In my experience, a sleepy child does not remember this event ... At least I did, and it did not worsen our situation. But during the day you definitely shouldn’t give breasts ... Only in extreme cases.
5) Try different ways to calm the baby. Carry it in your arms, give it water or compote, rock it in the crib, put it on yourself... Remember, these are all temporary measures! The main thing is to wean from the chest.
6) Remember, you only have to be patient for a few days. The maximum is a week.

Of course, all children are individual. Of course, not everyone will like this strategy... I'm just talking about my experience. When thinking about how to wean a child from breastfeeding, it is important to find out how other mothers have gone through this...

How has weaning changed our lives?

— We began to sleep at night!! Hooray!!!
My daughter has become more affectionate. Previously, the need for contact with the mother was completely satisfied at the expense of the breast, and now this is expressed in hugs, kisses and other tenderness. This was not the case before!
It made it easier for me to be at home with her. My daughter has become less capricious, and I am deprived of the discomfort associated with constant feeding.

But of course, if you can breastfeed longer, feed longer! Still, through milk, children receive our immunity even after a year. It is convenient to breastfeed at a party, on trips ... With the help of the breast, you can instantly calm the baby. It helps to survive the painful growth of teeth... Breastfeeding is great! And, to be honest, sometimes I miss the time when my daughter peacefully hung on her chest ... But now these moments replace other pleasant moments. When my daughter climbs on top of me, hugs my neck and falls asleep.

How to wean a child from breastfeeding? Tell us about your experience in the comments! At least very briefly!

Breastfeeding is not only nutrition for the baby, but also the relationship between mother and baby, a kind of invisible, but very strong connection that develops between both participants in the process. Therefore, weaning a baby from breastfeeding is a rather difficult task, causing psychological and physical discomfort for mother and baby. But, nevertheless, sooner or later, for various reasons, this moment comes when you need to stop feeding.

How to wean a child from breastfeeding? When to do it? It is important to know that there is no correct and exact end date. By the end of feeding, both should be ready. Mom should not doubt that she needs it. The kid must be old enough and strong enough for such a decision.

Another point: any amount of breast milk and any duration will be very useful for the baby, and are an excellent lifeblood for him. So, the options for completing breastfeeding:

involution;
abrupt weaning;
medical method;
soft way.

This is the name of the state when lactation ends naturally. The baby himself refuses the breast, and milk ceases to be produced. Nature is so conceived that feeding lasts at least two years. And studies by anthropologists have shown that feeding can continue until the age of seven years.

In general, the sucking reflex in a child, associated with the maturation of the nervous system, fades away by the age of three. Therefore, not all mothers can afford to wait for a natural completion. And factors such as physical and psychological fatigue, chest pain during feeding and others do not play in favor of this method.

Another disadvantage is that our Russian society has a negative attitude towards long-term feeding. But this is the business of every mother and only she can decide. From this method, the child will definitely not have psychological trauma.

But the positive aspects here will be that in the fourth year of life (at this time the involution of lactation occurs), the vital systems of the child's body are finally formed, for which breast milk is a supplier of the necessary valuable elements.

Abrupt weaning or "grandmother's" way

This method is very difficult for mother and child, both physically and psychologically, it is a tragedy for both. In this case, sometimes the baby is sent for two days to relatives. It is almost impossible for a baby to explain why his mother's breasts suddenly became inaccessible to him. Mom suffers from the loss of the connection that was between her and the child, and from pain in her breasts overflowing with milk.

Often, with a sharp weaning, breast tugging is used. You need to know that this is fraught with rather unpleasant consequences, up to the occurrence of mastitis. This method has actually been used in the past. But this was done in order to show the baby that there was no breast, and not so that the milk would burn out, because there was practically no milk there. And, consequently, there were no deplorable consequences either.

Also, due to a violation of the hormonal background - and a sharp cessation will certainly lead to a hormonal surge - the mother develops depression, depression, aggression, apathy and mood swings, insomnia may appear.

Nastya, 32 years old: Weaned for a year and three months. Nothing worked out for us with the gradual weaning. The son made a wild roar about the refusal to give him a breast when he wanted to. Yes, and moral strength was gone, he wanted to suckle every hour for 15 minutes. I had to abruptly withdraw. They took her to her grandmother's, left her there for the night. Of course, he suffered a lot, and so did I. Plus, my chest hurt, it was bursting with milk. The next day we went to another grandmother and left there. On the third day home. Waking up at night, laying down comfortably to suck on the breast, crying together. But no matter, it got easier. A week later I forgot, and my chest stopped hurting.

Of course, it is possible to wean a baby with this method, but it’s worth thinking ten times whether it’s worth it, maybe you need to try to do it more gently. Naturally, if there are no acute medical indications for stopping breastfeeding.

Medical method

When choosing a medical method (by the way, it is indicated in very rare cases), the doctor prescribes drugs that suppress lactation. But you need to understand that such drugs disrupt the hormonal background and, of course, have a bunch of unpleasant side effects. And the desired result can not be achieved if you do not reduce the number of applications.

Soft way to wean

The gradual cessation of feeding is the most comfortable way for mom and baby. But this is a rather long process, it needs to be started about six months before the expected date of weaning the baby from the breast. Includes several stages:

Gradually remove feedings that the baby does not urgently need - when he is tired, wants to communicate, wants comfort, or simply controls his mother in this way. Most likely, any mother will be able to single out among the feedings those that the baby can easily do without. And replace them with playing, drawing, reading or modeling. Or maybe even do something around the house together - wash the dishes, do the cleaning and other activities. You can go for a walk. By the way, walking is the best means of distraction. Outdoor games, among other things, will also improve health. Some suggest breastfeeding the baby in some uncomfortable position so that he does not want to do it for a long time. In general, there is no need to limit your imagination.
Gradually wean the child from feeding during the day in a dream, before bedtime and after it. Before putting him to sleep during the day, instead of sucking his breast, you can read a fairy tale to your child, shake him in your arms. But first you need to take a longer walk and have a good lunch. It is better not to sleep next to the baby, or get up before he wakes up, because the baby will not understand why this mother is lying and doing nothing, and you can’t suck on the breast.
Cancel morning feedings, replacing them with porridge.
Stop breastfeeding before going to bed in the evening. Replace them with a fairy tale, lullaby and motion sickness. It's good to come up with a simple bedtime ritual and follow it every night.
Gradually stop night feedings. This is the most difficult and lengthy task, so it is best left for last. It is better to work on stopping night feedings in advance, that is, during the day the child is more likely to be told that at night all people and animals sleep, no one eats or drinks. It's not easy to unlearn. Perhaps there will be tears. But you need to be patient. Pick up, go to the window, show how dark it is, say that the chest is sleeping at this time, etc. Everything will definitely work!

If you do not complete one stage, you should not move on to another. It is important to do everything here gradually and in stages. This weaning is the most acceptable way to complete lactation. With this method, the baby easily and without psychological trauma adapts to new conditions. For the mother, too, the process is painless, since there is no sharp change in the settings of the hormonal background, there is no emotional and physical discomfort.

Olga, 27 years old: And we gradually, in four months, weaned, by the age of two. My daughter is calm on her own. And it was very easy to distract her with something. We walked a lot in the street and played. There was so much to invent at home! And the chest did not hurt, somehow everything went smoothly with us.

It is better to postpone weaning a baby if:

the baby is sick or teething;
there have been any changes in the way of life;
the child began attending the nursery.

Some more pay attention to the phase of the moon, the time of year, and even the church calendar. It is believed that weaning is most easily transferred to the waning moon in spring or autumn. The moon does influence milk production. And about the time of year, for sure, everything is clear - in spring and autumn the climate is more favorable. Since after weaning, the crumbs' immunity decreases, the summer heat and winter cold can harm health. As for the calendar, some believe that if on the day of excommunication the name day of any great martyr, then the process will be painful.

If you lubricate the nipples with something bitter, then you need to be prepared for the fact that the baby will no longer trust his mother. But sometimes lubrication helps.
It is necessary to replace breast attachments with other tactile contacts of the child with the mother: hugging him, kissing, stroking, carrying him in his arms. He must know and understand that his relationship with his mother will not change due to the fact that he will not breastfeed.
Try not to expose your chest in front of the baby. And it is better to wear clothes with a closed neckline.
With a rush of milk in the breast, you can slightly strain it. But do not get carried away, but do it only until a little relief occurs.
Don't try to handle everything on your own. It is better to involve third-party assistants in the process - your relatives and friends. Then everything will go smoothly.
Try to predict the baby's attempt to attach to the chest and captivate him with something - a game, a walk, reading, ordinary food.
It is better not to eat foods that provoke milk production. In general, drink less fluids. But if you drink, then infusions of herbs that will help to painlessly reduce lactation. It's mint and sage.
Brings relief applying cold cabbage leaves to the chest. But if the temperature has risen, the chest has become very dense and reddened - urgently see a doctor!

In any case, weaning from breastfeeding is not an easy moment for both parties. After all, it marks the end of some very important life era, the break of the mysterious connection between mother and baby. For a long time, memories will cause a slight sadness for those feelings of complete happiness that breastfeeding gave. But a new period of life begins, the relationship between mother and baby is reaching a new level, even more vivid and interesting, and sadness will soon pass.

The best food for newborn babies, without any doubt, will be mother's milk. Breastfeeding is the most natural process that still takes place in our modern life. Mother's milk not only helps the child's body develop immunity and protects the baby from diseases. A woman who breastfeeds develops a subtle intimate bond with her baby. Many mothers confirm the fact that only after they fed their baby for the first time did they realize the value of motherhood.

However, time is steadily moving forward. The baby is gradually growing, and sooner or later there comes a moment when he will need to be weaned from breastfeeding. How to make this process as painless as possible for the mother and child?

Weaning time

How long can breastfeeding be? There is currently no exact information about the age until which the mother should feed the child with her milk. For example, the World Health Organization recommends weaning from breastfeeding at the moment when the baby is two years old. There is also the opinion of American pediatricians who believe that it will be enough if the mother begins to maintain lactation until the end of the first year of the baby's life.

Until how much to breastfeed, the experts who are part of the World Dairy League cannot tell for sure. However, their position is such that the baby should receive nutrition from the mother for as long as he wants, and as far as the woman succeeds. The duration of HB in this case can last up to 6-7 years. Everything will depend on the intuition of the mother and the condition of the child.

The benefits of breastfeeding

What is mother's milk for a child? This:

food, unique in its nutritional composition, rich in trace elements and fats, enzymes, proteins and vitamins, which is also completely free;
excellent protection against allergies;
a tool that allows the skull to form correctly, and in the future - to develop speech;
a reliable shield against pathogenic viruses that cause infectious diseases;
means for normal and harmonious neuropsychic and physical development;
close psycho-emotional contact with the mother, which will last for life.

Equally important is breastfeeding for a woman. For her, it serves as follows:

a condition for the successful recovery of the body after a period of pregnancy and childbirth;
a kind of time-out for the reproductive system;
preventive measure to prevent breast cancer;
a factor that positively affects mental and emotional health;
a preventive measure to prevent cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and depression;
means of increasing stress resistance and strengthening immunity;
an opportunity to regain its former attractiveness.

breastfeeding period

The cessation of lactation, which is a natural physiological process, should occur naturally, and not as a result of someone else's decision. When can you understand that the GV period has already come to an end? After the child is three years old, he ends the formation, as well as the maturation of the nervous system. In this regard, the need for mother's milk, which is a powerful stimulant for its development, disappears in the baby. The unconditioned sucking reflex, which has been present since birth, also fades away. When the baby is in a favorable social environment for him, he begins to need the presence of his mother less and less. The baby actively communicates with adults and peers who are in his environment.

At the time when the baby is 2.5 years old, the woman begins the involution of lactation. This is the process of returning the mammary glands to their original state. Lactation decreases due to the more rare application of the child to the breast, which is quite natural. At the same time, the breast is no longer so actively filled with milk, even with long breaks for a day or more.

During such a period, significant changes occur in the composition of the natural parent product. It increases the content of biologically active components and immunoglobulins.

The completion of the involution occurs by the 40th day after the moment when the baby was last applied to the breast. After that, it is already very difficult to restore the formation of milk.

It is worth noting that natural completion of lactation and weaning are two completely different processes. In the first case, breastfeeding stops against the background of involution of lactation and extinction of the sucking reflex. Weaning from breastfeeding is always only a violent process. It is launched at a time when the mother and the child do not have physiological criteria for the completion of breastfeeding.

Completion of lactation in a natural way

When does such a period begin? If breastfeeding lasts for two and a half years, while he is completely healthy and falls asleep at night without his mother, then lactation can be completed naturally. It is best to speed up this process not in the warm summer months. Only if the baby has already reached the age of three, the time of year does not matter. After all, he, being a baby for a rather long period, has already managed to receive powerful “immunization” from his mother and is able to resist various pathogenic microorganisms.

Preparations for the termination of breastfeeding should begin at approximately two years. Sometimes a mother will be able to simply stop putting her baby to her breast, replacing such contact with reading fairy tales, as well as stroking her tummy or back. If this method did not work, what other methods of weaning can be applied? First of all, a woman is advised to leave the house more often, leaving the child in the care of loved ones. This tactic will allow the baby to start falling asleep without a mother. In addition, the child will need to walk more, play outdoor games and introduce him to peers. This will limit access to the breast. At the same time, the mother should explain to the baby that now he will receive food only at home. This will never happen either in transport or on the street. In the house, you need to choose a strictly defined place for feeding. It can be a sofa or an armchair. The child must realize that the mother's intentions are firm, and so she will continue to do so in the future.

At the second stage of gradual weaning from breastfeeding, the baby must be taught to fall asleep in the evening with one of the family members. This will allow him to eventually stop feeding on his mother's milk at night. It is very important that a woman be patient, persistent and consistent in her actions. After all, it is unlikely that a baby will part with his nurse voluntarily.

Completion of breastfeeding can also be in the form of self-weaning. This happens at the initiative of the child himself, who has reached the age of 3-4 years. This process is facilitated by less and less time spent near the mother and the expansion of the influence of the social environment surrounding him. In the life of the baby, new activities and people appear. And so he simply does not have time for frequent breastfeeding. Gradually, he himself weaned from this. At the age of 3-4 years, the child's digestive system is fully adapted to the processing of a variety of foods. In this regard, the need for the intake of enzymes contained in women's milk into his body disappears naturally.

Termination of breastfeeding in the first 6 months

Up to six months, it is especially important for a baby to eat mother's milk. If there are no special reasons for this, then it is categorically not recommended to interrupt this process. However, sometimes it happens that a woman needs to go to the hospital. Or maybe she has to leave? The first case, of course, is non-negotiable. But as far as travel is concerned, the pros and cons must be carefully weighed before weaning an infant. It would be better if the woman still finds an opportunity to refuse the trip, reschedule it, or, in the most extreme case, take the baby with her. If the problem is still not resolved, the mother should tune in to maintaining lactation.

In this case, breastfeeding can be resumed after returning home. What needs to be done for this? During the period when a woman is far from her child, she must express milk for 10-15 minutes every three hours without fail, while taking a night break. Such actions will allow you to maintain lactation, and after returning to the child, continue to feed him.

Weaning a child from 6 months to a year and a half

During this period, babies are very deeply worried about any separation from their mother. The absence of a close person leads to a strong emotional experience of the crumbs. That is why the baby should continue to breastfeed and try not to leave the house for a long time. If necessary, the child must be prepared in advance for such a development of events.

To do this, he must be left as often as possible with the person who will look after him during the absence of his mother. At the same time, a woman should not forget to express milk in order to continue breastfeeding when she returns.

Problems of early termination of breastfeeding

Mom should know that after weaning a child from breastfeeding for up to a year, her child may have such problems:

weaker than in children who are breastfed, immunity will develop;
the process of falling asleep will become long;
night sleep will be intermittent and disturbing;
there will be an early loss of symbiotic connection with the mother;
the feeling of security, which he will look for in a different manifestation (bodily contact), will be dulled;
bad habits such as nail biting, gum chewing, etc. may develop.

All this should be taken into account by the mother and try to start the process of weaning from breastfeeding in a year or more.

Weaning children over 1.5 years of age

Babies at this age already eat a variety of foods well. Thanks to this, their body receives everything necessary for development, which allows the baby to painlessly stop drinking mother's milk. Nevertheless, psycho-emotional stress is possible at this age. That is why the child must be prepared in advance for parting with his nurse.

If the mother is preparing to leave, then two weeks before him, the baby should start playing the game. Her plot includes the departure of her mother, who returns very soon. It is recommended to give the child a new toy, explaining that it is a new and reliable friend. He will always be there in the absence of his mother. A grandmother or a nanny should take part in such preparatory fun.

And yet, how long to breastfeed the baby? Mothers should let their child decide this issue on their own. To do this, you just need to carefully observe the child and understand that he is ready for this. Only in this case, the process will go smoothly and without stress for the baby and mother.

Weaning methods

How to stop breastfeeding a baby? There are several ways to do this:

soft;
cutting;
folk;
medical.

Let's consider them in more detail.

soft weaning

What should be done by a woman who has chosen this method of stopping breastfeeding? In this case, she must adhere to the following rules for weaning from breastfeeding, which provide for the passage of six steps:

Elimination of intermediate daily applications. This applies to such sucking when the baby is upset and asks for consolation. Such pitiful feedings should be replaced with kisses, hugs and other forms of sympathy. You also need to eliminate chaotic attachments to the chest, which relieve the crumbs from boredom. In this case, the child should be occupied with something exciting. If a mother understands that suckling is caused by thirst or hunger, then she should offer her child a suitable alternative to her breast.
Refusal to feed at the end of daytime sleep. After waking up the baby, he should be distracted from the desire to suck on his mother's breast. It is desirable that at this moment one of the family members stays with the child. Indeed, in the presence of a mother, it will be difficult for a baby to understand why she refuses him.
Stop feeding before bedtime. Rituals will help to fulfill the plan. Any child gets used to a certain sequence of events. For example, after washing, he listens to a fairy tale, his mother kisses him on the cheek, gives him a breast, and he falls asleep. Gradually, one action needs to be removed from this algorithm. Of course, this is breastfeeding.
Refusal to feed after waking up in the morning. The actions taken by the woman should be similar to those contained in the second paragraph.
Refusal to feed before bedtime. And in this case, rituals will come to the aid of the mother, including water procedures, motion sickness, lullaby, etc. At the very beginning, in this chain of actions there will be such a link as sucking. Gradually, the duration of its conduct should be reduced, and then attachment to the breast should be completely eliminated.
Refusal of night feedings. This step is the last one. Weaning from breastfeeding at night should be preceded by advance preparation of the child. He must learn to calm down and fall asleep with his mother's kisses, strokes, rocking, etc.

The transition from one stage to another should occur only after the successful completion of the previous steps. This will allow mother and child to adapt to new conditions calmly and without stress and ensure the success of the entire event. How long can mild weaning last? This process, depending on the child's readiness for it, can take from two weeks to several months.

The method of soft weaning from breastfeeding is very often used by modern women. This process attracts by the fact that the mother and the baby are slowly moving towards the desired result. With a gradual refusal to feed, a decrease in the volume of milk produced occurs, which helps to prevent mastitis and lactostasis.

However, the method of soft weaning from breastfeeding has some disadvantages. Sometimes mothers cannot stand the whims and cries of the child and postpone this process.

abrupt weaning

The situation described above, when the child gradually stops drinking mother's milk, is ideal. However, not everyone can do this. After all, life makes its own adjustments, and there is a need for a sharp weaning from breastfeeding, contrary to the wishes of the child and woman. The continuation of lactation is sometimes prevented by a number of objective circumstances, the neglect of which leads to a significant risk to the health of the infant and mother.

These are cases like:

the use of drugs whose action is incompatible with lactation;
a woman undergoing long-term therapy with the appointment of toxic drugs;
hospitalization of the child or mother for a long time.

If possible, during the period of treatment, a woman should constantly maintain lactation. This will allow her to continue breastfeeding her baby after her recovery.

How to wean the baby from the breast in this case? For this you will need:

reduce feeding time;
if possible, then stop breastfeeding the baby altogether.

In the event that abrupt weaning is not possible, it is necessary to first stop daily applications.

Folk ways

How to wean a baby from the breast? Very often, mothers or grandmothers advise women to smear their breasts with mustard. However, this is strictly prohibited. After all, mustard is a powerful allergen, the use of which is dangerous for children. When ingested, such a product causes an upset gastrointestinal tract in the baby. This will also negatively affect the mental state of the crumbs, which, clinging to his mother's chest, received a bitter mixture.

You should also not smear the chest with brilliant green. This will lead to bitterness in the baby's mouth, causing him psychological trauma.

An unsafe way is to smear the chest with hot sauce. This product can cause irritation both on the sensitive skin of the breast and on the delicate mucous membrane of the baby's mouth.

Medical weaning

There are special drugs designed to stop lactation. Already after the first tablet, the mother should not give her baby a breast. After all, milk will be poisoned by hormones. The drug method is a sharp weaning. It is not recommended for those women who are sensitive to hormonal drugs.