Breastfeeding and kindergarten - is it possible to combine?

As you know, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breast-feeding a child younger than 2 years or older (WHO recommendations) and if mom practices long-term feeding, then it is at this point that she begins to wonder whether to give the crumbs to the kindergarten. Especially when a grown up baby already begins to show character, go through development crises, and mother, what to hide, gets tired of sitting at home. As a breastfeeding consultant, I often hear this question from a nursing mother when she is 2 years old: “How to wean a baby from the breast, because we will soon be in kindergarten?” I ask: “And if it was possible to combine kindergarten and feeding, would you feed further?” And many mothers answer: “Of course!”

It turns out that circumstances dictate the completion of breastfeeding, although both sides would like to continue it.

What difficulties do mothers and babies get in their way in connection with going to kindergarten if breastfeeding is not interrupted?

The first thing that mom thinks about is the need to give the baby to the kindergarten at 2 years old. And she’s right that she doubts it, Specialists in child psychology advise giving kids to kindergarten from 3 years. At this age, children can already consciously be in a team, are able to communicate, there is sociability and a desire for joint games with peers. What will we see in kindergarten if we go into the group to the very crumbs? Basically every kid plays on his own, in his own corner, practically not paying attention to other children. Due to their development, children of this age do not seek to participate in collective games to the fullest. But as they grow older, the situation changes dramatically, three-year-olds are drawn to communication, they want and know how to play together. So if there is such an opportunity, it is better not to rush to give to the garden in 2 years, at this age, pencil children still need their mother, her closeness, comfort, tranquility and comfort, which gives the presence of the mother.

If this is not possible, then we begin to prepare ourselves and the future kindergartener in advance. It would be better if the first trip to the kindergarten was at least a month before your expected job, if you want to combine these two significant events. This will allow you and your button to slowly get used to the new status, new environment, new events.

In many preschool institutions, it is allowed to come with the baby to a group or to the playground for familiarization and games, so that the child more easily adapts to a different atmosphere. Ask the head of the institution if you can come with the baby to the group or to the playground so that the child gets used to the new territory.

From my own experience, I recommend bringing your home mode closer to the kindergarten mode in advance. Believe me, it will not be easy for a child if he is used to going to bed at 22-23 o’clock in the evening (and this happens quite often), and he will need to get up at 7 in the morning (how to wake a child in kindergarten), when he usually sleeps up to 9.The same goes for daytime sleep. Approaching the home regime to kindergarten will greatly facilitate the adaptation to kindergarten.

We also read: Adaptation of a child to kindergarten: what parents need to know -https://kid.htgetrid.com/en/eto-polezno-znat/adaptatsiya-rebenka-k-detskomu-sadu.html

If parents thought about the consequences of their actions: 4 examples of unsuccessful adaptation to kindergarten -https://kid.htgetrid.com/en/eto-polezno-znat/4-primera-neudachnoy-adaptatsii-k-detskomu-sadu.html

About falling asleep

The second sharp corner when combining breastfeeding and visiting a kindergarten. Many mothers even see this as the main problem. "He will not fall asleep there without a sissy!".
This is actually not the case. As you know, educators are opposed to continuing breastfeeding and require the baby's ability to fall asleep on their own. But as practice shows, this is not necessary. If your little one knows how to fall asleep with other family members, your mother does not need to starve him and teach with her, to fall asleep without breasts. Once in a different atmosphere, where you have to listen to the teacher, where other children set an example, even the most persistent “boobs” in the end, go to bed and fall asleep on their own. Of course, it is possible that at first it will not do without whims, requests to call mom, give a toy, lie on the hands of the teacher, but this usually passes quickly. In my case, it helped a lot to send my favorite doll “on a business trip” with my daughter to kindergarten, which I whispered with my daughter so that she would protect and help my girl fall asleep. You know, it worked, maybe it will come in handy 🙂

If you are afraid that in the kindergarten there will be problems with falling asleep without a chest - drive doubts away. Children in the kindergarten fall asleep worse and sleep not because there is no breast, but because the unfamiliar environment and no mother. And through it pass as those who are still feeding, as well as those who grew up on artificial feeding. And, believe me, the child will not ask the teacher for breasts.

And one more point that I would like to discuss and he is also of interest to many. And why, in fact, to maintain breastfeeding when the child goes to kindergarten?

Each baby is not easy to get used to attending a preschool. On average, the adaptation period lasts about six months, sometimes less, sometimes more. The kid gets used to new people, a different environment, learns to follow the established rules - all this is not easy for the child's psyche, but it is also a necessary stage of its development. Parting with mom in the morning is an everyday tragedy, experts in child psychology even suggest that at first, another family member bring the baby into the garden, then this moment passes easier. So, it is breastfeeding, upon returning from the kindergarten, that island of reliability and stability for the kindergartener, that ritual that allows you to relieve stress, calm down and understand that everything is not so scary, everything is fine and mother is near. It helps to reunite with mom after breaking up, again to feel the amazing connection that breastfeeding gives.

In the continuation of feedings in the period of adaptation to the garden, there is also a rather pragmatic meaning. As you know, in breast milk in the second or third year of a baby’s life, the amount of immunoglobulins, protective factors, antibodies and antiviral components increases. And your child will have to contact the teacher and other children, which means with a wide variety of viruses, microorganisms and microbes. And here - breast milk is in a hurry to help! It will perfectly support the immune system, which means that your baby will be less likely to get sick and recover faster! Agree, this is an important plus in favor of maintaining lactation.

We also read: What a child should be able to do in front of a kindergarten - 4 useful skills

And another factor that also matters. Weaning, in such a difficult period for a child when he is just learning to live in society, can be an additional stress that can undermine the children's psyche.Some mothers make a big mistake, postponing excommunication until the last, or first planning to continue the GW, and then change their minds and refuse the baby in the chest just a few days before the first visit to the kindergarten. Think about what the baby is, this is a real tragedy for him, do not do this with your crumbs!

Especially it is impossible to excommunicate the child from the chest in front of the kindergarten, because excommunication is stress (we are talking about forced excommunication), and adaptation in the kindergarten is stress, do not overlap one another.

So, my dears, do not rush to stop the GW if you are going to kindergarten. These two vital spheres of life for a child can be combined. And most of the mothers who do so say that everything is simpler than they thought. And self-weaning will happen sooner or later. Perhaps when you yourself do not expect.

And that's all for today, your Julia

We also read: How to get online through the electronic queue for kindergarten in 2016