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How to wean your breastfed baby

Ella Walsh


Ready to wean your baby from the breast? Ella Walsh explains when you should start weaning and how best to do it so that it’s a gentle transition for your baby.

Your baby’s inevitable weaning begins the day she takes her first mouthful of rice cereal. Sooner or later every breastfed baby gives up feeding and moves to a diet of solid food and additional fluids. Ideally, weaning happens gradually at a pace that both mother and baby feel comfortable with. However, occasionally, weaning is sudden and unexpected as a result of illness (of you or your baby) or breast refusal. Weaning can be an emotional period - even if it’s what you want to do.

When should I begin weaning?

  • The World Health Organisation recommends that you breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, and then continue to breastfeed for two years or more as you add solid food to her diet.
  • In Australia it is common to begin gradual weaning during the second six months as sold food is introduced, with the aim to wean completely some time around your baby’s first birthday.
  • Others choose to let weaning be led by their baby, which results in feeding until the toddlers years.
  • Whatever approach you take to weaning, it’s always best to do it gradually to allow your body and your baby to adjust to any changes.

 

REMEMBER!

Make sure that as you wean, you replace the one-on-one time you had with your baby during breastfeeding, with other time that you can spend cuddling and being physically close.

 

How do I wean my baby?

  • You will need to replace breastfeeds with infant formula if you wean your baby before she is 12 months.
  • Switch one breastfeed a day with a bottle feed - it’s a good idea to choose the feed that your baby is the least interested in.
  • Once your baby is comfortable with this routine, start replacing another feed (initially, try to keep a breastfeed between the replaced feeds so that your breasts don’t become too uncomfortable).
  • Slowly switch each feed until you are no longer breastfeeding. Many mothers continue with one feed a day - the first or last of the day - for some time until their milk supply naturally dwindles.
  • Make sure you check your breasts for lumps as you wean. Try to avoid expressing because this will increase your supply.
  • If your baby is happily eating solids already, you may choose to wean to a cup rather than a bottle.

If your baby won’t take a bottle from you:

  • Ask your partner to offer the bottle while you’re not present.
  • Try offering a bottle when she’s sleepy.
  • Offer a cup instead.