Question
The main component of breast milk is fat, and some suggest weaning a baby off breastfeeding between the ages of eight to ten months. However, others believe that weaning too early can lead to nutritional deficiencies in the baby. Experts, at what age is it most suitable to wean a baby off breastfeeding?
Answer
Starting from around ten months, you can begin by reducing the baby’s milk intake by one feeding per day and increasing the amount of solid foods. After about a week, if the mother notices that her breasts are not as full and the baby’s absorption and digestion are good, she can reduce another feeding session, further increasing the solid food intake, and gradually wean the baby. It’s best to start reducing the milk intake with the daytime feeding since there are many distractions during the day that won’t make the baby overly dependent on the mother. However, in the morning and evening, babies are very attached to their mothers and need to find comfort in breastfeeding. After stopping the daytime feeding, gradually cease night-time diaper changes until complete weaning occurs.