COIMBATORE: Paediatricians recommend two years as the best time to end breastfeeding a baby, but complementary feeding can start at six months.
“At six months, ragi powder, wheat powder, juice, fruits, rice and other nutritious food can be given along with breast milk. After two years, breastfeeding can be stopped gradually and other foods increased,” said Hazeena Thajuddin, a city-based paediatrician. “When a mother wants to stop breastfeeding, she can limit the number of times a child is breastfed. It can be five per day for a week and three per day the next week. Slowly, reduce it to once a day and then gradually end it,” she added.
The child may cry for a few days for breast milk. The mother should have the sensitivity to deal with the situation. “There are mothers who feed the baby again after stopping it once. It is not a mistake. She can take her own time to stop breastfeeding the baby,” said Hazeena.
A baby does not require the mother’s milk physiologically after two years, but there is no harm in continuing the breastfeeding.
“I don’t tell any mother to stop breastfeeding the kid. It is up to them to take a decision. But a baby must get breast milk for years old for its overall development. Stopping after two years is not a problem. Two years is also suggested for those who want to have another baby after three or four years of the first delivery. The mothers body would need more nutrients to conceive another baby,” said R Fathima, a paediatrician who has retired from government service.
Besides, stopping breastfeeding before two years of delivery can create discomfort for the mother. “If a mother stops breastfeeding before the baby is two years old, the breasts will keep on producing milk. When the breasts are not be emptied, it creates some discomfort,” said Dr P Siva Bharathi of Kovai Kids Clinic.
How to Stop
Decide on breastmilk replacements after discussing it with a pediatrician.
Change the atmosphere of feeding; the same atmosphere will cause the baby to associate it with breastfeeding. The food should be attractive for the child. Also, teach the child to be active without being breastfed.
The baby may need extra comfort. It can be cuddled more and the mother can give it more time. This can be combined with gradual reduction in breastfeeding.