Weaning: When and How to Gently Wean Your Child!

Let's start by weaning,
Weaning is when your baby stops receiving breast milk. This usually occurs when the baby is receiving nutrition from solid foods and is old enough to drink other forms of milk, though sometimes weaning occurs before that. If the baby is too young to rely on solids, weaning may mean substituting breastmilk with formula.

The Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends babies breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, and breastfeed along with solids for at least one year or more “while mutually desired by mother and baby.” While the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends breastfeeding exclusively for six months and then “up to 2 years of age or beyond.”

While most kids are able to wean from a nutritional standpoint at 12-18 months or so, most children aren’t ready to emotionally separate from breastfeeding until somewhere between 2-4 years old.

If you need to wean for whatever reason, here are some suggestions to make the weaning process easier for everyone:
First, make sure that you are really ready. I thought I wanted to wean Faith and then caved after weaning her for 5 straight days. Several months later, I knew deep down in my soul that it was time for many, many reasons. I made the commitment and never looked back. You don’t want to send child mixed messages so be sure you are all in body, mind and spirit as children can pick up on your energy. Weaning also involves support from your partner so you want to be considerate of other peoples’ efforts too.
If you haven’t already, night wean as babies over 12 months don’t biologically need the calories or nutrition.
Start talking to your child about weaning… that you love them… that you’ve loved nursing… but it’s time for milkies or whatever you call your breasts… to say bye bye. Tell them often that you love them… that you aren’t mad at them… that they are precious to you
Every time you nurse baby, bring a lovey or stuffed animal that they can hold. At first, you might have to hold it… but they will begin to associate this lovey or animal with comfort.
Don’t initiate or offer breastfeeding. This alone can drop several feedings.
Start with dropping one nursing session at a time. Create another special ritual during that time like go for a walk, color together, have child take a bubble bath or serve them a yummy new snack.
You can try creating an alternative like warmed cow, goat or coconut milk with a touch of maple syrup. Or try a smoothie. My son Griffin took to warmed, sweet milk and was super easy to wean when I was pregnant with his sister.
Wait at least two days and then drop your next feeding. This is going to help you with engorgement. Each mom produces different amounts of milk so some may need to wait 4 days before they drop next feeding. Let your breast fullness be your guide. You can also do a little hand expression to take some of the discomfort away but don’t do too much as expressing milk will ultimately boost your supply.
Wear a big bulky shirt or sweatshirt so that your child doesn’t have easy access and can’t smell your milk.
Distraction is key. This is a time to give snacks maybe you wouldn’t normally give them. To have special toys or activities or even to watch a little show. Remember, this isn’t permanent. These are just crutches to help you through this transition.
Hug, tickle, kiss and rock child as much as you can with your thick sweatshirt on. Let them know how much you love them.
Some moms put lemon juice or apple cider vinegar on nipples to make it taste bad. I never did but thought I would share.
You could also explore drinking parsley or sage tea which naturally reduces breast milk supply to help with engorgement but to also give baby less of an incentive to nurse if there isn’t as much milk. As weird as it sounds, cold cabbage leaves on breasts is an old school remedy for engorgement.
As children love their before bed nursing session having a partner or trusted caregiver take over at bedtime can also help you drop that final feeding.

Whew, so hopefully those tips will help you and your child have a gentle experience. Do know that some kids only take a few days to wean while others may take weeks to even months. The process of weaning is extremely individualized, so there is no one timeframe that is normal.

Just make sure the process isn't abrupt because it could cause:
Engorgement, which can lead to plugged ducts or mastitis.
Hormonal imbalances that can be distressing for both moms and children.
More tantrums, clinginess or insecurity from child

Illness, teething, or a growth spurt can also interfere with weaning, so it’s best to start the process after these pass.

[paganmom]

Just trying to get him to fall back asleep more independently at night since he will be almost 2 when Baby #2 comes! So hard but there is slow progress. We have had a great bf journey so far, but the nursing aversion with ptegnancy has made it hard. I can't imagine having to keep him latched all night just to stay asleep while having a newborn on top of it. I am hoping to just nurse for morning wake up, nap, and right before bed for limited times.

[psfour]

Very helpful, I didn’t want to wean until 18 months but I need to go on thyroid medication so here we are ☹️

[justycesimmons]

The support and encouragement this brought to me is everything this morning, thank you for this☝🏽

[kylierayburn]

I am so happy I came across your video, thank you!❤️

[TheKillahKyla]

In the UK, weaning has a slightly different meaning. It means the introduction of solid foods.

[LadyWillanger]

Thank you so much for this amazing video. I’m gearing up to wean my 2.5 year old and I feel hopeless and stressed. She’s so attached!

[thabisilendlovu]

Please help me 😭😭😭😭my 13 month old baby wakes up every 2 to 3 hours at night to breastfeed.how do l wean him off night time feeds.

[leilaniz]

My baby refused the boob at 6 months old. It was me who was devastated.

[hellooli]

I have a 2 year old she just turned 2 on Saturday. Honestly she "nurses" about 9 x a day. I am just noticing I really need to drop them all. But also I know she only plays with them. At night time she wakes up and stays on them for about an hour I cant sleep well anymore 😕. How do I drop them all. Do I drop them every couple of days?? Thank you so much!!

[sumankashif]

Thanks for the tips however i still have some questions! My breast milk supply is very low right now but, it doesn’t seem like my baby is going to wean off! he likes them as much as he liked them before 😢

Do babies really wean off on their own?

I am trying to not give him breast during the day at all, but for the naps and the night i will give him for a few days. is it a good idea?

[saracomrade]

My daughter is 2 years and 4 month old, she, s very addicted to breastfeed specially when she feels sleepy, I tried every method but didn't work in even gradually, I really hope she withdraw on her own, pray for me

[gianninaO]

Love this video, all helpful tips. If I am pumping during the day and we are dropping a nursing session, I assume we are also dropping a pumping session. Do I wait to pump until the next scheduled nursing session? Thanks!

[inetalovenature]

1st one is is most difficult. My kiddo is very persistent. Was ready to stop this half a year ago but my kid is more persistent than I am. For her age she breastfeed very frequently, it was subdued before starting kindergarten but now it is uncontrollable, so I'd love to stop breastfeeding and feeling like a bottle or an object. She is going to be 2 soon

[nataliewilliams]

Daughter is 1.5 years old and is OBSESSED with nursing and i tried to wean but she is now not eating because she is so sad i cut on demand

[nataliechazvemba]

Mine is four years she is persistent. Tried aloe which is bitter which stopped her bit she got used to aloe so doesn't deter. What should I do chili powder?

[rebeccacervantes]

My daughter is turning 11 months so is that when I should start to skip one feeding so by one year she can be off completely

[alyciaburtis]

My son just turned 4 and I’m so desperate to bring nursing to an end 😞

[corrijackson]

Thanks ..my 18 month old is putting up a fight lol

[Etheliana]

Its hard for my baby dropping her feeding at night time and napping for the daytime..she doesn't sleep until i feed her..

[kayhodson]

My doctor says to stop night time feedings now that my baby s 4 months old. Not sure why they would want to suggest that but I searched online that it is ok to do that at 4 months. I think it might be to help my baby sleep through a night, which is good for them to do. I read online that after 13 pounds or so they dont need nighttime feedings for nutrition but I suppose they want them for comfort.