How to Wean a Baby From Breastfeeding Gradually

Weaning a baby from the breast gradually is a concern for many mothers because they want to want make weaning as easy as possible. Weaning gradually is actually far better than abrupt weaning, because gradual weaning is not emotionally traumatic for the mother or the child. When abrupt weaning happens, the mother can become engorged and possibly develop a breast infection. However, when weaning happens over a period of time, the mother's body will naturally produce less milk and the mother can adapt better to the hormonal changes. If you want to wean your baby gradually, there are a few steps you need to take.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Reduce one feeding at a time. For instance if you have nursed your baby for 9 months and she is now eating many types of solid food, you can start to replace usual nursing sessions and feed your baby food during that time instead. Do this gradually over a period time and watch for clues that your baby is ready. Each time you start a new solid food, be sure to stick with just that one food for at least one week to be sure that your baby isn't allergic to the food.

2. Replace feedings for other comforts. Many babies, especially toddlers, enjoy the comfort that nursing provides, so they are reluctant to give it up. Find other ways to comfort your little one, like holding, rocking, back rubs, reading, singing or just snuggling. Your baby may fight it and want to nurse regardless, but in time, your child will learn to enjoy the other ways that you can comfort her. If you find that weaning is happening too fast and your child is not cooperating, you might want to slow down the process. You can wean a baby over a period of a few months or a year. It all depends. You know your child best.

3. Avoid sitting too much. If you keep busy, your baby will also want to do other things besides nurse. A baby will naturally want to crawl or walk to mommy when she sees her sitting. This is almost like a signal for her to nurse. In order to reduce nursing sessions, reduce the amount of time you spend sitting each day. Encourage your baby to become interested in other things, like playing with blocks or other toys.

4. Stop offering the breast. When you really want to accelerate weaning, stop offering the breast and only nurse your child when she wants to nurse. As babies grow into toddlers many of them will naturally wean as they become interested in other things, like exploring.

5. Eliminate night feedings. Typically early morning and nighttime feedings are the last to go. Some babies will cling to this special time at night for a long time. Start off by reducing night time feedings to every other night and gradually reduce the night time and early morning feedings from there. Watch your baby closely. When you stop feeding your baby at night, try other comfort measures to get your baby to go to sleep and follow a bedtime routine.

Tips & Warnings

• The length of time that it takes to wean a child can vary depending on the child. When your baby isn't feeling well, she will want to nurse for comfort. It is okay to allow your child to nurse as often as possible and resume weaning when your child feels better.

Resources

• Weaning

[idietitian]

on 9/8/2009 Very informative! Thanks :)