Weaning: Basics

Weaning Dubai | Get Answers To When, How & Why To Stop Your Child From Breastfeeding

Weaning Dubai: What it is, goals, starting weaning, is your baby ready, how to start, steps, key points, dos and don’ts. Get help

Weaning Dubai: What is weaning?

Weaning Dubai: Weaning in babies is the process when food is given from a source other than breast or formula milk. Some say that anything other than breastfeeding is weaning. However, for this article weaning is defined as giving a baby foods other than milk. It is preparing the baby to eventually eat normal adult diet.

Please invest a few minutes of your time to watch the weaning video below. Or if you prefer to read, then feel free to skip the video and go straight to the text below:

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There are four goals to weaning:

  1. Giving food in a different way other than by breast or bottle- thus aiding chewing and swallowing
  2. Giving different tastes and textures other than milk
  3. Thickening foods so that they can consume solids eventually
  4. Adding iron and energy to the baby’s diet

Weaning Dubai: When to start weaning?

The timing of weaning is a personal decision made by the mother depending on factors like career choices, maternal health, and subsequent pregnancies. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the first six months of life and later with complementary foods. Around six months of age, iron-rich foods should generally be offered to infants. This helps prevent food allergies. Later than 6 months is not recommended as the baby needs more iron and energy that may not be enough with milk.

Weaning Dubai | https://www.pediatriciandubai.blog/pediatrician-in-dubai/weaning-dubai/ Get Answers To When, How & Why To Stop Your Child From Breastfeeding

Weaning Dubai

Weaning Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641

Weaning Dubai: How do I know if my baby is ready?

There are several clues that help parents know if their baby is ready.

  • When the baby is able to stay in the sitting position and hold its head steady
  • There is eyes- hand-mouth coordination so the baby can look at the food, pick it up and put it in her mouth
  • The baby can swallow food. Babies who are not ready will push their food back out with their tongue- also called the tongue thrust reflex
  • The baby starts showing interest in what the parents are eating

Some signs that can be mistaken for a baby is ready for solid foods:

  • Chewing fists
  • Waking in the night when they have previously slept through
  • Wanting extra milk feeds

Weaning Dubai: How to start the process of weaning?

Starting weaning should be avoided when the child may be undergoing another significant change, such as moving homes or starting daycare. Both the mother and baby should be comfortable and stress-free

Get the necessary equipment needed:

  • A few colorful baby feeding spoons and plastic bowls
  • Bibs and clean cloths
  • Saucepans and/or a steamer
  • A hand blender or food processor
  • Ice-cube trays or small containers
  • Free-flow beakers
Weaning Dubai | https://www.pediatriciandubai.blog/pediatrician-in-dubai/weaning-dubai/ Get Answers To When, How & Why To Stop Your Child From Breastfeeding

Weaning Dubai

Weaning Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641

Weaning Dubai: Steps

  1. Start with one food item at a time.
  2. Try it for 3 days to check if there is an allergy.
  3. Then add another item.
  4. The first months the food should be steamed and pureed and strained but later it can be thicker.
  5. Start with vegetables like pumpkin, broccoli, beet, potato, avocado; later add fruits like banana, stewed apple papaya and then cereal after a few weeks.
  6. Avoid high allergenic foods initially like an egg, nuts, fish, gluten, etc.
  7. More recent research has shown that the introduction of allergenic foods like eggs can be given in the latter part of 1 year to prevent later allergies.
  8. No salt or sugar should be added to the foods.
  9. Follow the baby’s lead.

Weaning Dubai: Some key points

  1. Allow the baby to touch and handle the foods and play with the spoon.
  2. Allow your baby to feed themselves, using their fingers, as soon as they show an interest.
  3. Always stay with your baby when they are eating in case they start to choke.
  4. Never force your baby to eat – eating should be pleasurable.
  5. Wait for your baby to open their mouth before you offer the food.
  6. Start by offering just a few pieces or teaspoons of food, once a day.
  7. Cool, hot food and test it before giving it to your baby.
  8. Be happy and give lots of smiles as this is important.
  9. Weaning should be started in a comfortable place – give lots of smiles.
  10. There should be no distractions like television.
  11. Keep trying because it may take some time for the baby to get used to the taste.
  12. Milk either breast or formula should continue.

However, drop a breastfeeding session every two to five days, shortening each breastfeeding session, and increasing the time between breastfeeding sessions. Midday feedings are often ideal for eliminating first since the child is often active at this time and so may not become fussy. Persons other than the mother may have more success offering other feedings. During the weaning process, it is important that the mother continues to maintain closeness.

Weaning Dubai: Do not

  1. Attempt weaning before 17 weeks.
  2. Leave your baby alone when feeding.
  3. Pick a time when your baby’s too tired, too full – or too hungry!
  4. Add salt or sugar to foods.
  5. Offer sweet tastes, like fruit, too early as it’ll make it harder for them to learn to love vegetables.
Weaning Dubai | https://www.pediatriciandubai.blog/pediatrician-in-dubai/weaning-dubai/ Get Answers To When, How & Why To Stop Your Child From Breastfeeding

Weaning Dubai

Weaning Dubai: To receive information to help your child send me a WhatsApp message on +971525608641

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Weaning: Basics was last modified: January 10th, 2019 by Pediatrician Dubai
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Weaning Dubai | Get Answers To When, How & Why To Stop Your Child From Breastfeeding
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Weaning Dubai: What it is, goals, starting weaning, is your baby ready, how to start, steps, key points, dos and don'ts. Get help. Call +97144298498
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