Patient's question:
My baby is more than eleven months old, and he will be one year old next month. So, we want to wean him, but is this a suitable time to do so? What preparations should we make? Additionally, my son has already been crawling on his stomach since last week, but he still cannot crawl with his hands and feet. How can we help him learn to crawl with all four limbs as soon as possible?Also, we plan to stay at my mother-in-law's and grandmother's house for a while next month. Will changing the environment like this affect the child? Are there any potential negative impacts?
Moreover, my son enjoys sleeping in a cradle during the day, but he has grown taller now, and his feet are almost touching the top. We don't want him to sleep in the cradle anymore, but he has tried sleeping in a bed several times and hasn't succeeded.
Doctor's answer:
Hello, for proper weaning, you can follow these methods:① Fully prepare and wean gradually: Weaning is not only an important change in the baby's daily habits but also a psychological turning point. Mothers should be fully prepared and not give in to "softness" due to the baby's crying, as this may affect the child's health. However, weaning should not be abrupt—there must be a planned approach to give the child time to adapt.
② Gradually increase dairy substitutes and complementary foods: The gradual addition of dairy substitutes (formula) and complementary foods will lay a solid foundation for a smooth weaning process, allowing the baby to slowly adapt and accept various foods.
③ Gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding sessions.
Since some babies are very attached to their mother's milk, it is best to start reducing feedings by eliminating one during the day. During the day, there are many distractions that can keep the baby's attention away from their mother. However, in the morning and evening, babies are particularly attached to their mothers and seek comfort through breastfeeding, making it harder to wean. After eliminating the daytime feeding, you can gradually reduce nighttime feedings until full weaning is achieved.
If the baby cannot crawl on their own, you can help them learn to crawl. Here are the specific methods:
(1) Pre-crawling exercises. The parent uses one hand to hold the baby's knees and the other to hug their chest, allowing the baby to place both hands on a table or the floor to support their body. Then, the parent can gradually loosen their grip on the baby's chest, encouraging the baby to stand up and support themselves. Practice 1–2 times daily, adjusting the duration based on the baby's tolerance—typically 3–5 minutes per session.
(2)