Patient's question:
My baby is almost one year old. He is too clingy with breastfeeding and doesn't eat properly. I want to wean him, and I also need to go back to work. It's not convenient to breastfeed him while traveling, which isn't good for either the child or the adult. However, the elders in the family disagree with weaning, saying that the longer you breastfeed, the better.What kind of help do I need: How long should a baby be weaned?
Doctor's answer:
Analysis of the condition: As the child grows older, the various nutrients provided by breast milk can no longer meet the needs of the child's growth and development. Weaning is generally recommended between 9 to 12 months, but in areas where dairy products or other substitutes are scarce, weaning can be appropriately delayed to around 18 months. However, there is no strict rule for the age of weaning. If the mother has ample milk, it can be continued for a longer period, typically around 1 year. The latest it should be is not more than 2 years. If the mother has limited milk but the child is willing to eat cow's milk or other foods, it can also be continued for a longer time. If the mother has limited milk and the child is unwilling to eat dairy products or other foods, weaning should be done earlier, potentially as early as 6 months.