Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
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Normal Weaning
Description
Weaning is the replacement of bottle or breast-feedings
(nipple feedings) with drinking from a cup and eating solid
foods. Weaning occurs easily and smoothly unless the breast
or bottle has become overly important to the child.
How to Prevent Weaning Problems
If you have a choice, it is best to wait until your baby is
at least 6 months old before you wean from the breast. Your
baby's digestive system is better able to tolerate a change
in food after this age.
If you discontinue breast-feeding before 9 months of age,
switch to bottle feeding first and introduce your child to a
cup at approximately 6 months of age. If you stop breast-
feeding after 9 months of age, you may be able to go
directly to cup feeding.
Children normally show less interest in breast and bottle
feedings between 6 and 12 months of age if they are also
taking cup and spoon feedings. Many children start weaning
themselves by 12 months. After the age of 12 to 18 months,
the parent often has to start the weaning, but the child
will be receptive. After 18 months of age, the child
usually resists weaning because she has become overly
attached to the breast or bottle.
If your child shows a lack of interest in the breast or
bottle at any time after 6 months of age, start to phase out
these nipple feedings. You can tell that your baby is ready
to begin weaning when she throws the bottle down, takes only
a few ounces of milk and then stops, chews on the nipple
rather than sucking it, refuses the breast, or nurses for
only a few minutes and then wants to play.
The following steps encourage early natural weaning at 9 to
12 months:
- Keep bottle feedings to four times a day or less after
your child reaches 6 months of age.
Some breast-fed babies may need five feedings a day
until 9 months of age.
- Give older infants their daytime feedings at mealtime
with solids.
Once your child is having just four formula or breast-
feedings a day, be sure three of them are given at
mealtime with solids rather than as part of the ritual
before naps. Your child can have the fourth feeding
before he goes to bed at night.
- After your baby is 3 to 4 weeks old and breast-feeding
is well established, offer him a bottle of expressed
breast milk or water once a day.
This experience will help your baby get used to a bottle
so you can occasionally leave him with a baby sitter.
This step is especially important if you will be
returning to work or school. The longer you wait to
introduce the bottle after your baby is 2 months old,
the more strongly your infant will initially reject it.
If you wait until 4 months of age, it may take up to 1
week for your baby to accept the bottle. Once your baby
accepts bottle feedings, you should continue them at
least three times a week.
- Hold your child for discomfort or stress instead of
nursing her.
You can comfort your child and foster a strong sense of
security and trust without nursing every time she is
upset. If you always nurse your child in such
situations, your child may learn to eat whenever she is
upset. She may also be unable to separate being held
from nursing, and you may become an "indispensable
mother."
- Don't let the bottle or breast substitute for a
pacifier.
Learn to recognize when your baby just needs to suck.
At these times, instead of offering your child food,
encourage him to suck on a pacifier or thumb. Feeding
your baby every time he needs to suck can lead to
obesity.
- Don't let the bottle or breast become a security object
at bedtime.
Your child should be able to go to sleep at night
without having a breast or bottle in her mouth. She
needs to learn how to put herself to sleep. If she
doesn't, she will develop sleep problems that require
the parents' presence during the night.
- Don't let a bottle become a daytime toy.
Don't let your child carry a bottle around as a
companion during the day. This habit may keep him from
engaging in more stimulating activities.
- Don't let your child hold the bottle or take it to bed.
Your child should think of the bottle as something that
belongs to you; hence, she won't protest giving it up
because it never belonged to her in the first place.
- Offer your child formula or breast milk in a cup by
6 months of age.
For the first few months your child will probably accept
the cup only after he has drunk some from the bottle or
breast. However, by 9 months of age your child should
be offered some formula or breast milk from a cup before
breast or bottle feedings.
Wean a baby younger than 6 months to a bottle and not to
a cup. Babies cannot drink well enough from a cup at
this age to get enough nourishment.
- Help your baby become interested in foods other than
formula or breast milk.
Introduce solids with a spoon by 4 months of age to
formula-fed babies and by 6 months to breast-fed
infants. Finger foods can be introduced between 9 and 10
months of age or whenever your child develops a pincer
grasp. As soon as your child can use finger foods,
include her at the table with the family during mealtime.
She will probably become interested in the foods that she
sees you eating and will ask for them. As a result, she
will become more interested in having other foods as well
as formula or breast milk.
See also:
From Breast to Bottle
From Breast to Cup
From Bottle to Cup
Weaning Problems
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