How old is the best age for babies to be weaned?

These are specific methods to help mothers and family members help their children wean. It is important to use appropriate methods to guide the weaning of the child, and not to adopt different methods of weaning, as this will have an adverse effect on both the child and the mother. As long as the child is carefully and seriously weaned in a scientific way, weaning can be successful, which is not only good for the child and the family, but can also save the family a sum of milk powder money. Hope this helps.

The later weaning is, the better. In some rural areas of my country, children are still breastfed when they are 2 to 3 years old. Such children are often thin and prone to illness because as the baby grows older, the nutrient requirements also increase.

However, the amount of breast milk and the nutrients in it can no longer meet the baby's growth and development needs. Therefore, the baby should gradually add complementary foods when he is 4 to 5 months old, and the number of breastfeeding times should gradually decrease. He can be completely weaned when he is 10 to 12 months old. The later the baby is weaned, the stronger his attachment to breastfeeding will be.

They are unwilling to eat meals or take complementary foods, which affects their growth and development and may even lead to malnutrition.

The correct way to wean

(1) Progress step by step and make a natural transition. The timing and method of weaning depends on many factors. Every mother and baby feels differently about weaning, and the method chosen varies from person to person.

Quick weaning: If you have made adequate preparations, you and your baby can adapt, the time for weaning is ripe, and you can quickly wean your baby off breast milk. Especially with objective factors, if the mother has to go on a business trip for a period of time, it is very likely that the baby will be completely weaned in a few days. If the mother stops pumping milk after going to work, the daytime milk supply will soon stop.

Gradual weaning: If your baby is very dependent on breast milk, rapid weaning may make the baby uncomfortable. If you attach great importance to breastfeeding and are with your baby every day, you may feel a sense of loss if you wean suddenly. Therefore, you can adopt a gradual weaning method. Start by breastfeeding 6 times a day, then reduce to 5 times a day. Once both mother and baby are used to it, gradually reduce the number of times until breastfeeding is completely weaned.

(2) Drink less breast milk and more milk. When you start weaning, you can give your baby some formula every day, or you can give him fresh whole milk. It should be noted that you should try to encourage your baby to drink more milk, but as long as he wants to drink breast milk, the mother should not refuse him.

(3) Stop feeding before bedtime and at night. Most babies have the habit of feeding in the middle of the night and before going to bed at night. Babies are very active during the day, so it is easier for them not to be fed. The most difficult thing to stop is probably feeding before going to bed and in the middle of the night. You can stop feeding at night first, and then stop feeding before going to bed. At this time, the active cooperation of the father or family members is needed. When the baby is sleeping, the father or family members can coax the baby to sleep, and the mother can stay away for a while. When the baby can’t see his mother, he will definitely cry for a while at first, but he will give up and fall asleep after a little coaxing. It will be a struggle for a few days at the beginning of weaning, until the baby's fussiness becomes less and less each time, until one day, the baby goes to bed without much fuss and goes to sleep obediently, and does not wake up in the middle of the night. Well, congratulations, you have succeeded in the first battle of weaning.

(4) Reduce dependence on mother; the role of father cannot be ignored. Before weaning, the mother should consciously reduce the time she spends with the baby and increase the time the father spends taking care of the baby to give the baby a psychological adaptation process. During the period just after weaning, the baby will be more attached to the mother. At this time, the father can play with the baby more. The baby may be unhappy at first, but will get used to it later. Let the baby know that daddy will still take care of him and mommy will definitely come back. Trust in dad will reduce the baby's dependence on mom.

(5) Cultivate good behavioral habits in children. Before and after weaning, mothers tend to indulge their babies due to psychological guilt. They will hold their babies whenever they want and give them whatever they want, regardless of whether the babies' requests are reasonable. But you should know that the more you indulge your baby, the worse his temper will be. Before and after weaning, it is necessary for the mother to hold the baby more and give him more caress, but do not easily give in to the baby's unreasonable demands, and do not cultivate bad habits in the baby because of weaning. At this time, the father's rationality is needed to balance the mother's emotions. When the baby cries loudly, the father can come forward to coordinate and the baby will be more likely to listen.

Babies have the natural instinct to suck from birth, which not only helps them get milk but also food and a sense of security. When the baby develops a desire to eat food after half a year, the need to suck becomes very important. This phenomenon usually continues until about one year old. When the baby's oral desire is satisfied, it is time to wean the baby. Babies can be weaned from breast milk after one year. Premature weaning may have certain adverse effects on the baby's growth and development, because breast milk is the most ideal natural nutritional food for the baby.