How and When to Stop Breastfeeding
91How Much Is Enough?
The American Academy of Pediatrics wants you to breastfed for at least a year. However, before we send mothers everywhere packing for a guilt trip, remember that the thick, nutrient rich substance known as colostrum is present in the very first milk produced by a new mother. First milk contains highly concentrated antibodies and helps to prevent jaundice and also makes your new baby produce that first adorable poopy. But remember, the good stuff is there at the very beginning.
If you breastfeed for even one day - congrats to you. Pat yourself on the back and go from there. After a week or two, colostrum gives way to regular breast milk. Continuing to breastfeed is one of the healthiest and intimate things you can do for your baby, but at some point, you've got to stop. There are no booby-breaks in Kindergarten.
When Should I Stop?
There are only two people who can tell you it's time to stop - your baby and you. If it's your baby's idea to wean, he'll let you know. He may be restless at the breast, sucking for a while then turning away. He might play with the breast without latching on. If he shows interest in others while they are eating or drinking from a cup, he may be ready.
Even if your baby is still perfectly happy at the breast, you've may have had enough and that's okay. Breastfeeding gets old. Working moms suffer through pumps and uncooperative childcare providers. Moms at home may have other children to care for. Sometimes you just get tired, milk production drops, and baby needs a supplement. The best reason I know to stop? Nipple as teething ring.
Breastfeeding can be a grind. Whatever length of time you have offered the breast has benefited your baby and when it's time to move on, do so confidently.
Get This Kid Off Me!
A gradual decrease in time at the breast is best. Once you begin to supplement with a bottle, you'll be surprised how quickly the little traitor switches loyalty. Your baby loved breast milk, but the easier flow of a bottle is just as nice. If she rejects the bottle at first, try different nipples. You also may want to express some breast milk and mix it with formula, gradually changing the ratio until she gets used to the new taste.
Most children will self wean by age two or three, and much younger once they start eating other foods. If you're having trouble convincing an older child to give up the breast, appeal to her pride. Big girls drink from a cup. When she reaches for your nipple be firm and cheerful. All gone!
Still Leaking?
Weaning your child, whether your idea or his, is one thing. Stopping lactation may be another. Downsize the milk factory slowly to prevent engorgement. If milk is still plentiful, wear a snug bra and avoid stimulating the breast. However diligent you are, your baby's cry can send you streaming. Try letting milk out a little at a time to relieve the pressure. Or get into a warm shower and let nature take over. If it still hurts, apply cold packs and take some ibuprofen. Stay away from drugs that dry up the supply unless you absolutely must take them. Pretty soon your breasts will get the message that their productive days are over - at least for now.
Deciding when to stop breastfeeding is so personal. Talk to other mothers, get the facts, get support for your decision. Once you've made your choice, feel good about it. And if you still can't decide, consider this - if your kid can hold a cookie in one hand, and grab your breast in the other, it may be time!
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Here's a great article about one woman's freedom from breasfeeding:
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Yes, mixing in breastmilk works for a lot of women. I did the breast pump thing when I worked at a big accounting firm. One day in the elevator, one of our cute young grads complimented my "cool new laptop case". You should've seen his poor young face when I told him what it was! At least my employer provided a pumping room. It was still very hard. Congratulations, Miranda, and everyone else making a smooth transition.
Great advice, I breastfeed and was wondering when and how I was going to get my boobs back!
I breastfed my first two kids but they also drank a little formula from a bottle. My third baby is exclusivly breastmilk and we are doing the breastfeeding thing so good. I hate to take her off even if I'm ready, she so enjoys it. I love to see her cute little cheeks suckeling away but I would aslso like to see my husbands cute little face suckeling. I think my third is my last so we'll go with it until she says so or until she goes to school (not).
I have never gotten my daughter to latch, and since day one I've pumped. In the beginning it was OK, but now that I've been at work and stress keeps mounting I know it would make my life easier, but I feel guilty. I think nine months has been long enough.
I just had my third son 6 weeks ago and after a month of nursing, I have been experiencing some warning signs/symptoms telling me I was heading for the painful mastitis infection I experienced with my second son. I felt a tremendous amount of guilt b/c I was able to nurse my first son for 10 months and my second son for 6 months before the infection kicked in. After talking to many other mothers in my support group and discussing options with my nurse I decided to try a method an elderly grandmother gave me. You just get some raw cabbage leaves, place them in the refrigerator or freezer (depending on your painful engorgement) and wrap your breast in the leaves, wear the tightest bra you can and of course keep your breast pads handy for the leakage and change out the cabbage leaves after they wilt. My milk dried up in 4 days!
I just had my third son 6 weeks ago and after a month of nursing, I have been experiencing some warning signs/symptoms telling me I was heading for the painful mastitis infection I experienced with my second son. I felt a tremendous amount of guilt b/c I was able to nurse my first son for 10 months and my second son for 6 months before the infection kicked in. After talking to many other mothers in my support group and discussing options with my nurse I decided to try a method an elderly grandmother gave me. You just get some raw cabbage leaves, place them in the refrigerator or freezer (depending on your painful engorgement) and wrap your breast in the leaves, wear the tightest bra you can and of course keep your breast pads handy for the leakage and change out the cabbage leaves after they wilt. My milk dried up in 4 days!
I'm beginning to stress. My baby is almost 12 weeks old and I have breastfed exclusively except for the odd bottle if I've been under the weather and my mum's had him for a few hors. He's thrived but now he's not bothered about either. He stops when he wants not when the guidelines say. What is wrong? I'm worried he will not feed at all or he'll lose weight.
It's my experience that babies eat when they are hungry. If he's still wetting and soiling diapers, you are probably fine. If he goes too long or loses weight, see your doctor immediately. But don't worry yourself on what he may do. If he has thrived before he may just be going through a phase. Ask the doctor, but don't get upset about it.
I have nursed all 8 of mine..some weaned at 8 months some at 3 years...You are exactly right it is an individual decision. One thing to make sure of htough is that baby still gets lots of cuddle time!
Thank you so much, I was really worried about when to stop and how to get him to stop, this has helped me alot to understand, because my son refuses to take a bottle or pacifier but he does drink from a sippy cup. He is 14 months and this is the first time I breastfed now I feel more comfortable that it takes time. Thank you
my daughter is a year and a half and she has never taken a bottle and the only way she goes to sleep at night is with my breast and that is all she wants even during the day and i am a single mother so i have no father figure to help at night... everyone keeps telling me that she should not be breastfeeding anymore but i dont think she is ready to be weaned and i dont even know how to start with it....
Hi, I exclusively breastfed my daugther until she was one year old. Suddenly the day of her first birthday she decided to stop breasfeeding and started drinking from a cup!!
My son was also a breastfed baby and never took any formula milk until he was at least 9 months.
I must say that both babies never had any tummy or sleeping troubles!! And both of them had a very advance development.
Keep it up moms, breastfeeding is the best present you can ever give to your baby.
My wife plan to give for an year but my son haven't drink. he takes only four months. it is too short but no other options.
Hi everyone, I need some advice about weaning my baby from the breast. She is 10 months old and breast feeds regularly throughout the day and night. If I decide to stop now ( as she bites me !) should I give her cows milk or formula milk and is it wise to give it to her in a bottle or a cup?
Hi....My daughter now is 1 year and 6 months and I'm still breastfeeding her. I tried giving her formula milk but she always throw it away. My family notices that she's not that fat or big like her older sister but she is an active and happy child. I'm starting to wonder is it because of breastfeeding or is my breastmilk not enough for her. I'm now thinking if I should start to wean her or what? Honestly, I enjoy breastfeeding her because it is our bonding moment. But I am bothered on what my family notices.
If anyone had engorgement as bad as I did while trying to stop my production, you must try the LaMa Bra. It's a super comfortably bra with pockets inside the cups that hold chilled gel packets against the breasts...simply heaven for me..during the day and even more at night. You can get more details at http://www.lamabra.com and surely better than the frozen peas I was using!!! happy days all
Interesting about the breast feeding. I never did when our kids were born doctors were bushing formula. They have all grown up and are healthy adults. My daughter was breast feeding her first baby and she was having such a hard time the baby was screaming all the time. I finally told her to try formula our granddaughter seem to be hungry. She was she latched right onto the bottle. She wishs she could have continued with breast feeding but it doesn't always work out. It is the best for the baby.
Enjoyed your hub.
When I was a first time Mom way back when, I felt a lot of pressure from others to nurse exclusively. I found with my second and third child that it really was best to follow yourself and your babies instincts. Thanks for the great hub!
I just want to say to all breastfeeding mothers, do not let society dictate when, where, and how long! It is truely a personal choice. I adopted my son 6 years ago, and I prepared myself to breastfeed him before he was born. He was 15 minutes old when the nurse gave him to me to feed, and I was incredibly blessed to be able to breastfeed successfully. I never had to give him any extra formula, and he thrived! A real wonder to me (and many others). I decided then that I will ween him naturally, and let nature run its course. It took almost 5 years!! But I am thankful for every special moment!
Nice hub. I keep saying that I should wean my daughter (16 months old) but it's so easy now (we got off to a really rough start, and at one point I didn't think I'd make it to my original goal of breastfeeding exclusively for at least six weeks) and we both still enjoy it so much. I am looking forward to having my body back though!
Excellent information about breast feeding here. I nursed all five of mine, from six months to 24 months being the longest. So, I understand the conversation well.
Write On!
I worked full time from the time my daughter was 6 weeks old, but I pumped and she had no problem taking a bottle of breastmilk while I was away. The problem came when we took a vacation when she was 6 months old. I nursed her for the whole ten days that we were away, then when we came back she wouldn't take a bottle while I was at work anymore. Fortunately she was old enough to mix breastmilk in with cereal, so there were no worries about her not getting enough, we just started weening. It made me sad to know that was the beginning of the end of nursing..
it was horrible advice!!!
Very nice advice
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Miranda Marquit says:
17 months ago
One way we were able to help my son when I had to go back to work was to start out by mixing formula into the breastmilk. I pumped (even at work on my lunch break), but we all knew that I would dry up from the stress and the schedule. So, gradually, from the beginning we did morning feedings and evening feedings on the breast, and everything else on the bottle. My son became comfortable with both, and gradually upping the amount of formula mixed in with the breastmilk eased him into the taste. By the time I went dry when he was four and half months old, my son had no problem making the switch to bottles of formula.