Patient's question:
The child is six and a half months old, and the milk is not enough for her to eat. These past two days, I wanted to wean her, but the weather is too cold. I don't know if it's appropriate to wean her now? (She doesn't drink formula)First follow-up question: Before she was four months old, she mostly ate formula mixed with milk. After four months, she stopped eating formula and only drank milk and other foods like porridge. But now she only eats milk at night and not enough (she needs to be fed five or six times a night). I want to wean her so she can drink formula and not have to be fed so many times at night. But she really dislikes formula. I don't know how the child will be in these first one or two days after weaning?
Doctor's answer:
Hello, no matter when weaning occurs, mothers should adopt a gradual approach. It is crucial to avoid abruptly stopping breastfeeding and completely replacing it with other foods, leaving the infant overwhelmed by the sudden change and unable to adapt.First, ensure that the infant can obtain sufficient nutrients from other foods before gradually extending the intervals between feedings and progressively reducing the number of feedings. For example, start by reducing the feedings by one each day, then reduce again after one to two weeks, until breastfeeding is completely stopped. If during the gradual reduction phase, the infant still shows signs of wanting to nurse, the mother can try distracting them or soothing them in other ways, but should avoid abruptly refusing, as this may lead to greater resistance.
For the infant, weaning is a major turning point in their dietary life. It is essential never to attempt to change everything overnight.