Breastfeeding:Weaning

At what age should we wean our baby?

Weaning your baby from breastfeeding is part of the breastfeeding experience and something that all breastfed babies will go through. Weaning is a developmental milestone that all babies reach at different times. By definition, weaning is the act of substituting other foods for the mother's milk in the diet of a baby or child.

In order to make the weaning process a more enjoayble experience for both mother and baby, the La Leche League encourages mothers to gradually wean their babies. There is no magical age to begin the weaning process. Your child may wean themself or you may have to initiate the process. Some mothers feel the need to wean after the first six months, while others continue to nurse their babies for the first year of life, or second or third. From the moment you give your baby any other souce of nutrition, other than breastmilk, the process of weaning begins. During the weaning process, make sure that your baby has plenty of water, juice (no more than 3-4 ounces a day) and food. Pump breastmilk and put it in a cup for your child if you are trying to wean from the breast, but still want your child to have breastmilk for nutritional reasons. If your child is old enough, you may offer cow's milk to them in a cup.

While some women do go cold turkey on their babies, abrupt weaning should be avoided for the sake of both mother and baby. A woman's hormone levels drop once breastfeeding stops, which could lead to depression and the breasts will become engorged and sore, which could lead to an infection in the breast. Because the baby relys on breastfeeding as a means of comfort and security, your baby may become fussy and upset if weaning is done to quickly.

While some babies will have no problems weaning from the breast, some babies have a hard time. If you find that your baby is having a hard time weaning from the breast, offer alot of physical comfort to your baby, since that is what he/she is actively seeking. Cuddle your child and give plenty of kisses and hugs. Make a point to interact with only your child during the regular nursing times. Sometimes, the weaning process becomes overly disturbing and stressful for a child. If you notice that your child has a new fear of separation or is withdrawed from you, weaning may be happening to quickly for his level of comfort. Other signs of stress in the child include increased crying, refusal to eat, constipation, stomach ache, night waking and biting. While you do not have to allow your baby to nurse, some mothers allow their babies to nurse once a day, when they notice they need it the most. Some babies simply are not ready to be weaned and the time is probably not right for them.

Comments: Breastfeeding - Weaning

Comments 51 to 66 of about 66.
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tbull girl - 305 days ago.
Does anyone know about how long it takes after weining from BF to get pregnant? My daughter is 13 months and I weaned her about 2 weeks ago and I am ready to get pregnant again.... Any advise would be GREAT!!!

cinxia - 314 days ago.
I can not get my baby to take a bottle, I have tried Every nipple and bottle, but she isn't happy with it. I know it can be a slow process but does anyone have advice, I'd love to heart from a mom whos been there before. If you can, leave me a message on my page. Thanks.

Bri - 320 days ago.
gunna-be-a-mummy - Don't let others judge you. If the pair of you enjoy it then don't stop. Of course if you want to then it's fine. What works for us is when we are in public Kekoa uses a sippy and nurses at home and daycare. He's 14months. I plan to wean around 18months. The several ped. associations now recommend nursing until 2 yrs. There are benefits to nursing past a year. Good Luck either way. but remember, this is your choice and no one else's.

luvbeingamom - 320 days ago.
yea - You can bf while pregnant. though usually in your second trimester you supply could drop and i have heard people say the taste of the milk changed. This may cause a baby (exp at 15 mo+) to stop nursing. But i may not and you maybe able to bf straight through delivery and just bf both after that. Congrats!

yeaok872004 - 320 days ago.
Is it possible to breast feed and be preganant? Help me!!! I'm still breast feeding my daughter and she is 15mos.. I'm really worried about this.. Any advice?

Mrs-E-Russell08 - 320 days ago.
my bub is 10 months and we are trying to ween her, its hard to get her to eat sometimes, othertimes its so easy. i wish she'd self wean, i love bf but so many ppl look down upon those bf a bigger baby.

luvbeingamom - 325 days ago.
Jenn - I am weaning my son now. I started to cut back his feedings/my pumpings at 12 months. I have done one feeding or pumping at a time. I am letting my son and my body adjust slowly. This way i have avoided any clogged ducts and engorgement. It so far has been an easy transition. We were both pretty ready for it. He started to self wean so i just jumped on board!

jennllewis - 325 days ago.
When to stop breast feeding how do you prevent clogged ducts?

notsmithers - 337 days ago.
hi ladies,my son is just 6 months.im bf and starting him on baby rice a week ago. he keeps spitting it out but im trying him a couple of spoons every day.i gave him one bottle of formula(aptimil for weening) and he broke out in hives,rash,and v gassy, so i stopped. has this happened to anyone? and will it take a while for him to like the rice? thanks

buttons - 354 days ago.
Thanks ladies! It is sad! I feel mean but I know we cant go on like this forever but why do they grow so quick!!! I remember praying breastfeeding would work out for us before he was born and then hoping we could keep it up for at least 6 months then a year has gone by and im now worrying about stopping the breast feeds! Its all to soon for me. He will take a baby juice box with a staw and a sippy cup with water,when is cows milk ok?Its good to know others feel the same way.

Bri - 354 days ago.
buttons, I feel for you. I haven't started weaning yet but my son is the same way. If he wants to feed then all hell breaks loose. He is 13months. I plan on beginning to wean at 18months but I'm not thrilled about it...I'm actually scared. I know it's going to be rough on both of us. We are still feeding at night too!

luvbeingamom - 354 days ago.
buttons i have been struggling with the same thing with my 13 month old. I have been slowly cutting one feeding at a time. It has really helped us that he is now refusing a bottle and any breast milk that isn't directly from me. So we have now cut out any feedings from 8am to 4pm. But i still feed first thing in the AM, at 4:30 when i get to daycare (she is a friend and i breast feed there) and then again before bed at 7pm. it is a bit tougher on the weekends b/c he still wnats me on demand all day when i am around him. So i am just standing firm and giving him a sippy cup of water or milk instead of giving in. I know this is best for both of us now but it is still hard. I am not sure if it is my emotional attachement to it, hormones or that my baby is growing up, it all just makes me sad! Good Luck to you!

buttons - 354 days ago.
My son is 12 months old and an addicted booby monster! He has 3 meals a day and a couple of snacks but still continues with the BF all the time,he gets hysterical if he cant have it. I would like to stop the day feeds and would appreciate any advice any one has. He feeds mostly for comfort i think as he is a adorable snuggly bub, I dont want to distress him or go cold turkey just slowly start the process.

missygirl - 360 days ago.
I have a six month old daughter and I need to wean for health reasons and the sooner the better. My pediatrician thinks she won't be weanable and I'll have to go cold turkey. At the moment I am withholding the breast during the day and giving it to her at night. During the day she'll eat cereal with breast milk twice and maybe take a couple of ounces of formula from a sippy cup if I'm lucky. She refuses all bottles! I don't think this is enough for her and I'm worried about dehydration. I think she may have had 4 wet diapers today and one was when she woke up after 4 feedings in the night of breast milk. Any suggestions?

Bri - 366 days ago.
ermsmom - My son is almost 13months. He still breastfeeds full time plus three meals and two snacks a day. I guess I am very pro breastfeeding for at least a year. I understand wanting to wean. 7 months is hard. Their world becomes a lot more fun. Breastfeeding may be boring for them but they get over it and it gets so much better. I plan on weaning around 18months. As for having your boobs back, I understand you reason but you're pregnant. You body is already not going to be 'yours'. I don't know. I know there are moms that say their babies self weaned before a year but that is rare or they took other signs as weaning. When Kekoa started biting me I had a doctor tell me it was time to wean, instead I told him no and it took about two weeks and he hasn't done it since. I guess my 'rant' is, babies don't self wean for a reason. You have already made it seven months, what is another five? After a year you can start adding in cow's milk. Breastfeeding is an unique experience. I'd hate for you to cut it short because your baby is going to have baby brother or sister. Of course it is your choice but I'd think it through some more. Good Luck and Congrats! I can't wait to have another. We are in the middle of looking for a new house so it really isn't the time to get pregnant. Maybe next summer or fall?

ermsmom - 367 days ago.
I notice that this board is pretty empty but I'll try posting here just in case someone might take a look in. I have a 7 month old little girl who is still breastfeeding. I just found out that I'm pregnant and would like to wean her. I have a few reasons for wanting to wean. The main reason that I want to stop is that she's just not nursing like she used to. She's popping on and off throughout the day and snacking but I don't think she's getting a good feed in. I don't know if my breastmilk tastes funny because I'm pregnant or if she's just too interested in everything else. Either way, I really want to make sure she's getting enough nutrition. The second reason that I want to stop is purely selfish. I would really like to be able to have my boobs back for a few months before the new baby gets them! My daughter isn't going to be an easy one to wean, she seems to have forgotten how to use a bottle and she's still trying to figure out the sippy cup. Does anyone have any tips?