Don't Paint the RosesGiving bottles to an infant will eventually lead to nipple confusion, with the infant eventually refusing to suckle on the breast. Bottles should be avoided if possible. Expressed milk can always be given in a small medicine cup or a dropper if the mother absolutely cannot be with her baby for some reason or another.
Sometimes infants will go through a nursing strike due to illness, injury, or a significant upset in their routine. The key is to minimize the upsets in the child’s routine, make him as comfortable as possible, and nurse as frequently as you can. Soon the baby will overcome the nursing strike and return to regular nursing.
Some mothers notice their older infants, typically 7-10 months, not nursing as much and attribute it to self-weaning. Infants do not self-wean before a year, even rarely before 18 months. It is always the mother who is doing the weaning in these early cases. There are two common causes to an infant weaning prior to 12 months.
One is due to the distractibility of the older baby. The baby is developing so quickly, learning new skills, and is so interested in his surroundings that it can be difficult getting him to be still for long to squeeze in an adequate nursing session. Minimizing distractions, such as nursing in a dark, quiet room, preferably lying down in bed can facilitate a good nursing session. The use of a nursing necklace to keep the baby’s hands busy and hold his interest can also keep him still in order to nurse well.
The second reason that an infant will wean early is both the early introduction of solids and too many solids. Current recommendation for the age to introduce solids is six months, but many doctors push them prior to that age, and many parents unknowingly go on outdated information. Another key to reduction in milk supply in this case is the replacement of breast milk feedings with solids. It is not recommended to replace any feedings prior to 12 months with solids, but many parents do.
As soon as nursing sessions are replaced by solids weaning has begun. Before the first birthday solids should only be given in addition to a breast milk feeding, meaning the infant should nurse first, and if he is still interested, then he may be given solids. Infants who fill up on solids simply will not nurse enough to maintain an adequate milk supply and weaning will occur.
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