Weaning is when a baby transitions from breast milk to other
sources of nourishment. When to wean is a personal decision. Moms
may be influenced by a return to work, her health or the
baby's, or simply a feeling that the time is right.
Weaning a baby is a gradual process that calls for patience and
understanding from both you and your child.
Deciding When to Wean
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends feeding
babies only
breast milk
for the first 6 months of life. After that, the AAP recommends that
a combination of solid foods and breast milk be given until a baby
is at least 1 year old.
Some experts say that after the first birthday is the best time
to begin weaning because kids are more adaptable to change at that
age. (A 2-year-old toddler, for example, is likely to be much more
attached to breastfeeding and less flexible about giving it up.) A
1-year-old baby is also eating more solid foods and so may
naturally lose interest in nursing. Engorgement will also become
less of a problem for moms around this time because as the demand
for breast milk decreases, so does milk production.
Weaning does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Some
women choose to wean during the day and breastfeed at night,
depending on their work situation and their schedules. Some
children wean themselves earlier than the mother had intended and
some babies are resistant to weaning when the mother is ready.
Weaning is easier if a child has also taken milk from another
source. So try giving an occasional bottle of breast milk to your
little one once breastfeeding is well-established - even if you
plan to continue breastfeeding, this can facilitate weaning later.
This also allows other family members to feed the baby and also
makes it possible to leave your child with a caregiver.
If you decide to wean before 1 year or find that you're not
making enough milk, you will need to give your child an
iron-fortified formula. Check with the doctor to see what formula
is right for your child. If your child is near the first birthday,
consider placing formula in a cup instead of a bottle.
Although some kids are content to nurse indefinitely and will
wait for their mothers to initiate weaning, others will give clues
that they're ready to wean. They may express indifference or
crankiness when nursed or may nurse in shorter sessions than they
did before. Some kids seem very distractible when nursing and feeds
can sometimes seem to take forever.
Approaches to Weaning
To allow both mom and baby to adjust physically and emotionally
to the change, weaning should be a gradual process.
One approach is to drop one feeding session a week until the
child is taking all of the feeds from a bottle or cup. If you are
planning to continue to give your child pumped breast milk, you
will need to pump in order to keep up your milk supply. If you are
weaning your child off breast milk, gradually dropping feeds can
help avoid engorgement. You might want to start by eliminating the
midday feeding because it's usually the smallest and most
inconvenient - especially for working moms. Many mothers let go of
the bedtime feeding last because it remains a special part of the
bonding experience.
Another approach is to leave the decision of when to wean
completely up to a child. Once they're eating three meals of
solid food a day (plus snacks in between), kids often breastfeed
less and less. In this situation, you may find that your milk will
dry up from lack of demand, and pumping may be necessary if you
want to keep the milk flowing. If your child is breastfeeding less,
make sure he or she is getting enough formula or milk. Check with
the doctor about the amount your child should be having.
Mixed Emotions
Many moms make the decision to wean with mixed emotions. On the
one hand, weaning brings with it more freedom and flexibility, as
well as the proud realization that her child is reaching a major
milestone. On the other hand, nursing is an intimate activity that
fosters a strong bond between mother and child - and some women
find it difficult to let that go.
Expect a wide range of emotions, and understand that your child
may have them, too. But also remember that there will be countless
other ways to nurture your child in the days ahead.
Easing the Transition
To make the transition easier for both of you:
- Engage your child in a fun play activity or an outing during
times when you would usually nurse.
- Avoid sitting in your usual nursing spots or wearing your
usual nursing clothes.
- Delay weaning if your child is trying to adapt to some other
change. Trying to wean when your little one is just beginning
child care or during
teething
might not be a good idea.
- If your baby is younger than 1 year, try to introduce a
bottle or cup when you would typically be nursing. For an older
child, try a healthy snack, offering a cup, or maybe even just a
cuddle.
- Try changing your daily routine so that you're otherwise
engaged during breastfeeding times.
- Enlist your partner's help to provide a distraction at a
typical nursing time.
- If your child begins to pick up a comforting
habit
such as thumb sucking or becomes attached to a security blanket,
don't discourage it. Your child may be trying to adjust to
the emotional changes of weaning.
How Long Is Too Long?
Some experts feel that there is nothing wrong with feeding a
child breast milk until well into the toddler or even preschool
years, as long as both the child and mother are comfortable with
it. However, weaning can sometimes become difficult as kids get
older, since they become even more attached to breastfeeding.
It's also important to remember that infants over 6 months
should have solid foods as well as breast milk. After 1 year,
breast milk alone does not provide all the nutrients a growing
child needs; solid foods must become a regular part of the
diet.
As you start to wean, remember that your child needs time to
adjust to drinking from cups. So be patient as your little one
begins exploring the world of food.
Reviewed by:
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: October 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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