Hey Moms,S stopping breastfeeding is a pretty hard thing to do for all of us. We often times feel awkward talking about it. Our babies are always clingy because after spending 9 months in your belly they come out and you are their feeding source for the first 6 months or more. This makes them desire you all the time. when it comes to weaning a toddler, you have to be firm and understanding at the same time.
I had this challenge with my toddler, i was so attached that at 15 months he was still on breast milk. I knew i had to do something. So i tried these methods and it worked for me.
Improve their eating habit
Consult your healthcare professional if you need to boost their feeding. My pediatrician suggested some medication to boost his eating habit. Give various kinds of fruits, fibers, vegetables, and soft foods early on so he or she is introduced to various foods. This way your toddler will be better prepared you stopping breast milk.
Pay attention to the food classifications
Balanced diet is necessary for a healthy thriving child. For you to properly transition, pay attention to balanced diet. This was hard for me so i just went with this simple combination. There should be 30% Carbohydrate, 30% protein, 30% fruits, 5 percent of fats and oil, minerals and the others and the 5% water. This is the formula i used and its working well for me. Pay attention to whole grains as a it is a good source of carbohydrate. Check out Mayo Clinic’s Article on this Nutrition for Kids.
Let your Partner be involved
Get your partner to help feed your toddler when he or she is hungry to remove the focus from you. This helps your baby stop thinking about you as the food source.
Start your Baby on Multivitamins. (get approval from your Healthcare Provider)
When your baby is on multivitamins their desire to eat increases and this would make them turn to other foods. Check out Pro-healthy Family’s post on Nutrient Supplementation and how important it is.
As soon as your baby starts trying other foods, it is important to continue Breastfeeding so your baby’s body gets properly accustomed to the new food he is eating. Then you start reducing the number of breast feeding sections and increasing the other food intake.
Check out our post: The profits of Breastfeeding