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Weaning: Tips for breast-feeding mothers
Weaning doesn't have to be difficult. Find out how to choose the right time and what you can do to ease your child's transition to the bottle or cup.
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you're breast-feeding, you may have questions about weaning. When is the right time? Will weaning upset your child? How can you avoid engorgement? Get the facts about weaning and how you can make the process a positive one for you and your child.
When's the best time to start weaning?
Breast-feeding until your baby is age 1 is recommended. Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients for your baby and boosts your baby's immune system. Still, when to start weaning your child is a personal decision.
It's often easiest to begin weaning when your baby initiates the process — which may be sooner or later than you expect. Weaning often begins naturally at age 6 months, when solid foods are typically introduced. Some children begin to gradually turn away from breast milk and seek other forms of nutrition and comfort at around age 1, when they've begun eating a wide variety of solid foods and may be able to drink from a cup. Other children may not initiate weaning until their toddler years, when they become less willing to sit still during breast-feeding.
You may also decide when to start the weaning process yourself. This may be more difficult than following your child's lead — but can be done with some extra care and sensitivity.
Whenever you choose to start weaning your baby from the breast, stay focused on your child's needs as well as your own. Resist comparing your situation with that of other families, and consider rethinking any deadlines you may have set for weaning when you were pregnant or when your baby was a newborn.
Are there certain times when it wouldn't be smart to start weaning?
Consider delaying weaning if:
- Food allergies run in the family. Some research suggests that exclusive breast-feeding for at least four months may have a protective effect for children who have a family history of food allergies. If food allergies run in your family, talk to your child's doctor about the potential benefits of delaying weaning.
- Your child isn't feeling well. If your child is ill or teething, postpone weaning until he or she is feeling better. You might also consider postponing weaning if you're not feeling well. You and your child are more likely to handle the transition well if you're both in good health.
- A major change has occurred at home. Avoid initiating weaning during a time of major change at home. If your family has recently moved or your child care situation has changed, for example, postpone weaning until a less stressful time.
(1 of 2)
- Schanler RJ, et al. Common problems of breastfeeding and weaning. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 31, 2010.
- Weaning your baby. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Weaning-Your-Baby.aspx. Accessed Aug. 31, 2010.
- When not to wean. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/When-Not-to-Wean.aspx. Accessed Aug. 31, 2010.
- Heird WC. The feeding of infants and children. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/218714306-4/1053595691/1608/114.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50044-X--cesec14_781. Accessed Sept. 15, 2010.
- Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/218714306-5/1053597489/1528/232.html. Accessed Sept. 15, 2010.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2005;115:496.
- Greer FR, et al. Effects of early nutritional interventions on the development of atopic disease in infants and children: The role of maternal dietary restriction, breastfeeding, timing of introduction of complementary foods, and hydrolyzed formulas. Pediatrics. 2008;121:183.
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