For your baby's health and your own, it is almost always best to breastfeed for as long as possible. For most mothers, this means nursing the child until she reaches two years of age or more, at which point she will generally "self-wean" with no specific help or intervention. If a medical problem, lifestyle change or other disruption makes it necessary to wean your baby, these guidelines can steer you toward success with the least amount of disruption to you or your child.
1. Check with an expert. If you think that you need to wean your baby because you are taking medication or aren't producing enough milk, hold your horses. It may not actually be necessary to wean your baby at this point. A pediatrician, obstetrician, midwife or lactation consultant can help you make the decision. Additionally, if your child has special needs or is underweight, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of weaning for his health or yours.
2. Take it slow. Weaning shouldn't happen cold-turkey except in a very serious emergency. Begin by taking out one feeding per day and replacing it with solid food (if your baby is over six months) or formula (if your baby is six months to one year). Your baby isn't likely to notice this difference. Eliminate one feeding per day, taking out his favorite-- probably bedtime nursing-- last. Gradual weaning prevents serious problems for both you and the baby.
3. Get help. If possible, try to get help from someone else so that you can wean your baby without excessive stress. Your baby may refuse to accept the bottle from you, especially if he has never had one before. Why drink from a bottle if you know a pair of lactating boobs are nearby? You may have more success if your baby's father, grandparent, older sibling or aunt feeds her a bottle to begin with.
4. Be more affectionate. Your baby will miss the closeness of nursing, and he may become very clingy or demanding during weaning. To prevent this, make sure that you are providing affection in as many ways as possible. Read stories, snuggle, rock him to sleep, and sing him songs. With a solid foundation of understanding your devotion, he's more likely to succeed in weaning.
5. Remember that it takes two. Weaning isn't something that you are doing alone, and it isn't something that your baby does alone. It is a joint effort between both of you, and it is something that you with both need to adjust to. A strong bond with your child can help you overcome this milestone in his development as a baby, as well as your development as a mother.
6. Distract from the breasts. Try to draw your baby's attention away from your breasts whenever possible. Don't wear a low-cut shirt during weaning, and keep your chest fully covered any time you're holding him. If he starts to ask to nurse (either verbally or by reaching for them) give him another distraction. Try saying, "Sorry, no nummies! Do you want peaches?"
7. Take care of yourself. Because weaning involves several major physical and emotional changes, it's important to take good care of your mind and body during this major milestone in motherhood. Soak in a bubble-bath. Talk to a friend. Write in your journal. Do whatever necessary to ease the physical and emotional discomforts of weaning. While some degree of mild depression is very common during weaning, talk to a professional if it persists or becomes severe.
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