The breastfeeding experience is a wonderful time in every mother’s and baby’s life, but eventually it comes to a close with the child eating only solid foods. Some children naturally wean themselves over time, while others are weaned when mom feels it is a good time for both parties. There is no right or wrong time to wean a child, but it is important to view it as a process, not an event, and to chose a method of weaning and stick to it (to avoid meltdowns in stores and emotional trauma). As the La Leche League states, do it “gradually and with love” in order to make it a positive transition from exclusively breastfeeding to eat solid foods.
What is Weaning?
Weaning is the process when a child is transitioned from breast milk (or formula) into a diet of solid foods. The process starts from the first bite of solid foods to the point when milk is no longer included in the child’s diet, thus it is a process that can take years to complete(2).
When to Wean?
When to wean is often the question that arises in breastfeeding mother all mothers’ minds, but it is truly an individual decision. Abrupt weaning should never be attempted because it can cause a number of issues such as engorgement, breast infection, and worse, a very emotionally distressed infant (or toddler). The abrupt weaning can cause emotional trauma to the baby because nursing is not solely a source of nutrition, but it serves as security and emotional comfort(2).
While many sources in the United States and other modern countries stop breastfeeding around one year, extended breastfeeding is the global norm throughout the rest of the world. Most mothers breastfeed their children between the ages two and four, plus they approach weaning as the child’s decision(2).Unfortunately, only 20% of infants in the United States are still breastfed at six months of age. Again, weaning is the decision of the mother and most mothers know when to do wean their child. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it is recommended to exclusively breastfeed infants until six months of age and then continue to breastfeed until one year of age (at least)(2).
If you feel that weaning is in the near future, here are some techniques and/or methods to use and follow in the process of weaning your child:
Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse
This is the most common and gentle technique to wean your toddler or infant. It involves not offering to nurse, but not refusing to nurse when the infant or toddler expresses a desire to do so. Most moms move into this technique naturally because it works best for mom and baby. It does take longer than the other methods but it is the easiest transition for the child(1).
Dropping One Feeding at a Time
For mothers with a shorter time schedule, this may be the best technique for mom and baby(or toddler). This technique involves dropping one feeding for 3-7 days prior to dropping the next feeding and slowly, but quickly reducing the number of feedings that you want the baby to have(or complete elimination). According to the La Leche League International, the longer that you take to do this, the easier it will be on mom’s breasts and the child’s attitude. For example, consider making the first step at this when the child turns 6-8 months old, substituting the mid-morning feeding for a pureed solid (avocado, squash,etc.)
It is important to choose the least important feeding to start this method and approach it with a sippy cup, solid food, or make it a shorter feeding until you can fully drop the feeding. Eventually the baby will become accustomed to eating something else during this time of day(3).
While mothers should not offer to nurse during feedings that have been dropped, do not refuse a feeding if the baby insists on nursing. Slow down the pace of weaning if the baby is becoming clingy or fussy(3). Furthermore, the nap time, morning, and bedtime feedings will be the hardest feedings to drop and mothers often allow the early morning and bedtime feeding to stick around until the child has turned two years old(1,2).
Weaning is a log process that mother and baby will go into together, whether it is led by baby or mother and it can be a wonderful one as well. Weaning can teach mothers about the strong bond between the baby and mother, while giving a new perspective to modern mothers on extended breastfeeding(breastfeeding into the toddler years).
