Amp up attention. The intimacy that goes with breastfeeding is what moms and babies miss most when nursing ends, so be sure to lavish your little one with lots of extra attention during the weaning process. And don't forget how helpful your partner can be. Having Daddy put the baby to sleep and wake them up in the morning can soften the blow of not nursing during these times. Use distractions. For older babies and toddlers, Bengson says that the key is distraction.
When your kid starts hankering for the breast, lure them into a block-building bonanza, an engrossing game of make-believe, or a finger-painting frenzy. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. Here are some more tips for weaning a baby who's less than 6 months old:. By Nicole Caccavo Kear. Be the first to comment!
Some moms leave the decision of when to wean up to their child. Children who are eating three meals of solid food a day plus snacks often breastfeed less and less. In that case, a mom's milk will dry up from lack of demand and she'll need to pump to keep the milk flowing.
If your child is breastfeeding less, make sure he or she is getting enough iron-fortified formula or milk. Check with the doctor about how much your child should get. If your baby weans before 1 year of age, or you find that you're not making enough milk, you will need to give your baby formula.
Check with the doctor to see what formula is right for your little one. Weaning is easier if a child has also taken milk from another source. So try giving an occasional bottle of breast milk to your little one after breastfeeding is well-established. Even if you continue breastfeeding, this can ease weaning later. It also lets other family members feed the baby and makes it possible to leave your child with a caregiver. Remember that infants over 6 months should have solid foods as well as breast milk.
After 1 year, breast milk alone does not provide all the nutrients a growing child needs. So solid foods must become a regular part of the diet. As you start to wean, remember that your child needs time to adjust to drinking from cups.
Be patient as your little one begins exploring the world of food. Once your child is 12 months old, infant formula is not needed and toddler milks, growing-up milks and goodnight milks are also unnecessary. Your baby can now drink whole cows' milk. Choose full-fat dairy products, as children under 2 years old need the vitamins and extra energy found in them. From 2 years old, if they're a good eater and growing well, they can have semi-skimmed milk.
You can give your child unsweetened calcium-fortified milk alternatives, such as soya, oat or almond drinks, from the age of 1 as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Children under 5 years old should not be given rice drinks because of the levels of arsenic in these products. For information and advice you can trust, sign up for weekly Start4Life pregnancy and baby emails. Page last reviewed: 1 March Next review due: 1 March Your baby's first solid foods. When to start introducing solid foods Introducing your baby to solid foods, sometimes called complementary feeding or weaning, should start when your baby is around 6 months old.
Why wait until around 6 months to introduce solids? They'll be able to: stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth by themselves swallow food rather than spit it back out The following behaviours can be mistaken by parents as signs that their baby is ready for solid foods: chewing their fists waking up in the night more than usual wanting extra milk feeds These are all normal behaviours for babies and not necessarily a sign that they're hungry or ready to start solid food.
Get tips to help your baby sleep well How to start solid foods In the beginning your baby will only need a small amount of food before their usual milk feed. Tips to get your baby off to a good start with solid foods: Eating is a whole new skill. Some babies learn to accept new foods and textures more quickly than others.
Keep trying, and give your baby lots of encouragement and praise. Allow plenty of time, especially at first. Go at your baby's pace and let them show you when they're hungry or full. Stop when your baby shows signs that they've had enough. This could be firmly closing their mouth or turning their head away. If you're using a spoon, wait for your baby to open their mouth before you offer the food.
Do not force your baby to eat. Wait until the next time if they're not interested this time. Be patient and keep offering a variety of foods, even the ones they do not seem to like. It may take 10 tries or more for your baby to get used to new foods, flavours and textures.
There will be days when they eat more, some when they eat less, and then days when they reject everything. Do not worry, this is perfectly normal. Let your baby enjoy touching and holding the food. Allow them to feed themselves, using their fingers, as soon as they show an interest. If you're using a spoon, your baby may like to hold it or another spoon to try feeding themselves. Keep distractions to a minimum during mealtimes and avoid sitting your baby in front of the television, phone or tablet.
Show them how you eat. Babies copy their parents and other children. Sit down together for family mealtimes as much as possible.
This helps them learn how to chew, move solid food around their mouth and swallow. Some babies like to start with mashed, lumpy or finger foods. Just keep offering them lumpy textures and they'll eventually get used to it. Safety and hygiene When introducing your baby to solid foods, it's important to take extra care to not put them at risk.
A lot earlier than you might expect. The study looked at whether feeding certain foods to babies could stop them getting allergies, and a secondary part of the study explored whether giving babies solids before 6 months could actually help them to sleep better.
Two sets of babies were looked at: one set were breastfed only up to 6 months, the other set were breastfed and given solids, including peanuts, wheat and eggs, just short of the recommended 17 weeks.
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