So Tawny, our youngest, turns one in just a couple of weeks and for some reason, I was having a hard time remembering how to wean her from the bottle (or breastfeeding if you are doing that). You would think I would remember having done this twice before but honestly I couldn’t recall. I sat down and did some research and thought I would share it with all of you as well.
How do I know when we’re ready to wean?
If you’re still breastfeeding, the end date is up to you and your baby. It’s a personal decision that depends on your specific situation. Your baby may be showing signs that she’s ready to wean now, including seeming uninterested or distracted during feedings. You may feel ambivalent about whether to quit: Some days weaning sounds like a relief, other days you can’t bear the thought of bringing this special tie to a close. Many moms who have continued breastfeeding this far continue into toddlerhood, but it’s also common to use the 1-year mark as an end goal. Tawny is bottle fed and the thought of not having to make bottles 4 times a day anymore sounds pretty good to me. She is showing signs of begin ready. She consistently drinks just a few ounces and then pushes the bottle away saying, “All done!” She also likes eating solid foods and has an appetite for that instead of formula.
How should I wean my baby?
Gradually reduce the number of daily breastfeeding sessions one at a time, offering formula or cow’s milk (if your child’s doctor gives the okay) in their place. If your child doesn’t take a bottle, you can wean to a cup and save yourself the trouble of weaning her off a bottle later. Some babies enjoy picking out a favorite new cup to use. Many will drop a feeding every few days (usually starting with the midday feeding and ending with the bedtime one) until they’re finished nursing. You can also shorten the duration of each breastfeeding session. In Tawny’s case, I plan to mix formula and Vitamin D milk 50/50 and slowly wean from the formula, making it 100% whole milk.
What are some ways to make weaning go smoothly?
Weaning should be a fairly easy process, not a traumatic one. Give the following suggestions a try, and if your baby seems to resist, consider waiting a bit before trying again.
- Look for signs that your baby is ready for weaning, such as those I described above.
- Give her plenty of one-on-one attention to replace the intimacy of nursing.
- Try distracting your baby if she seems to want to breastfeed or wants the bottle, and see whether she becomes interested in something else or will drink from a cup instead.
- Ask someone else to put your baby to bed so that she won’t be expecting to breastfeed at that time.
- If your breasts become engorged, use cool compresses and express milk manually or with a pump for the first few days. Ibuprofen can also help with the discomfort.
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