Whether you’ve been nursing for one month or one year, you’re probably wondering, how will I know when to stop breastfeeding?
I’ve got you covered! If you’re thinking about weaning or stopping breastfeeding, this post is for you.
What Is Weaning?
Weaning is the process of introducing baby to a food other than mother’s milk. Interestingly, we in the US use the term weaning to mean “stopping breastfeeding,” while our friends in the UK use it to mean “adding solid foods.”
The first solid food feeding is traditionally the start of the weaning process, usually when baby is around six months old.
Women may stop breastfeeding completely when their babies are any age ranging from one month old to as old as 3 or 4 years.
For How Long Should I Breastfeed?
According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), babies should breastfeed exclusively for six months before adding solid foods, and continuing breastfeeding for at least a year. Moms and babies should stop breastfeeding when they are both ready.
The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends continuing to breastfeed for two years or longer before stopping breastfeeding completely.
Should I stop Nursing If I’m Pregnant?
Breastfeeding during a healthy pregnancy is generally considered safe unless you are at risk for miscarriage, carrying twins, experiencing uterine pain or bleeding, or have been advised to avoid sex while pregnant.
Oxytocin is released in small amounts during breastfeeding and can cause mild contractions, though typically nothing strong enough to cause pre-term labor! It’s important to talk about breastfeeding while pregnant with your doctor once you discover you are pregnant.
But, How Long Is Too Long?
There really isn’t an age that’s “too old.” Technically. Our society has its own ideas about how long women should breastfeed.
Ignore society.
You get to decide what length of time is sustainable for YOU and YOUR CHILD. As long as you both are benefitting from breastfeeding, continue nursing your baby!
Some women feel that six months is long enough. Others want to continue to two years, or beyond.
You will not harm your child by continuing to breastfeed beyond a year or two. In fact, kids still experience the benefits of breastfeeding even at two years old!
Benefits of Breastfeeding One Year and Beyond
Here’s a quick list of a few benefits of breastfeeding your child one year and beyond:
- protects against allergies and eczema,
- lowered risk of childhood obesity, asthma, and diabetes,
- lowered risk of diarrhea, vomiting, and ear infections,
- experiencing calm and closeness with mom.
Any length of time spent breastfeeding, even only two weeks, will be beneficial for a child, and I hope you are both able to continue for as long as you want!
How to Wean a Child From Breastfeeding
Gradually stopping breastfeeding is the best method. It’s easier on mom’s body and easier for babies emotionally, too.
Weaning a Baby Under Six Months (No Solids Yet)
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- Start by substituting a bottle of formula or expressed breastmilk from your freezer stash for your baby’s least favorite feeding.
- They may not have a preference, but generally, one of the middle of the day feedings is a good one to start with.
- A few days later, replace a second breastfeeding session with a bottle.
- If baby won’t drink a bottle, have someone else feed him, and then leave the room (or you may have to leave the house!) so baby can’t smell you.
- Express a tiny bit if you feel discomfort from engorgement. Don’t express too much, or your body will make more milk to replace it.
Weaning A Baby Over 6 Months Old (with solids)
- Substitute one nursing session with a bottle.
- Begin with your baby’s least favorite or shortest feeding. Typically this is one in the afternoon.
- Introduce solids to your baby’s diet per your doctor’s orders.
- Remember to add new foods one at a time, waiting 3 days in between each new food to check for allergies.
- Give half the milk before offering solids and the other half after solids (by nursing on one side only or stopping after half the bottle is empty).
- If your baby will take it, introduce expressed breastmilk/formula in a cup instead of bottle for easier transition to cups; I personally like the Miracle Cup.
- Your mission over the next few months is to align baby’s solid feedings with your family’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner times.
Weaning a one year old
- Once baby is over a year old, she can start drinking cow’s milk when you stop breastfeeding.
- Cow’s milk can replace breastfeeding sessions.
- By now baby’s mealtimes should be fairly close to the family’s main mealtimes. Offer cow’s milk with each of these meals.
- Use cow’s milk to wean your baby from the lunch/snack nursing sessions, then morning. The evening feeding is the last to go.
- If you feel any discomfort, express just enough to relieve your discomfort.
- Take ibuprofen if you feel pain from engorgement.
Weaning an older child
As older children begin drinking more cow’s milk, they should naturally begin dropping regular nursing sessions until only one remains (usually the evening feeding).
Follow the steps for weaning a one-year-old if your child still has regular nursing sessions throughout the day.
Helpful Tips for Weaning Children Age One and Over
- Try the don’t offer, don’t refuse method. Breastfeed only if your child asks, but don’t offer if he doesn’t.
- Shorten the length of nursing times.
- Remove any nursing station or prop that signals time for nursing.
- Offer substitutes for breastfeeding like healthy snacks and drinks.
- Introduce fun cups and bowls to encourage choosing food and drink over breastfeeding.
- We use these suction mats for mealtimes with our toddler and baby! It sticks, so toddlers can’t knock it over, and it’s small enough to bring in your bag when you eat out.
- Distract! Go out, invite friends over for play dates, or give your child a bath.
- For night-time weaning:
- Move baby to their own bed if you’re co-sleeping.
- Have dad or another family member put baby to bed instead of you.
- Start a new bedtime routine that does not include nursing. Try offering water if your child is thirsty.
Going cold-turkey
This is not recommended, as it’s SO much harder! However, some moms need to stop breastfeeding right away for medical reasons.
Here’s how to survive quitting breastfeeding cold turkey:
- Express a tiny bit to relieve engorgement. Again, don’t express too much or your body will just make more to replace the milk.
- Remember that breastfeeding works on the supply and demand principle. Lessen the demand and you will lessen the supply.
- Try cold green cabbage leaves inside your bra; change the leaves when they are warm. It’s weird, but it totally works. Just don’t eat the leaves when you’re done with them.
- Take ibuprofen if you’re having pain from engorgement.
- Check regularly for clogged ducts. Clogged or plugged ducts feel like hard lumps in your breast tissue, and if left untreated, could lead to mastitis.
- Continually check for signs of mastitis: tender breasts, fever, chills or fatigue, red skin (especially in a wedge-shaped pattern), breast pain or burning.
- If you suspect you have mastitis, call your doctor right away and get treatment.
When to switch to Cow’s milk
Babies can drink cow’s milk after they turn one year old. However, don’t give them skim milk! Babies still need full-fat or whole milk until at least two years old.
Dairy products, such as full-fat yogurt and cheese are OK to give baby after six months. You’ll have to be vigilant about checking for allergies, however, so make sure at least four days pass after the introduction of a dairy product before introducing any new foods.
Consult with your pediatrician for more guidance on cow’s milk.
Also note, babies under a year need breastmilk or formula as their main drink. Water is OK to offer at mealtimes as long as baby has had breastmilk or formula before the meal.
Make the transition to an open cup easy by using this no-spill sippy cup when you’re on the go. When you’re having meals at home, your baby might prefer this tiny, specially-designed, weighted open cup!
What if my child isn’t ready?
Illness and teething is a terrible time to start weaning, as babies need that extra comfort.
New instances of separation anxiety and clinginess may signal that your child is not ready to stop.
Try going on special dates together to replace that close time; or reading together, or let your child request special cuddle time whenever they want as long as there is no nursing.
What if I’m not ready?
Don’t stop breastfeeding just because you think other people want you to.
If you’re not ready to give up breastfeeding but still think you should, try dropping just one session for a few weeks. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Seek counseling or talk it over with a trusted friend. If you feel sad, anxious, or depressed, talk about it with someone who cares about you, and find a good breastfeeding support group in your area.
What Made you decide to Stop breastfeeding?
Whatever your reasons and methods are for stopping breastfeeding, I hope this post has been helpful to you! Leave a comment and let other readers know what made you decide to stop breastfeeding and how you did it.
