How to wean a baby from breastfeeding to a full diet

Breastfeeding is not just a means to feed your baby. It is also a precious time of bonding between mother and baby, and so it is essential that weaning your baby off the breast and onto food is done properly. Here are a few suggestions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• baby bottle
• <br>beginner cereal or baby food

How to Wean a Baby From Breastfeeding to a Full Diet

1. Begin with the middle of the day feedings. Substitute every other feeding with the food supplement or bottle of your choice. Do this for a couple weeks or until you feel that the baby can handle another substitution.
2. Once the baby has accepted this first change, eliminate another daytime feeding and substitute that one, as well.
3. Let the early morning feeding be the second to last to be eliminated but make sure you substitute it with a bottle so that the baby’s early morning routine is not interrupted too much. The baby will begin to look for this change and adjust to it.
4. Let the bedtime feeding continue for a period of time after the other feedings have been substituted. This allows the baby to know that there is still a special bonding between the two of you. Only the mother will know when to end this. But do not rush into stopping too soon, since it is a type of security blanket for the baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Since this bonding helps the baby to be secure in facing the world, it is often necessary to continue nursing the baby for that one night time feeding for several months after the other feedings have been substituted. The baby is able to sleep peacefully knowing that you are still there.