Right time to wean breastfeeding

For many, the decision to wean off breastfeeding can be an emotional one.

🤱🏽Some women are excited to wean.

🤱🏻For some it can bring on strong emotions

🤱🏾And for others, they are somewhere in between.

Mothers always ask me WHEN they should wean their baby off breastfeeding/pumping.

Just like everything, I ask, “When do YOU want to? What do YOU want?”

The AAP recommends BF for 6 months, with continuation for 1 year or longer as desired by mother and infant.

The WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2.

But, the ultimate decision is yours.

Not your friends, not your partners, not a stranger you have encountered.

In some cases, the weaning process happens due to a medical reason (perhaps pregnancy or a medical condition), but when it’s up to you—I want you to be in charge of that choice. I want you to know how to do this in a way that is best for you and your child.

On my podcast episode, I welcome Melissa of @more_than_milk to discuss weaning from breastfeeding. It was a great conversation with practical tips for this transition. Check out the link here for the podcast, or you can find it wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episode 59 on The PedsDocTalk Podcast.

I want YOU to own the decision. I want YOU to feel the time is right. This is an important first step to assure you are in the right mindset for this transition.

When did you wean your baby and/or are you still nursing?

[Grammyabigail]

❤ when my babies' growth slowed, I began adding foods. When they wanted more nourishment, I gave more food and reduced breastfeeding. They all still got cuddles at bed time and naptimes as they needed. I slowly discontined until they were just not interested. Ages varied for all 4. ❤

[CrazyLadybug]

I plan to breastfeed till baby is 2 years old or when she doesn’t want boobie anymore unfortunately it is really frowned upon in my community but idc I discovered as a first time mom that parenting comes with opinions and advice which i did not ask for from family members to strangers passing by

[KayaBMLuda]

Well, sometimes baby is ready even if we planned to continue. One of my sisters stopped at 9 months on her own. But other than that I agree with this. We mothers get to decide what works for us and our bodies.

[cralston]

I am pregnant and don’t plan on breastfeeding long. It is physically demanding. You’re on call 24:7 and don’t get the time to recover from the exhaustion of parenting. I’m probably going to pump and quickly transition to breast milk in the bottle to free up my time and have some sort of sanity.

[JasonBender-np]

God bless you very beautiful something good work for other women around the world in the United States they're going viral on YouTube prayers on to you and your baby Wisconsin❤

[jonjones]

When he has to shave 1st to prevent chafing....

[emilyogah]

This is my 14th month into breastfeeding. I really want to stop but my baby is 100% not ready to stop. Is there a place to consider the readiness of the baby to stop as well?

[dmarie]

Im still breastfeeding, my son is 16 months old. We are having g a hard time with him eating solids. The only food he wants to eat is oatmeal and Banana. He reaches for other foods while we eat - but he quickly spits it out. He is not dealing well with Texture 😢 Any Advice???

[jennyoberg]

I stopped Brest feeding and pumping because I just didn’t make enough and I just don’t have the resources to continue to even pump especially with having to buy different flange sizes if I needed them and different supplies for a pump that was given to me for free. On top of having to go back to work one week after having my baby. To be honest it just seems like Brest feeding and pumping is just a luxury that I can’t reach so I quit cold turkey formula took over feeding my baby anyways especially having to supplement in the hospital because I wasn’t making enough and my baby losing weight before going home. I still wasn’t making enough after getting home from the hospital I tried exclusively pumping after getting home because my nipples are very inverted I didn’t even make enough wile pumping weather I was using the wrong pump or the wrong size flanges it really doesn’t matter because I couldn’t buy extra of eather of those things because I have to use what I make meaning my whole paycheck in rent after paying rent I don’t have a penny to my name. With how expensive formula is I hate not being able to Brest feed or pump I know fed is best but I hate having to give formula like this and having to depend on it. With my situation I feel very robbed of this experience.

[David_Jame]

Yes, as you’re holding the imitation of a newborn. Partner has no say? When it effects so much for the husband and marriage?? God I feel bad for your partner

[eileengernet]

Shouldn't it be when baby is ready

[OGimouse]

IDK, I see those videos all the time where the kids are walking and there's just something weird about breast feeding a toddler+

[amywhite]

You don't even have a baby in your hands

[kathleenevans]

Best to never start breastfeeding inthefirst place. Bottlefed children are much easier to wean.