When to Wean Baby
Most babies are weaned by their
first birthday. Babies that are extremely hungry may
need to start solid food sooner . Even if your baby
always appear to be hungry, you should wait until
she is at least four months old before introducing
solids.
Although most babies are ready for
solids by four months old, but many babies do not
begin until they reach six months. Prior to the age
of 4 to 6 months, infants will naturally push solid
from their mouth by thrusting their tongue forward.
How to Wean Baby
From early on (at around 4 months),
try teaching your baby to use a lidded feeding cup.
When you are ready to start to wean your baby, you
can begin by cutting back on the number of feedings
and replacing a nursing session with the feeding cup
instead of using the bottle.
At first, start by giving your child
one feed of solid per day and slowly increase it to
2 feed and then three. The weaning process usually
takes about eight weeks. By the end of the eight weeks
period, your child should be eating 3 meals a day
(breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Bottle or breast feeding can continue
along with solid food, but gradually cut down. Eventually,
the breast/ bottle will only be used for nursing comfort.
When you feed your baby solid, to
miniminze the risk of choking, make sure that your
baby is sitting up. Always give solid first. After
the feeding you can offer her a cup of fluid (avoiding
sweetened drinks because juice should not be offered
until the infant is at least 6 months).
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