10 Ways to wean children so they want to stop drinking breast milk

Weaning children is an advanced "task" for parents as a way to support their development after the little one gets to know breast milk and solid foods. Unfortunately, sometimes applying the weaning phase to children is not as easy as one might think.

Although not always, weaning a child can be difficult for both mother and baby. That is why, there are some mothers who still breastfeed their babies even though they are more than two years old.

If you plan to wean your child in the near future, it's best to first understand the most effective way. Come on, let's see the full review!

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What is child weaning?

Before finding out how to wean from breast milk that is right so as not to be fussy, you should first know the meaning of weaning itself.

Weaning is the time when the child begins to learn to eat whole solid foods without any additional breast milk.

Ideally, babies have received exclusive breastfeeding from birth, known as early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD).

During the period of breastfeeding, it is possible that there are various problems of breastfeeding mothers, challenges of breastfeeding mothers, and myths of breastfeeding mothers.

Therefore, it is important to always check with a doctor when experiencing complaints so that doctors can provide safe drugs for breastfeeding mothers.

Breast milk for babies is continuously given until they are approximately six months old and then introduced with baby solids.

MPASI is complementary food or solid food that is given to babies while still breastfeeding.

If during this MPASI period the mother is no longer able to provide breast milk, her milk intake can be replaced with formula milk.

Breast milk and formula have the same function to meet the nutritional needs of babies even though they contain different nutritional content.

If you are still getting breast milk, the feeding can be continued until the baby is two years old.

During the breastfeeding period along with complementary foods, you can also apply how to store breast milk after using the breast pump so that it always lasts.

It is only after the age of two that children are introduced to weaning naturally and slowly from breast milk so that they are not fussy.

When can you start implementing the weaning method for children?

There is no set age when the child can start weaning. Weaning is a process that is carried out gradually until the child completely stops breastfeeding from the mother's breast.

Usually, weaning is done when the child is almost two years old.

However, there are also children who have started to be taught how to wean naturally from the age of about six months and over.

The actual time for weaning can be determined based on the health conditions of the mother and baby.

Applying the method of weaning to children can be done sooner or later.

This is because the development of each child is different and cannot be equated.

You don't need to worry whether your baby is going through a weaning phase at a sooner or later age because it's actually normal.

When babies stop breastfeeding completely is up to you and your baby's wishes.

Babies who are weaned earlier will usually stop breastfeeding sooner than babies who are weaned later.

What are the signs that the baby is ready to be weaned?

Weaning a child may not be an easy decision. Besides requiring patience, you also have to look at the child's ability to see whether they are ready to be weaned or not.

Well, here are the signs when the baby is ready to be weaned:

• The baby begins to appear disinterested when feeding on the mother's breast.
• Babies are still fussy even after being breastfed.
• Babies breastfeed for a shorter time than usual.
• Babies are easily distracted while breastfeeding.
• The baby "plays" with the mother's breast, such as pulling on and biting the mother's breast,
• The baby feeds at the mother's breast but does not suck it so that milk does not come out.
• The baby may still be nursing on the mother's breast, but only for comfort.

How to wean children can actually be done at any age. If you want to optimize breastfeeding until the age of two, it really doesn't matter.

It's just that, after that the child still has to be weaned or no longer gets breast milk at all.

Launching from Raising Children, how to wean children needs to be applied slowly after breastfeeding.

After the child turns two years old, the child is considered ready to eat family food because the various systems in his body have developed.

In addition, the older a child is, the need for nutrients to support its growth and development will increase.

By eating a variety of solid foods that are also eaten by their families, they get various nutrients directly from the source.

An easy way to wean a child so that they don't breastfeed again

When it is time and feels able, the child should start receiving solid food completely without breastfeeding at all.

However, to initiate a change is certainly not easy, and neither is it for babies. You may be able to do the methods below to make it easier to wean your children:

1. Communication is the key to weaning children

Even though the child's age is still relatively small, giving an understanding of a change is important.

It is your "homework" to tell the child directly to change their breastfeeding habit.

Give her the understanding that breastfeeding is no longer good because she is getting bigger and bigger.

You can give him an example that older children no longer need to breastfeed from their mother.

2. How to wean children by changing their eating habits

If you share a bed with your child, make it a habit to get up before he does.

Then, immediately prepare food for him so that when he wakes up the food is ready to eat.

When the child wakes up, he may feel hungry, so give him solid foods that are nutritious and filling.

This aims to prevent children from starving as well as a way of weaning.

It does take time to get children used to eating solid food, so do it slowly.

Allow the child to eat small portions, but often as part of the weaning method.

3. How to wean children by offering a bottle of milk

Try starting to offer bottles of milk to the child instead of feeding directly on the mother's breast as a way of weaning.

This feeding bottle can be filled with breast milk or formula milk.

You can put a few drops of breast milk on your baby's lips or tongue before feeding on the bottle so he can easily accept the bottle.

It is hoped that reducing the frequency of breastfeeding on the mother's breast for a few weeks will help the baby adjust to the changes slowly.

However, you should avoid giving breast milk mixed with formula (sufor) in the same bottle.

4. Shorten the time of breastfeeding

You may want to start limiting how long the child feeds on the mother's breast as a means of weaning.

If the child usually feeds for 10 minutes. You can shorten the time to just 5 minutes.

On the other hand, you can also replace the less breastfeeding with baby formula or porridge.

After later successfully applying the method of weaning children from breast milk, you can actually replace it with formula milk.

5. Delay the time the child breastfeeds

Delaying the time on your schedule to breastfeed can reduce the number of times your child breastfeeds during the day.

If your child is older, you may be able to distract him from other activities when he wants to feed.

Another way is to offer formula milk or other foods.

When your child wants to suckle in the afternoon, you can explain to him that he has to wait until bedtime to suckle on the mother's breast.

6. Wear different clothes

It's better not to wear clothes that you wear frequently when you breastfeed your little one, according to the Kids Health page.

Because then it will make the child remember his breastfeeding habit and make it difficult for you to apply the weaning method.

Also avoid undressing in front of the child with the breasts open.

This will also make the child feel that he wants to return to breastfeeding his mother.

7. Hold your child in different ways

To prevent the child from whining or crying again because they want to breastfeed, it is better to hold the child in a different way.

You can try carrying the child on your back or holding the child hugging each other.

The key is to avoid the breastfeeding position by holding the one you usually do when you give him breast milk.

This is done as an easy way to wean 2 year olds so that they slowly stop breastfeeding.

8. Use various things that can make your little one forget

There are many things you can do to make your child forget his desire to breastfeed as a way of weaning.

You can give him a variety of foods with new flavors that might attract him to try again and again.

Give milk from the bottle then gradually get used to giving it through the glass.

This will help eliminate the habit of sucking, which can damage her milk teeth.

Not only that, you can give too snack for the little one so that he doesn't feel hungry as well as supports the application of how to wean children.

9. How to wean a child by letting him play

Giving your little one time to play will make your little one forget to breastfeed from the mother.

Take for example letting children spend time playing with friends as an easy way to wean 2 year olds.

Also give her favorite toy as a way out for those of you who have children with difficult problems to stop breastfeeding.

10. Changing sleep habits

The key to a successful method of weaning a child is to do everything that makes him forget to breastfeed.

Usually, this is related to the habits that you often do to him.

If you often put your little one to sleep on your lap while breastfeeding, from now on, change the habit.

You can put it to sleep on the baby's crate, rocking chair, or anywhere that makes the child comfortable and easy to fall asleep.

When he shows signs of wanting to breastfeed, you can do a method of weaning the child from breast milk and replace it with formula milk.

Applying the weaning process to children is not an easy matter. Because not infrequently, mothers actually feel that they don't have the heart to see their little one whining that they want to suckle from the breast.

On this basis, you must be extra assertive to yourself and your child for the success of this weaning phase.