Q: How old can the baby be weaned?

A: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers should breastfeed their babies until the age of one, while UNICEF and the World Health Organization recommend that breastfeeding should be continued until the baby is two years old or even older. These two periods are for reference only, and there is no universal timetable for weaning. Mothers can choose exactly when to wean their babies according to their own actual situation. If the mother feels that she and her baby are ready, she can actually start weaning.

From the baby’s point of view, when the mother finds that the baby starts to lose interest in breast milk and is more willing to try other foods (add complementary foods when the baby is around 4 months to 6 months old), the baby always shows easy distraction while breastfeeding, which means that the baby is basically ready to be weaned.

From the mother’s point of view, some mothers may decide to start weaning due to work or other personal reasons, but if the baby is not ready for weaning at this time,  then the mother can take the initiative to gradually help the baby to wean.