when should I start to wean my baby girl off the breast? She is six months old.?

Question

my baby is six months old & has baby food 2 times a day, she is also drinking 2 bottles of similac a day.(while I am at school). When would be a good time to take her off completly? I want her to sleep through the night, she still wakes up! Also, the other day she did not want the breast at all. ( I did not eat anything foreign) help! Thanks...

Answer 1

Whenever you wish. At this point (from what my daughter's pediatrician told me) she's already gotten from you all the antibodies that you can share. Your baby is getting sufficient nutrients from the formula and food.

But, in reality, don't let **anyone** tell you when or what you should do, it's completely your choice.

Answer 2

You can continue breastfeeding for as long and you and she are both interested. If you continue to nurse at home until she's at least a year old, that's a lot less formula you'll have to buy and bottles that you'll have to prepare.

The AAP recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year, and the WHO recommends breastfeeding for at least two years.

Also, even if you switch her to formula, there's no guarantee that she'll sleep through the night. I know plenty of formula-fed babies who aren't good sleepers. Your best bet might be to bring her into your bed when she wakes and just nurse her back to sleep while you're both lying down. That way, you get more rest, and she may wake less often if she's next to you.

It's normal for babies this age to have a nursing strike -- whether it's one day of refusing the breast or several. They're simply too busy to bother to nurse, or there was some event that scared them away from nursing for a short time. It does not mean that she's ready to wean. Just keep offering (and pump if she refuses a normal nursing session), and she'll probably start up again.

She could also have developed a preference for the bottle, especially if she's not getting the slowest flow nipple. If that's the case, you'll want to be sure that she is getting the slowest flow nipple and that her daycare providers aren't rushing her through her bottles. Then, when you are together in the mornings/evenings and on weekends, make sure you nurse as often as she wants without offering a bottle yourself.

All that being said, if you definitely want to wean now, it might be worth taking advantage of this nursing strike. Replace one nursing session with a bottle at first, and wait a few days. If she seems ready, replace another breastfeeding session with a bottle.

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

I really believe that babies should be able to wean themselves when they're ready. The natural age to wean them is around 3 years. I'm not saying to go that long, but I would at least go until she can drink from a cup on her own. Mothers were created to feed their babies, without bottles. Bottles and weaning are totally a man created idea. I'm not saying that I'm against bottle feeding, I just think that breast milk is the best thing as long as they want and need it. At least the first year. God Bless

Answer 4

You should let her wean herself. And you should pump in between so that you can get her off of that similac. Most people do not realize that formula is not regulated by any governing authority. It's an experiment in progress!
And this hooey about sleeping through the night speaks volumes about your motives. Of course she wakes up, shes a baby.It made me read your other posts and questions, and you seem to be terribly wrapped up in convienence and your image. Let the superficial thing go and do what is best for your baby, not yourself.

Answer 5

So you want to stop giving her the best nutrition because you want her to sleep through the night? Sorry, but a true mother doesn't stop breastfeeding her child for her own selfish reasons. My baby has never slept through the night and I have to get up every morning after 2 hours of sleep to go to work and I have never ever thought of giving up breastfeeding. I have also never fed him any formula which is probably why she doesn't want to nurse. Babies don't have to work too hard to feed from a bottle but they're not getting the best nutrition (unless it's breastmilk in the bottle). If you want to really stop breastfeeding just so you can sleep then keep doing what you're doing, you'll succeed no doubt.

Answer 6

I plan on breastfeeding for at least one year. Your baby still can benefit from breast milk even after that. This is a personal and it is between you and your baby. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for stopping or continuing! Good for you for even breastfeeding this long! It is harder than most people think!

Answer 7

if she is six months old she could technically sleep through the night without anymore nourishment. when they are this age it becomes a habit and not necesary to eat. you can ween your child whenever you want but formula is still the main source of nourishment at this age. they eat baby food mostly as practice. talk to your child's pediatrician. He/she is the best form of information because he knows your child better than we do.

Answer 8

That is a personal decision, but I hope to breast feed my children for a year (alternating w/ bottles in between of course). Some children naturally wean themselves, which it sounds like she may be doing anyway!

Answer 9

I've heard that the average weening age around the whole world is 3 years. I breastfed my first for 17 months and my second for 15 months. But- you are in school, so you may want to do it sooner. Really anytime that you and your baby feel comfortable is best.

Answer 10

10 months