It's time to become an adult - how to wean a two-year-old child from breastfeeding. How to wean a baby from breastfeeding correctly Weaning from gv at 2 years

Breastfeeding is an important physical and emotional process that binds mother and baby together.

The baby grows, milk composition and function change with it breastfeeding.

But inevitably there comes a period when, for one reason or another, attachment must be stopped, and then the woman faces the question of how to do it most painlessly, without causing stress to the child.

Common misconceptions

Society reacts differently to long-term feeding of children.

Often one has to deal with inappropriate remarks and accusations.

They usually have no real basis.

The most common of them are: the baby has a weak interest in adult food; early caries; pathological dependence on mom; how older child, the more difficult it is to wean.

There is an opinion that if a child eats little, then it is necessary to end breastfeeding. Contrary to this statement, it often happens that the mother quits feeding, and the child does not have an interest in adult food. The reasons for this behavior must be sought in the basics of complementary feeding or in heredity. If the child is cheerful and has no developmental disabilities, then everything is in order, it is worth waiting for the interest to manifest on its own.

Early tooth decay also has nothing to do with long-term breastfeeding. Milk does not affect the acid-base balance of the oral cavity, and some of its components serve as the prevention of caries.

And others like to blame long breastfeeding for pathological dependence on mom. Of course, this statement is not true. The reason for this behavior is in the wrong building of the relationship between mom and baby. In order not to make a little tyrant out of your child, you need to timely determine the boundaries of permissible and unacceptable behavior.

It is a huge misconception that the older the child, the more difficult it is to wean him from the breast. There is such a thing as the natural completion of breastfeeding. This usually happens between three and four years of age. During this period, and it may differ in different children, the child himself refuses to suck.

So, if a woman has weighed all the factors and realized that the time has come, she needs to be patient, persistent and have a supply of little tricks.

Fun for toddler

If we analyze the reasons why a child requires a breast after two years, then the main ones can be distinguished: when falling asleep; after waking up; to calm down; if boring.

The latter is the easiest way to minimize, the main thing is to always have at hand some kind of "distraction" that can captivate the kid with the game.

You need to stock up on such ideas in advance. The main thing is to participate in these games fully, involved, together with the baby, so that he feels your interest.

The 1000 Kisses Method

Bodily contact plays a huge role in building a trusting relationship between mother and child. To prevent your baby from taking weaning as a sign that your mother loves him less, it is important to show your love for your baby as much as possible. More often hug, stroke, kiss, pick up, talk about your feelings. Impossible toddler love.

Favorite products

Even the biggest fastidious and the smallest have their own set of favorite foods.

They will be excellent assistants in the intended mission.

It would be good practice to delight your child with something tasty every day and involve him in the process of preparing these dishes to warm up his interest.

Drinking baby

The child should be able to timely and independently satisfy his need for drinking. First of all, you need to organize a convenient place where the glass will always stand or. If the child loves juices or compotes, it is also better to keep them in an accessible place for him.

When shouldn't weaning start?

There are unfavorable periods for weaning a baby. They are best considered to minimize stress and avoid the consequences:

Since breast milk is a natural source of beneficial ingredients for child immunity, do not finish feeding during or immediately after illness. And also during an epidemic of viral diseases.
It is not recommended to choose the period of hot summer. At this time, the risk of intestinal infections increases.
, the period of leaps in development is also better to wait out.
Stressful situations associated with a change in the usual way of life in the life of the family and the baby. Moving to a new location, mom going to work, and much more should be considered when planning the end of breastfeeding.
Cessation of lactation before the onset of involution in a woman will lead to problems with excess milk and the formation of seals.

Excommunication according to Komarovsky

Many mothers listen to the advice of the famous pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky. In his opinion, the main problem that a woman will have to face is in her head. It is the mother who must fully realize the readiness and gain confidence in her decision. The child will easily adapt to the circumstances and accept new rules.

a woman should consume less fluid;
stop;
refuse night feedings;
increase physical activity, play sports;
distract the child from attachments;
influence the taste of milk by eating harsh-smelling foods.

Komarovsky believes that it is necessary to breastfeed a child for up to a year, and it is worth continuing only if it does not interfere with the woman's realization in the social sphere.

Conclusion

Completion of breastfeeding is one of the important stages in the life of a mother and baby. No one knows his baby better than his mother, only she is able to intuitively determine the best time and choose those methods that will be most favorable for both of them.

If you decide to use this method, then my advice is for you.

Try to distract the baby from the breast with joint games, kisses, and carry it in your arms.
Let dad work more with the baby and replace mom more often.
Wear a turtleneck or turtleneck and try to hide your chest.
Avoid severe swelling, express milk more often.

Grandma's way

Young mothers use this method very often. It consists in the fact that the baby is sent to his grandmother for a couple of days, and the mother ties her breasts with a sheet so that milk no longer flows.

Grandma's way gives good result, but it is very dangerous both for the psychological state of the child and for the health of the mother.

First, the child's beloved breasts and cute mother are taken away from him. Therefore, he does not eat well, sleeps, plays, the baby is stressed.

Second, what does mommy get? Poor sleep, feelings of separation from the child, sometimes chest pain. After all, improper dressing sometimes leads to swelling and compaction. Mastitis may appear, which often leads to surgical intervention.

Natural way

This method is very long and takes up to six months in time. It does not consist in weaning, but in the gradual deliberate cessation of feeding the baby. This method is considered the most psychologically safe and gentle.

Just 5 steps on the road to separation

Abolish promiscuous daytime sucking.
Instead of feeding before bed or during sleep, read a book or sing a lullaby to your baby.
Replace morning feeding with distracting games, toys.
Before going to bed, you need to feed the baby tightly.
Stop breastfeeding at night and replace with a back stroke or hug.

How did I prepare and weaned the baby in a week?

Before you separate the baby from the breast, it is necessary to prepare him for this difficult test. This will not be easy. You will need parental warmth, tenderness and love. The preparatory process lasts for someone a week, and for someone a couple of months. It all depends on the temperament of the child. I will tell you about mine personal experience how it all happened for me.

I excommunicated for 3.5 months. The first thing I did was refused to feed the baby before bedtime. Yes, it was not easy, but very important. When my baby stopped breastfeeding in the afternoon, he began to fall asleep alone without his mother during the day, it became easier to go to bed in the evening. I did not give in to the child's tantrums. I tried to lie down next to him, read a fairy tale, sing a song to him, soothe him by any means, but my chest would not give.

Second, I reduced the day's feeding to three. She gave her breast to suck in the morning, afternoon tea and at night.

If the baby still cannot live without a mother, you can reduce breastfeeding to 4 times a day first.

Third, I did not impose morning sucking on the child. If the baby forgot about the breast in the morning, I did not remind about it. The kid played and went about his business.

But it also happened that he remembered about the chest closer to dinner. Then I tried to explain that it was already late for a morning snack and early for an afternoon snack. She distracted her son, offered to go and see my dad through the window or through the peephole of the grandmother. So I gradually managed to wean from morning sucking.

Fourth, the midday feeding was short-lived. She was allowed to suck for no more than 15 minutes. Reduced this time by 2 minutes every 2-3 days. Thus, she weaned from the breast at noon.

Fifth, weaned from night feeding. As soon as this became the only feeding in a day, I boldly began to break this thread between us. It was easier to do. Before going to bed, I fed well with porridge or some mashed potatoes, in a word, so that the baby ate, and not have a snack. She gave me tea or kefir to drink, and - in the bed. She hugged her tightly, read a book or sang a lullaby. Tired, contented and well-fed, the child quickly fell asleep for the whole night.

That's how we got out of breastfeeding. Tantrums, scandals and a sea of tears were every evening. But I was gaining strength and patience, and we succeeded.

Some useful tips from experienced mothers on how to wean at 1.5 and 2 years old

Each baby is different, and if something is good for one, then it may be bad for another. Try it, experiment, and you will succeed.

Well, I'll give you some of my tips and share the recommendations of experienced moms.

Do not offer, but do not refuse

This advice can be applied with all weaning methods.

Remember to feed adult food

Offer "adult" food to the baby that is appropriate for the child's age.

Some mothers simply forget about regular meals, and the baby does not ask, because the breasts are always nearby - here you can have a snack or just have fun.

Change habitual behavior

If the baby is asking for a breast exactly when you are sitting and talking on the phone, then stop sitting down, walk at that moment. Try to reduce the duration of calls and conversations.

Active attraction of dad

Try to attract dad to the maximum. Let him put it down, play, feed the baby himself. Step into the background, letting the little one forget about you for a while.

If the baby is constantly asking for breast, try with him more often.

And if you just hang on it when you are visiting, increase your time at home.

Try to delay feeding

Agree with the baby what to feed when you collect toys or wash the floor. And if he suddenly asks on the street, then explain that you will feed him as soon as you come home.

Try to shorten your feeding time

This advice is good for children from 2 years old.

Be attentive to your baby's health

If you see that the baby is not feeling well or that his teeth are just erupting, then weaning from breastfeeding should be postponed.

You can start weaning from breastfeeding at any time. But still, there are several points when I do not recommend doing this:

the child is sick, teething or not feeling well;
do not sharply wean the baby, it is better to do it gradually;
if your family composition has changed;
moving to the next room or to another crib;
potty training for babies is also stressful in its own way;
to be vaccinated;
if it sucks a finger or lip.

All children are individual, and everyone should have their own approach. There are no clear rules of excommunication anywhere, they simply do not exist. Each mom is obliged to focus only on her child. If you are definitely determined to wean from breastfeeding, then stay firm until the end. The baby can cry and throw tantrums. Your task is not to give up and remain completely calm. Stick to your chosen solution. Try to make this process as painless and comfortable as possible for everyone.

The decision to wean a baby from breastfeeding is not easy. But sooner or later you will have to do it. It is worth approaching this issue responsibly. Here are some tips to help you.

When to wean a baby from breastfeeding?

Ideally, it is best to wait for natural weaning. And here it is impossible to name a definite time. Every mother has a period at its own time. However, on average, the involution of lactation occurs at 2.5 years. It is at this age that the baby's sucking reflex begins to fade away.

Is your baby ready to wean? Mom must answer this question herself. And she will definitely understand this. After all, no one better than mom does not know the needs of his own child. If you still have doubts, then the child is worth watching. If he is easily distracted from the breast and the number of feedings per day has already reached three, besides, the baby does not suck anything else, then it's time to start gradual weaning.

The readiness of the mother's body is also easy to understand. At this time, the breast is no longer overflowing with milk. The baby does not apply for more than 12 hours, and the mother feels comfortable. After the beginning of the involution of lactation, you can breastfeed the baby for another 2-3 months. During this time, the child will receive a supply of immunoglobulins with milk, which will be enough for him for 5-6 months.

It is worth noting that you do not need to wean your baby from breastfeeding immediately after an illness, after experiencing stress or during important life changes, for example, going to Kindergarten... It happens, of course, when a child needs to be urgently weaned. Cases of serious illness in a mother are suitable here, when she begins to use medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding.

And here it is necessary to act smoothly and carefully, observing all the rules, but in a short time.

Completing breastfeeding

By the way, the mother's going to work or entering kindergarten is not at all a reason to wean the baby from breastfeeding. On the contrary, it will be easier for a child to adapt to new conditions if the breast is not removed. You should not wean your baby even in summer, as there are many fresh vegetables and fruits at this time of the year. The temptation to feed a baby will be great, and this, in turn, can lead to an upset stomach.

How to wean from the breast?

It must be remembered that abrupt weaning of the baby from the breast is a huge stress. You need to act smoothly and carefully, all the time to observe the baby's reaction. It so happens that you have to start all over again. This is normal and you should not despair at such moments.

When weaning your beloved child from the breast, try to pay maximum attention to him. At least more than before. Hug him constantly, kiss, squeeze, tickle, toss, in a word, give the baby as much tactile sensations as possible. This is very important because it makes it clear to the baby that, despite the fact that there is no breast, the mother has not gone anywhere. And besides, it gives more love and attention.

At this time, the child must be closely monitored. If he starts pulling into his mouth foreign objects, for example, a finger, it means that he is stressed and worried. And that means he is not ready yet to stop breastfeeding.

Methods for weaning a baby from breastfeeding

The easiest way is to leave home for a few days or take the baby to grandma. However, this method can only be used if the child has previously been without a mother for at least a day. During the period of mother's absence, the child will understand that it is possible to live and fall asleep even without breast milk. And upon returning, the child should be informed that the milk is gone.

How to wean a baby from breastfeeding? Doctor Komarovsky

You can tell interesting story that the milk went to the poor homeless dog or the fox carried the milk into the forest to its foxes. When your daughter or son remembers the breast, then remember the story, worry and regret with him. You must definitely be on his side.

However, this way of weaning the baby from the breast can lead to stress in the baby. After all, not only breast with milk disappeared for several days, but also my beloved mother. Such methods should be resorted to only if there is confidence that the baby will tolerate separation well.

The most optimal and The right way will wean the baby from breast milk - this is a gradual reduction in the number of applications during the day. Gradually it is worth giving up night and evening feeding. The main thing is to be decisive, because the kids feel the mood, the mood, and the confidence of their mother.

Weaning from breastfeeding gradually

Reduce the number of daily applications. Don't say no to your baby. Better to distract him by any means. For example, interesting books, active games or fairy tales. At the same time, you need to dress so that it is difficult for the baby to get to the chest, for example, knitted bodysuits or simple T-shirts. Forget about dressing gowns, shirts and sweatshirts with cutouts for a while. In addition, there is no need to change clothes around the child.

Make it a rule to give milk to suck only in a certain place and a certain position, for example, lying on the bed. Then in some situations (in the car) it will be easy for the child to explain why he does not receive breast. By the way, it will not be superfluous to introduce this rule even when the baby has already celebrated its first birthday.

Eliminate breastfeeding before bedtime and after waking up. Let a relative put the baby to sleep, or just come up with new ritual laying. For example, play an audio story or read a book. In this case, the first time it is better to take the child in your arms.

And immediately after waking up, distract your baby with games and interesting tasks. And never lie in bed together. Use the same technique before bed. Let dad put the baby to bed at night.

At first, it is worth reducing, and only then completely eliminating night feeding. This is one of the most important stages. The main thing here is not to fuss and not to rush. First, shorten your nighttime feeds and keep your baby from falling asleep while breastfeeding. And if the child wakes up and reaches for the chest, then it is better to offer him a drink. At the same time, you can tell a story that the "tit" is tired, asleep and cannot come to the baby. And in the morning, when it's time to wake up, mom should not be around. Wake up earlier and distract your child.

As a result, at one point you will realize that the baby has not taken a breast for several days. It turns out that the feeding is complete.

Note that the time it takes to wean your baby is different for everyone. A week may be enough for someone, while for someone it will take a couple of months. One way or another, after 2.5 years, this process is less painful.
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So your baby is 2 years old, exactly the period until which pediatricians advise breastfeeding, but how to wean a baby from breastfeeding at 2 years old, very little information.

How to wean a baby from breastfeeding at 2 years old correctly?

Someone might think, what's the difference? After all, the process in 3 months and in a year and in 2 is the same. Let me disagree with you. At 2 years of age, the development of a child is different from that of an infant. If at the beginning of feeding the goal was correct breastfeeding (), we were all worried about our babies gaining weight well (), then at 2 years old the mother's goal was to wean the baby as smoothly and least traumatically as possible at 2 years old.

All babies are different, some throw their breasts themselves for about a year, some a little later, but what if your baby is very emotionally dependent on breasts? For some children, this is both a sleeping pill (a developed ritual) and a sedative, and for children with poor appetite, it is also a source of additional calories. Of course, before the children were fed up to 3 years old, but frankly, the toddler is already quite capable of getting everything useful with food, so why once again deplete the body of a nursing mother?

In the process of weaning a 2-year-old child from breastfeeding, it may seem like the invisible connection between you and the little one is being lost. This is not so, do not be upset. How to wean a child from breastfeeding at 2 years old painlessly for his psyche? After all, in the same way, you can lay in the arms of the baby in the evenings, reading fairy tales to him, and he will gently snuggle up to you. It will remain, you just need to avoid such postures, provoking the "sucking instinct" for the time of weaning.

Features of weaning child 2 years old

The habit is already ingrained
An emotional need is stronger than a physical one,
At 2 years old, babies already consciously demand breasts,
For excitable babies, the breast is a source of comfort.

How to start weaning from breastfeeding?

From my own mood. If you doubt the timeliness and necessity of this step, it is better to postpone it. Literally in a week you will either "mature" and gain determination, or finally change your mind. If the solution is ripe, I recommend doing it gradually.

How to wean a 2 year old baby without hysterics

First of all, don't go anywhere. Don't stress your baby. There is no need to smear anything on the breast for the baby to become disgusted with the taste of milk, so you can only provoke a hysteria. You need it?

Agree with family members about who and what will help you,
Stock up on suitable, closed-top T-shirts, and a wide elastic bandage if you plan on bandaging.
Bribe (new books, plasticine) something new in advance, which will be guaranteed to distract the baby. There will definitely not be the desired reaction to old toys,
Think in advance how and where the child will fall asleep without breast during the day,
Buy several packs of soothing herbs to add to baths,
Buy a baby soothing tea to give the baby a couple of first days before bedtime.
If the toddler does not drink such tea, make a bag from motherwort, valerian roots, oregano, mint (4 * 1 * 2 * 1) and put it in the place where the baby sleeps for a more peaceful sleep.

In the next article I will describe in more detail the nuances of weaning a 2-year-old baby from breastfeeding in practice.

And at some point every nursing mother has a question of how to properly wean a child from breastfeeding. Of course, you need to choose the time for this based on the individual characteristics of your baby. At the same time, there are many ways to wean a baby from breast milk.

In the female body, the center of lactation is the brain, this is how the hormones prolactin and oxytocin are produced. Prolactin is a hormone responsible for the production of breast milk in the milk vesicles, while oxytocin promotes milk production by contracting the muscles in the mammary glands. The more these hormones are released, the higher the lactation rate.

When the baby begins to suckle at the breast, signals are sent to the brain that the production of oxytocin and prolactin is needed. It has been scientifically proven that lactation stimulation is most effective from three in the morning until seven in the morning.

When the baby grows up, the sucking reflex disappears, the frequency of breastfeeding decreases, and as a result, lactation ends naturally. But it often happens that after the completion of lactation, the child still has an emotional attachment to the mother.

How to wean a baby from breastfeeding?

Before bedtime

To complete lactation calmly, you will also need to wean your baby from feeding at night. So that after the completion of lactation the baby is not restless, you need to do everything gradually:

If the baby sleeps with her mother, then you need to try to increase the distance for sleeping or sleep with the baby in closed clothes. There is a chance that after the toddler wakes up at night and does not find his mother's breast, he will immediately fall asleep again.
A baby over one and a half years old fully understands what his mother is telling him. Talk to your baby and explain to him that everyone sleeps at night, including mom's breast... If the baby wakes up at night, then you will have to tell him the same. It is possible that after this your baby will become capricious, but you will have to endure indignation and crying for several days in a row.
You can ask your husband to put the baby to bed. This way the baby will not be teased by the smell of your milk and will fall asleep relatively calmly.
Try to feed your baby in a chair even at night, so his bed will no longer be associated with feeding and breast milk.
The psychology of the baby is such that if he does not finish eating during the day, he will hang on his chest all night, trying to eat. Try to give your child as much bodily contact as possible, caress and stroke him, give the baby your maximum attention. Let your baby understand that you don't need breasts to show love.

After you start weaning your baby, it is advisable not to stop. You must understand that this process will not happen quickly, it is not so easy to take away an ingrained habit from a two-year-old baby. Choose any advice that suits you to stop feeding at night, but do not follow the baby and his whims, you will need to endure his tantrums for two or three nights and after that the baby will sleep better.

According to the Komarovsky method

Dr. Komarovsky offers excellent advice to help you stop breastfeeding better and faster, painlessly for the baby and mom. Weaning should be gradual, according to Dr. Komarovsky. Only then will this process be gentle for the mother and the baby.

So, the advice that Dr. Komarovsky gives to young mothers who decide to quickly curtail breastfeeding at night and during the day:

Try to consume as little liquid as possible during the day, after which milk flow will decrease significantly.
Reduce feeding time or simply distract your baby by skipping the time he normally breastfeeds.
Feed your baby, don't express milk.
Exercise and sweat actively.
Avoid foods that stimulate milk production.

The advice given by Dr. Komarovsky has been tested by medical practice. Use them better than unverified advice from the Internet.

How to wean a baby from night feeding? - Doctor Komarovsky

What not to do

There are some things you shouldn't do, even if you want to quickly and simply stop breastfeeding. What is best not to do when you stop breastfeeding:

If the baby is sick, you should not end breastfeeding at this time. It is best to return to this process after feeding your baby.
If the baby is not ready for weaning, do not insist. Try to come back to this after a few weeks have passed. Perhaps the baby will grow up a little and will be able to accept the cessation of breastfeeding normally.
Mom does not need to tighten her breasts, as after that inflammation, abscess or mastopathy may develop.
In the summer, it is also not recommended to wean babies from the breast, as there is a high risk of catching a gastrointestinal infection.

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