Breastfeeding Weaning – Choosing a time that is right for you and baby

Breastfeeding weaning can cause all sorts of emotions from sadness to a feeling of regaining some of your freedom and having your body back to yourself.  The thing to realize about weaning is that it starts when your baby begins eating solids, usually at six months of age.  Unless you have been medically advised that you have to stop breastfeeding (for example, if you’re newly pregnant and at high risk of miscarriage or you’ve started a new medication that is not safe during breastfeeding), you should always wean more gradually.  Doing so serves many purposes.  First of all, it will lessen the engorgement and the possibility of developing a mastitis (breast infection).  It will also lessen your chances for depression or sadness over ending this special relationship.  Lastly, it will be less traumatic for your child, who has come to realize that nursing not only provides nutrition, but also love and security.

The most important thing I must stress is that you need to wean when both you and your child are ready.  Trust me – you will know when it is the right time.  I weaned my first child much earlier than I had anticipated, because I had severe health problems.  It took me quite a bit of time to get over the feelings of guilt at not providing what was best for my baby. What made this all worse was that  neither of us had any choice in the matter as to when weaning should begin.  If you are comfortable with it, baby-led weaning is what I would suggest.  Your baby may decide to wean him/herself by the age of one, or could continue nursing until four years old.  You will find that this is less traumatic for both of you.  If you have decided that you would like to nurse your child until a particular age (ex. age one), you can still do it gradually and with love.    Some moms, who have to return to work may decide to wean their child off the breast entirely during the daytime and continue on with evening and nighttime feedings for many months.

So, just remember that as soon as your child begins eating solid foods, he/she is already beginning the process of weaning.  There is no one correct way of weaning your child off the breast, but most would agree that it should be done gradually, and when the timing is right for both you and your baby.  In the next post, I will give you some tips on how breastfeeding weaning can be done safely and happily.