How to Wean a One-Year-Old Baby?
Generally, breastfeeding can be discontinued after the baby turns one year old. There are several methods to wean a one-year-old baby, such as reducing the frequency of breastfeeding during the daytime, distracting the baby's attention, and discontinuing nighttime breastfeeding.
During the daytime, it is best to reduce the frequency of breastfeeding for the baby. If the original frequency is four times a day, it can be reduced to three times, adopting a gradual transition method. When the baby is hungry, use formula milk or other easily digestible foods to replace breastfeeding in a timely manner. During nighttime sleep, breastfeeding should also be reduced. After a period of time, the baby will adapt to not drinking breast milk.
During the daytime, take the baby out to play more often. This method allows the baby to effectively interact with people around them, which is helpful for the formation of a good personality in the future. During playtime, the baby's attention can be effectively distracted, and they will no longer think about drinking milk.
If the baby continues to drink nighttime breast milk, it is equivalent to not being weaned. When discontinuing nighttime breastfeeding, make sure the baby eats enough before going to sleep, such as feeding them some rice noodles or noodle-like foods. These foods have strong hunger-resistance, and after eating enough before bedtime, the baby usually won't need to drink milk again throughout the night. However, some babies may still be hungry in the middle of the night. In this case, you can give them some formula milk or water.