Weaning Your Baby Off Breast Milk

Author: Dr. Sunny Narula  MBBS, MD
Consultant: Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospital Mohali

For a lot of women, getting started with breastfeeding is difficult so they may also not know when to stop breastfeeding. According to Dr Sunny Narula, MBBS, MD, Consultant- Paediatrics and Neonatologist, weaning can be easy for some women and challenging for others. The baby should only consume human milk for the first six months of their life. After this, they should continue to breastfeed along with other solid foods, for up to one year. Hence, a woman has to eventually stop breastfeeding her child. If you are finding it difficult to wean your child off breast milk, visit the best paediatrician in Mohali. 

Weaning Your Baby Off Breast Milk 

The paediatrician in Sector 62 Mohali recommends the following tips for weaning your baby off breast milk: 

Recognize the Signs 

Your baby starts giving signs showing that they are ready for weaning. The signs include: 

• Sitting with support. 
• Holding their head in an upright position. 
• Expressing interest in what you are eating. 
• Losing their active tongue-thrust reflex. 
• Acting cranky during feeding sessions. 

Apart from your child showing signs, you can also be the one to stop breastfeeding. You can check with your best paediatrician in Mohali to see if you are ready to start weaning. 

Set a Schedule 

Once you prepare yourself to start weaning, give yourself at least a month to move through the process. Giving some time to yourself and the baby gives you time for obstacles. If, however, your child is going through teething, you can wait for some time before weaning. 

Start Slowly 

Easing into weaning gives you and your baby some time to adjust to the change. You may start it slowly by dropping one breastfeeding session per week. Once you notice that both you and your baby are comfortable with the change, you can start dropping more sessions until your baby is having solids. 

Provide Physical Comfort  

Breastfed babies are used to skin contact with their mothers. Hence, when you are into weaning, you must give them the physical connection in other ways. For instance, you can cuddle them while singing a song reading a book or give them a massage.  

Let Your Baby Decide  

Some babies wean on their own when they are given the control. If you are comfortable with your child taking the lead, rely on one rule “Don’t offer, don’t refuse”. You nurse them when they show interest and do not initiate it when they don’t want it.  

Resistance is Normal

If you are the one to start weaning, it will be normal for your babies to resist weaning. Once they become normal with it, they will start showing interest in solid foods and drinking liquids from a bottle. 

Take Care of Yourself 

Your baby is not only the one who will be adjusting to weaning. As a mother, you must also deal with a whole range of emotions. Some mothers may even feel rejected when their baby does not show interest in feeding. You may also feel nostalgia about your baby getting older. Accustom yourself to the routine and know that this is necessary.  

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Paediatricians in Mohali that consists of a team of paediatric specialists that cater to all the needs of children, across age groups, and provide the best care for your child’s development.

Do take an appointment with the best child care hospital in Mohali at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with Dr.Sunny Narula, please book your appointment here.