Weaning Your Baby: When, Why, and How?

1. Weaning Your Baby: When, Why, and How? Weaning refers to the entire process in which an infant shifts from full dependence on breast milk to complete independence from it. As a new parent, it can be difficult to know all of the ins and outs of how to properly ween your child off of breast milk. Read on for more information and tips on this process. When is it Time to Wean? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the optimal time for gradually introducing solid foods into the infant’s diet iswhen your baby is six months old. The semisolid foods given to a child at this stage are generally called weaning foods. Weaning foods are regular foods modified by processing to make them easier to digest. Why is Weaning Important? •All babies reach a stage where breast or formula milk does not supply all the nutrients they need. •Premature babies, in particular, need careful planning of the nutrients in their baby food to make sure they continue to develop and grow. •New tastes and textures help encourage babies to eat a range of foods. •Solid foods help babiespractice lip, tongue, and jaw movements. •Weaning also provides a great opportunity for all members of your family to become involved in feeding your baby. Essential Characteristics of Weaning Foods According to the guidelines of the Protein Advisory Group, weaning foods should have a protein content of at least 20%, a fat content of 10%, moisture content of 5-10%, and carbohydrates as an energy source.The food should be rich in calories and adequateinvitamins and minerals. Preferably, weening foods should be organic baby food. When stirred with cold or warm water or milk,weaning foods should form a slurry or semisolid mass of soft consistency, allowing the child to easily swallow it. It should also be precooked orprocessed in such a way that it needs minimumpreparation before feeding and is easily digested by the child.The food should be free from anti-nutritional factors and have a low indigestible fiber content. How to Make Weaning Easier for You and Your Baby •Slowly Reduce Breast Feedings: Observe which feeding seems the least important to your baby and let that be the first one you drop. After a couple of days, you can eliminate another feeding. •Distractions Can Help: If your baby is looking to nurse, you can play a game or offer a healthy snack. Any distraction where you make eye contact and give your baby attention can go a long way to extend the time between feedings.

2. •Accept all your child's emotions: For your child, weaning is a loss. Your baby is giving up something beloved. Accept your child's emotions with compassion and patience; those feelings will dissipate. •Be Patient: Remember weaning is a process, and sooner or later it will happen. Every baby goes through this process a little differently, so don’t worry if it doesn’t go exactly to plan. Resource Box: The author is a mom of three, including an enthusiastic toddler who’s also a fussy eater! The author loves creating yummy baby food recipes that babies and toddlers love!