Long term breastfeeding is good for the health and development of the babies. However, at some point mothers who opt for long term breastfeeding feel that they should stop breastfeeding their babies. Read on to find tips for stopping long term breastfeeding. Many mothers have to struggle to stop breastfeeding especially when it is a prolonged one. Most mothers get confused and worry if their babies are fed for too long or not long enough. Generally, doctors advice to breastfeed babies up to six months. Some experts recommend breastfeeding for one year and some for two. However, in any case breastfeeding for longer than that is too much. No matter whether you are stopping for personal reasons or because of some discomfort, take help of some tips so that the transition is smooth and comfortable for both, your child and you. You will find that you have been able to wean your baby without much fuss and also with lots of ease. In this articleWean Step by StepDo Not OfferDo Not Confuse the ChildChange Your RoutineDistract Your ChildStay ComfortableTips to Stop Long Term Breastfeeding Have a quick look at the tips to stop long term breastfeeding. Wean Step by Step – If you stop breastfeeding your child suddenly, it will be an upsetting and distressing shift for both, your child and you. Weaning gradually is very important and will help you reach your aim without any difficulty. Try to eliminate one feed a day. You can replace it with whatever you find is a good alternative for your child. Do Not Offer – Some toddlers begin to get accustomed to take food on their own when they do not get milk. So, if you do not offer breast milk it is possible your child starts eating food like others without any extra effort. Do Not Confuse the Child – Since you are eliminating the habit gradually, you will one or more time sit to nurse your child. Do not confuse him by changing your position. Nurse him in the same position. If the position makes him think about feed, change your position when you are playing with him. Turn him round and make him sit on your lap. This will not confuse him and will not hurt your nearness and emotions as well. Change Your Routine – Changing your routine of bedtime might help a lot. Usually it is observed that children have the habit of being fed at night and this is the hardest thing to stop. You can comfort your baby to sleep by reading or telling him bed time stories. You can even ask your partner sometimes to make the child sleep so that the attention is diverted. Distract Your Child – Make sure you are very carefully doing this. The child must not come to know that you are distracting him just to avoid feeding him. As soon as you get the indication you can offer toys, snacks, hugs and even start playing with him so that he gets distracted and forgets about the breastfeed. Stay Comfortable – This is one of the most important aspects. When you are trying to stop breastfeeding, do not forget that you are also going to get affected with this emotionally as well as physically. Feel your breasts often when you are eliminating breastfeeding. You may feel full, leaky or hard. If the supply is too much you can make use of the breast pump. But be very careful and do not pump out much because this will trigger the supply. Sometimes a simple massage helps and gradually as the child leaves feeding, the ducts get to normal sizes automatically. So, staying comfortable is important in any case. Most often there is no effect on the childs health. He gradually comes to know that he is getting milk from other sources and adding slight flavours make him feel drinking the milk from other sources more enjoyable. You will not even find any difference in the attitude of your child provided you have handled things smartly.
Long term breastfeeding is good for the health and development of the babies. However, at some point mothers who opt for long term breastfeeding feel that they should stop breastfeeding their babies. Read on to find tips for stopping long term breastfeeding. Many mothers have to struggle to stop breastfeeding especially when it is a prolonged one. Most mothers get confused and worry if their babies are fed for too long or not long enough. Generally, doctors advice to breastfeed babies up to six months. Some experts recommend breastfeeding for one year and some for two. However, in any case breastfeeding for longer than that is too much.
No matter whether you are stopping for personal reasons or because of some discomfort, take help of some tips so that the transition is smooth and comfortable for both, your child and you. You will find that you have been able to wean your baby without much fuss and also with lots of ease.
Tips to Stop Long Term Breastfeeding
Have a quick look at the tips to stop long term breastfeeding.
Wean Step by Step –
If you stop breastfeeding your child suddenly, it will be an upsetting and distressing shift for both, your child and you. Weaning gradually is very important and will help you reach your aim without any difficulty. Try to eliminate one feed a day. You can replace it with whatever you find is a good alternative for your child.
Do Not Offer –
Some
toddlers begin to get accustomed to take food on their own when they do not get milk. So, if you do not offer breast milk it is possible your child starts eating food like others without any extra effort.
Do Not Confuse the Child –
Since you are eliminating the habit gradually, you will one or more time sit to nurse your child. Do not confuse him by changing your position. Nurse him in the same position.
If the position makes him think about feed, change your position when you are playing with him. Turn him round and make him sit on your lap. This will not confuse him and will not hurt your nearness and emotions as well.
Change Your Routine –
Changing your routine of bedtime might help a lot. Usually it is observed that children have the habit of being fed at night and this is the hardest thing to stop. You can comfort your baby to sleep by reading or telling him
bed time stories. You can even ask your partner sometimes to make the child sleep so that the attention is diverted.
Distract Your Child –
Make sure you are very carefully doing this. The child must not come to know that you are distracting him just to avoid
feeding him. As soon as you get the indication you can offer toys, snacks, hugs and even start playing with him so that he gets distracted and forgets about the breastfeed.
Stay Comfortable –
This is one of the most important aspects. When you are trying to stop breastfeeding, do not forget that you are also going to get affected with this emotionally as well as physically. Feel your breasts often when you are eliminating
breastfeeding. You may feel full, leaky or hard. If the supply is too much you can make use of the breast pump. But be very careful and do not pump out much because this will trigger the supply. Sometimes a simple massage helps and gradually as the child leaves feeding, the ducts get to normal sizes automatically.
So, staying comfortable is important in any case. Most often there is no effect on the child's health. He gradually comes to know that he is getting milk from other sources and adding slight flavours make him feel drinking the milk from other sources more enjoyable. You will not even find any difference in the attitude of your child provided you have handled things smartly.
