How to Do Self-Led Weaning

How to do self-led weaning from breastfeeding.

Self-led weaning is a process where the lactating mother allows her child to stop breastfeeding at his own pace. In the United States, most women cease breastfeeding their babies around six months of age or younger. The American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP, recommends breastfeeding for the first year or more. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for around two years. The world average of breastfeeding is around five to six years.

Things You'll Need

• Freezer safe breast milk containers
• Refrigerator and freezer
• Comfortable nursing bra and clothing
• Sling or infant carrier

Instructions

1. Breastfeed your child on demand. Feeding on demand helps ensure your milk production is sufficient and your child is receiving the nutrition he needs for healthy development. Watch for your child's hunger cues. For infants, hands and feet start to move, hands will go to her mouth, crying is the last thing you will hear. You want to catch your baby's hunger before he begins crying. Judith Lauwers and Anna Swisher, co-authors of Counseling the Nursing Mother, suggest that if you wait until your baby is crying to breastfeed, it will be harder to get a good latch. The tongue moves back in the mouth, instead of being relaxed and towards the gums or teeth.

2. Express and store your breast milk. You should plan for times that you may need to be away from your child. You may need to express or pump your breast milk and store it in the freezer or refrigerator. Many freezers can store breast milk for up to six months, if you put your breast milk in the back of the freezer in a freezer safe container. Make sure you label the containers with the date and use the oldest first. There is some debate as to when is an appropriate time to introduce a bottle, generally it is recommended not to introduce a bottle or pacifier before six weeks to avoid nipple confusion. The breastfeeding relationship should be established. If you do not end up using your stored supply, you could add it to toddler recipes, make breast milk soap, cheese, or you could even donate it to a breast milk bank.

3. Dress for the occasion. Make breastfeeding easy on you and the child. Some women wear easy to unsnap nursing bras, breastfeeding tank tops, and special shirts with hidden openings. Others wear layers like stretchy camisoles and t-shirts or crossover tops, button downs, belly tubes, and over-sized shirts. Try out a variety of combinations to see what works for you and makes breastfeeding easiest.

4. Find an infant carrier that can help make breastfeeding hands free. There are a variety of slings and you can even find easy-to-make sling patterns online. There are body-to-body infant carriers like those in the mei tai style, wraps or ones made like the ergo baby carrier that allow you to lower the straps and breastfeed easier. Finding a good carrier allows you to get other things accomplished and still take care of your child's need for breast milk. Some slings and carriers also help breastfeeding be more discreet, if that is a concern for you.

5. Learn about local breastfeeding laws. If you come across anyone who has a problem with you breastfeeding your child, it is beneficial to know you and your child's rights. If you need support, check out a local La Leche League meeting. If you have questions about breastfeeding seek the expertise of a lactation consultant.

6. Introduce healthy foods at appropriate ages. As your child gets older, your breast milk is still as nutritious as it was before. Even so, your child may be curious about what you are eating. Talk with your health care provider about what is okay to eat and about high-allergy foods you may want to avoid introducing until later. The more your child eats food, the less they will want to breastfeed. It will be gradual and you may not even notice. Make sure you are also eating healthy and staying hydrated.

7. Step back and let your child decide when it is time to breastfeed. When your child gets into the toddler years, has words and eats small meals, some breastfeeding mothers decide to only breastfeed when it is requested. Part of self-led weaning is allowing the child to decide when they want to stop breastfeeding. It may be hard for the breastfeeding mother to let go of the breastfeeding relationship. There are many other ways to have that special time with your child, like cuddling up and reading a favorite book or two, or falling asleep nose to nose. Children range in their need to breastfeed, some may seem like they will be breastfeeding until they are adults. Fear not, they will eventually choose to wean themselves, especially as they become more social and independent beings.

Tips & Warnings

• Supporting your child in self-led weaning will encourage her to be a secure and independent person. This process will also help to ensure your child gets all the antibodies and nutrients they may not get from a picky diet as a toddler. Extended breastfeeding is also a great tantrum calmer. Many toddlers will seek the embrace and breast of their mother to help soothe frustration, injuries, and being over tired. Breastfeeding is an awesome tool in your parenting tool box.

• Breastfeeding should be a positive experience for your child and you. If you need support or help, find a local La Leche League, you can search their website for a group near you. La Leche League usually has toddler specific groups in addition to the mixed ages and stages in the regular groups. You can also search for a certified lactation consultant online with the International Lactation Consultant Association or ILCA.

• Some children may go on breastfeeding strikes or refuse to breastfeed. If the child is under a year old this usually signifies that something is wrong and not that they are ready to wean.

References

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Recommendations on Breastfeeding for Healthy Term Infants: February 2005
• Counseling the Nursing Mother; J. Lauwers, A. Swisher; 2005
• La Leche League: Weaning as a Natural Process: B. Highton: October 14 2009
• World Health Organization: Up to what age can a baby stay well nourished just by being breastfed?: August 2008

Resources

• International Lactation Consultant Association: Find a Lactation Consultant
• La Leche League: Find a La Leche Group Near You
• World Health Organization: 10 Facts on Breastfeeding: July 2009