Weaning from Breastfeeding
Weaning starts when your baby starts eating solids and drinking fluids other than breast milk, such as cow’s milk (after the first year) or formula (before the first year). Weaning can take a few weeks, to a few months, to a few years, depending on your goals for how long you want to breastfeed. How long to breastfeed is a very personal choice for the mother; and the baby usually has an opinion too!
We support parents continuing to breastfeed for as long as mutually desired by the breastfeeding parent and baby. You may go into this expecting to nurse for a year, then decide that you are ready to stop earlier. Or you may plan to breastfeed for a few months, and then find that it’s working well and you want to continue. Some mothers are surprised to find when their baby turns one, their little one is still very much a baby, and the comfort they derive from breastfeeding can melt your heart. Other mothers can’t wait to put away their pumps and nursing bras, and find that there are many other ways of comforting toddlers that allow them to have their own body back.
“My son is two and we are still breastfeeding. Even though some days I am SO touched out, I am still nursing him because most days it’s the only time he sits still and cuddles with me. He’s such a busy body! I will take all the snuggles and quiet moments with him that I can get.”
—Miranda
However, if you are interested in fully weaning from breastfeeding, make sure your infant is able to receive their full nutritional requirement from solid foods. Most infants still need breast milk or formula for most of their nutrition through their first year of life. If you plan to wean from breastfeeding before one year of age, you will need to replace breastfeeding with formula either in a bottle or a sippy cup (only if they are older than 4 months), as your infant is unlikely to receive their full nutritional requirements through solid food alone.
You may want to discuss this with your pediatrician before making this transition. However, if you are weaning after one year and your infant is able to take in their full nutritional requirement through healthy food and beverages alone, you may be able to fully wean at this time, if that is your desire. You can use different strategies, depending on how you are breastfeeding. Here are a few methods of weaning.
Want to learn more about this topic?
Do you want to learn more about breastfeeding while ensuring safe and adequate feeding?
Dr. Christie and board-certified lactation consultant Lynnette Hafken have just released the online Fed Is Best Breastfeeding Course, where they discuss all the things that you will not hear from a breastfeeding book or class. In it they include secret tips and tricks that you normally have to pay hundreds of dollars to learn about, for the same cost of a hospital breastfeeding class. Click below to get in on the training!
Methods of Weaning
- Gradually eliminate breastfeeding sessions by removing one feeding at a time, starting with the times of the day most closely associated with a regular meal of solid food.
- Next eliminate the least preferred feeding sessions ending with the most preferred sessions (like the session before bed or the feeding after a period of separation).
- Distract your infant or toddler from breastfeeding by staying on the go, offering new play objects and books in place of nursing, and avoiding the usual places where you breastfeed at the time of the breastfeeding session you are trying to eliminate.
- Ask other family members to care for your child either at home away from you or outside of the home during typical breastfeeding times.
- Replace breastfeeding sessions with time playing, cuddling, and rocking, particularly if weaning from the before-bedtime feeding session.
- Consider moving your child to their own room for those who are still sleeping in the same room with their child.
- Depending on how verbal your baby is, you may communicate when nursing will and will not happen.
- Some mothers inadvertently wean when they go away for a trip away from their baby, either for work or other reasons; you may consider this if all other methods fail.
Managing Discomfort During the Weaning Process
Once you have weaned fully, you may experience discomfort from engorgement. Remember to do the following:
- Pump your breasts just enough to reduce the discomfort and use cool compresses and ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain.
- A comfortable but mildly compressive sports bra may help as well.
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can be used to reduce milk production (check with your physician before using).
- Watch for signs of mastitis (redness, increased pain, fever) and see your physician urgently if you develop them.
Slow and Steady Weaning Is Best
For you and your baby, slow and steady weaning may be the most comfortable. Your baby may be less resistant to weaning if nursing sessions are eliminated gradually and one at a time. Gradual reduction of nursing also allows your body time to recalibrate and lower milk production, which can prevent engorgement and mastitis. Lastly, don’t forget to cherish these last times nursing your baby. While there will be many different ways to bond and be close to your baby, many nursing moms remember these bitter-sweet last feeds the most.
Want to learn more about this topic?
Do you want to learn more about breastfeeding while ensuring safe and adequate feeding?
Dr. Christie and board-certified lactation consultant Lynnette Hafken have just released the online Fed Is Best Breastfeeding Course, where they discuss all the things that you will not hear from a breastfeeding book or class. In it they include secret tips and tricks that you normally have to pay hundreds of dollars to learn about, for the same cost of a hospital breastfeeding class. Click below to get in on the training!
To learn more, read the Fed Is Best book available on paperback, e-book, and audiobook.