There are any number of reasons you may decide that the time is right to wean your breastfeeding baby--your baby is losing interest in nursing, you're going back to work, you're pregnant or the time simply is right. There's no set time for weaning your baby, though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least one year.
Step 1
Give your baby a bottle or cup in addition to his regular breastfeeding, giving him a few weeks to get familiar with another mode of drinking. This can make the transition easier, according to KidsHealth.org, an online parenting and health information resource.
Step 2
Choose your time wisely. If your child is in the middle of teething, starting day care for the first time or going through another major change, wait until she's had a chance to get settled before you start weaning.
Step 3
Replace one feeding a day with a bottle or cup if your baby is younger than one. Older children may prefer a healthy snack. Try to choose a feeding that is typically quick and routine--a mid-afternoon feeding often is a good place to start.
Step 4
Reduce your nursing time at each feeding by a few minutes.
Step 5
Replace a feeding with a bottle or cup every few days or weeks. Use your breasts as a guide--if they feel sore and engorged, you're probably cutting back too quickly and need to slow down.
Step 6
Change your routine. Have playtime or story time instead of nursing time to distract your child.
Tips and Warnings
- If your baby is reluctant to take a bottle from you, ask someone else to feed him and you may get a better response. Your child may start sucking his thumb or carrying a security blanket with him during weaning. This is normal. Some children replace the comfort of nursing with a self-comforting behavior and discouraging the habit can make the process of weaning more difficult.
