Weaning Baby: When and How to Stop Breastfeeding Smoothly
The time has come to end your breastfeeding journey, and you’re wondering—now what? The thought of weaning has been looming closer, feeling overwhelming at times, and you have no idea where to start. That’s completely understandable. Weaning is a huge milestone for you and your baby, whether it's your first or fifth child.
Mom breastfeeding her daughter wearing a cap sleeve nursing top with hidden pull aside breastfeeding access.
With weaning comes a lot of emotions as well, including grief over losing the connection that breastfeeding brings, relief to be done, and everything in between. If no one has told you yet, your feelings are completely valid. Just like breastfeeding, there is no right or wrong way to wean, and the best approach is the one that works best for you and your baby.
When to Start Weaning
Technically, baby-led weaning starts the first time you introduce food to your baby. From there on out, it is the gradual transition from relying on breast milk for nutrition to getting it from food instead. Currently, The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age and then breastfeeding alongside complementary foods until 12 months of age or older. Alternatively, the World Health Organization recommends continuing breastfeeding up until 2 years. Keep in mind that there is no perfect timeline for weaning your baby from breastfeeding.
Weaning might be a decision that your baby makes before you are ready. Or, it may be a battle to try to wean a baby who does not want to let go just yet. Whether it's a return to work or personal preference, moms choose to wean for a variety of reasons.
If you're considering infant-led weaning, watch for signs that your child is ready, such as reduced interest in nursing, shorter nursing sessions or nursing for comfort rather than nutrition. Before you begin, take some time to figure out the best approach for you.
Choosing to Wean Gradually or Suddenly
You get to choose whether you want to gradually wean or stop cold turkey. It is generally
recommended to gradually wean because it can be a smoother transition for both you and your baby and can help prevent discomfort from the physical changes of weaning.
Sudden weaning may be necessary due to medical reasons, a return to work, or personal
circumstances. If you are choosing to wean cold turkey, physical discomfort and emotional changes may be more intense. You might experience a faster drop in milk supply, which can lead to engorgement, plugged ducts, or mastitis. Emotionally, you may feel mood swings due to hormonal shifts. To ease this transition physically, try expressing just enough milk for comfort, staying well-hydrated, and using cold compresses to manage swelling.
Practical Tips for a Smoother Transition
- Drop one feed at a time: Depending on when you are weaning, offer cow’s milk, formula, a drink, or a snack instead. Drop feeds slowly, starting with the feed your baby seems least interested in.
- Shorten feeding duration: Gradually shorten the time spent nursing at each session.
- Stop offering feeds unless requested. Infant-led weaning allows your child to choose when and if they want to nurse. This method is more intuitive and relies on your baby’s cues.
- Change daily routines: If you have a nursing chair or station, try avoiding it while weaning or using it with a different activity.
- Offer extra bonding opportunities: Replace nursing sessions with other activities such as playtime, reading, or extra cuddles.
- Have a system for setbacks: It is normal for this process to take time. Your child may be resistant to weaning, leading to stressful situations. If this happens, stay patient and consistent. Offer comfort through other means, like rocking, cuddles, a comfort object, or soothing music.
The Emotional Side of Weaning
The emotional effects of weaning may come as a surprise to some moms. Breastfeeding is such a unique and challenging journey. For some women, it may have felt like a constant uphill climb, while for others, it may have come naturally. Regardless, the weaning process signals that your baby is growing up (too fast!) and that this chapter of your journey is coming to a close.
Hormonally, stopping breastfeeding can trigger changes you were not expecting. Primarily, your body will experience a drop in the production of prolactin and oxytocin—your feel-good hormones. During this transition, you may feel irritable, sad, anxious, or even experience mood swings. You may have heard of this hormonal shift referred to as the weaning blues.
Some moms have even claimed that stopping breastfeeding has led to a minor identity crisis. Breastfeeding takes up so much of the day for so long that suddenly not doing it anymore may feel startling.
Some ways to support yourself through this transition include journaling, talking to other moms, engaging in joyful exercise, and finding ways to relax during the week.
Supporting Your Body During Weaning
Stopping lactation is more than just flipping an off switch on your milk supply the last time you nurse your baby. Remember that milk production works on a supply-and-demand basis, so you will likely experience discomfort and physical changes such as hormonal shifts, engorgement, and energy level changes.
Tips for Managing Discomfort
- Try using cold compresses or ice packs on your breasts to ease swelling and discomfort.
- Wear a supportive bra that applies gentle pressure to help manage engorgement.
- Hand express to relieve pressure if you are experiencing engorgement. Try to express just enough to provide relief but not enough to signal to your body to continue to maintain supply.
Remember to be realistic with your body throughout this transition. Hormonally, you may feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster at times, and it is important to give yourself grace throughout the process.
You Got This, Mama!
Weaning can be a bittersweet experience, and it is important to honor your emotions throughout this time and celebrate what your body has been able to do for your baby. We asked Nursing Queen VIPs for their advice for weaning and here are a few of their suggestions.
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