San José, Costa Rica. January, 2016.

We always want what is best for our children and making certain decisions is difficult for us because we are afraid the child may suffer. One of these decisions is to stop breast-feeding the baby and how to do so.

According to María Solano, head of maternity of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital,“that transition must be done gradually, eliminating certain feeding times until entirely suspending it. Let us remember that, after 6 months, breast milk is no longer the main source of nutrition. For this reason, the introduction of other foods is necessary.”

The fact that the child stops consuming breast milk as his main food source does not harm him. What is affected is the attachment, since breast feeding creates a strong bond between mother and child. Therefore, one must advance gradually in this process.

With regard to diet, the only reason to prolong breast-feeding further is if the child presents nutritional issues. However, commonly after one year, it is recommended that the mother should initiate weaning.

“Stopping breast-feeding is more than anything, the mother´s decision. For some reason specifically the pediatrician could recommend it, but there are very few cases,” said Solano.

The best way to help the child is to motivate him to drink milk from some other container following the family´s example, and begin to reduce the feedings during the day until eliminating them. The production of breast milk develops according to the baby´s suction. Therefore, once the baby stops breast-feeding the production will also cease.

In order to obtain further information or to request an appointment in any of the medical specialties with the best doctors of Costa Rica, please contact the private hospital Clínica Bíblica at telephone number 2522-1000, the email address citas@clinicabiblica.com or via chat at the website: www.clinicabiblica.com.