when do you start weaning?

Answer 1

That's entirely up to the mother. Some experts say anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, but some breastfeed well past a year.

Answer 2

You should breastfeed at least six months and wean gradually.
A sudden, abrupt wean should only be considered in extreme circumstances and is hard on both of you. The transition to weaning may be easier if you first introduce your baby to a cup instead of a bottle. Breastfed babies easily learn to drink from a cup as early as six months of age (try expressed breast milk).
Start off by substituting one feed, the least ‘favorite’ one of the day. Someone else may need to offer this feed for your baby to accept it.



When you’re ready to wean even more, substitute the next least favored feed at the opposite time of the day. Continue this way, substituting one feed at a time. The pace of weaning is up to you and your baby, but in general, the slower the better. Wait at least a few days in between each new feed before substituting another one.

You may want to try a ‘partial’ wean instead. This means you substitute one or more feedings with a cup or bottle and breastfeed at other times. This can work well if you are going back to work but still want to breastfeed. When you do this, make sure you check your baby’s weight gain regularly.



If your breasts are uncomfortable while you are weaning, try expressing enough milk so that you are comfortable. Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also help. Cold compresses or gel packs applied to your breasts can also be of some comfort.



You shouldn’t bind your breasts or drink less fluids while you’re weaning. Check your breasts regularly to make sure you aren’t developing a blocked duct, which will feel like a firm tender area of the breast. If you do, see your doctor or lactation consultant. These problems are more likely to occur during an abrupt wean.



Watch the cues you give to your baby. If you sit in the same chair you usually use when you’re nursing, he’ll likely want to breastfeed. He probably won’t be satisfied with a cup or a cuddle.



Some mothers choose what is called ‘infant-led weaning’. This means watching your baby’s cues and weaning at his pace (that is, never refusing the breast but also not offering the breast when he is not interested). With infant-led weaning, breastfeeding may continue for two to four years. This type of weaning is practiced by many non-western cultures.

Answer 3

Many moms wean around 1 year. Some need to wean from breast to bottle soon after birth due to work or not producing enough milk. Some moms will breastfeed 2 years or even longer. It is a personal choice made between you and your baby, you will now when it is time to wean.

Answer 4

When one of you loses interest in breastfeeding.
If the child looses interest and you still wish to give him/her breastmilk, you could pump.
If you lose interest, wean gradually.

AAP suggests breastfeeding until at least a year, BUT also states that ANY amount of breastfeeding is better than none. Don't stress too much about it, and go with your instinct. Some people stop at three months, some never start, and some do it well into the pre-school years. Go as long as you want to, but don't be guilted into doing it longer than is comfortable for BOTH of you. It's far more important to have loving, bonding feeding sessions (whether from breast or bottle) than to give breast milk resentfully or forcibly.

Answer 5

It depends what you mean by weaning - starting solids or stopping breastmilk/formula feeds? The current recommendation is that babies should be fed only breastmilk or formula for six months before introducing other foods. Milk continues to supply the majority of their nutrients - to begin with solid foods are just for practice eating and to get them used to different tastes and, later, textures. Ideally babies should continue to be breastfed for at least a year before stopping.

However, until recently the recommendation was 4 months, and several people I know have started their babies on baby rice around then.

Here are the signs that your baby is ready to start solids -
Can hold head up well
Can sit with support e.g. propped up in a high chair
Shows an interest in others eating.
Is still hungry after milk feeds, perhaps even waking up hungry at night after previously sleeping through

Answer 6

I never started weaning. I allowed my son to wean when he wanted too. He weaned off of me when he was 2 1/2 years old. I am due any day with another Son and he will nurse until he is ready to wean him self off. Remember the longer you nurese the better off the kid is.

Answer 7

Technically, weaning begins with the introduction of solids around 6 months of age. But you should continue nursing until at least 12 months of age, with the addition of solid foods.

Answer 8

I am weaning my baby from breastfeeding at 12 months. Though I may start to pump and give it to her in a bottle before then.

Answer 9

It depends, on the mother and/or the child. My Pediatrician said it's perfectly acceptable to nurse a baby/toddler, up to the age of two. IMO, some discretion should be used ... when your child is this age. I was having coffee with a cousin, and her little guy walked up, lifted her shirt and latched on. lol ... I laughed, but it felt a tad weird.

Answer 10

It all depends on you and your baby, and if you are both ready to start. I would say that 4 to 6 six months is a good time.