How long does it take for a baby to wean off milk?

The main reasons for babies' aversion to milk include psychological and physiological factors. When a baby becomes averse to milk, parents must observe carefully to see if it is caused by physical discomfort. If symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever occur, seek medical attention in time. In addition, the environment must be kept quiet during feeding, and a good eating and rest environment must be created for the child.

1. Milk weaning period

Stage 1: When the baby is 3-4 months old, he gradually matures. On the one hand, he may start eating complementary foods, prefer foods with new flavors, and temporarily lose interest in milk powder. At 4-6 months, the lactase in the baby's body begins to decrease, the taste of the tongue begins to change, and the appetite begins to change. On the other hand, his hearing and vision have made breakthrough progress, making him more interested in the outside world. He often "meddles in other people's business" when there is any movement, and his mind is no longer on feeding.

The second stage: The baby is about 6-10 months old. Most babies are growing teeth at this stage. Due to the itchy gums, babies often focus on biting the nipple when feeding, leading to milk aversion symptoms.

2. What to do during the milk aversion period

1. No coercion

Many parents worry that their babies will not grow up if they drink too little, so they force them to drink. However, this approach will make the baby afraid of eating. During this period, parents should think about how to help their baby accept semi-liquid complementary foods instead of forcing him to drink milk.

2. Change the feeding method

When the baby shows signs of aversion to milk, parents can start by improving the feeding method and taking a more casual approach without having to follow a schedule. The principle is to feed small meals frequently and wait for your baby to eat when he wants to. You can consume your baby's physical energy through games, such as massage, physical activities, etc. When he is exhausted and feels hungry, his eating conditions will also improve.

3. Create a dining environment

The eating environment should be as gentle and quiet as possible. Because babies at this stage begin to be curious about the outside world, if someone teases him while he is eating, or there are many toys and sounds that can attract his attention, the baby will think that these things are more interesting than eating, and naturally he will not want to eat.

4. Add complementary food at the right time

Babies around 4 months old should still mainly feed on breast milk or formula milk, and only need one or two meals of complementary food. Therefore, when the baby gets bored, you might as well give him something new to try. Start with rice flour or diluted fruit juice, then gradually add vegetable and fruit purees. But remember to follow the principle of adding one ingredient at a time, starting with 1 teaspoon and then slowly increasing the amount. Each complementary food can be tried for 3-5 days first, and the baby's condition can be observed.