1. Don't Feel Pressured
How long you should breastfeed and when you decide to wean is a personal decision based usually on your child's cues. It's important to understand that exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of your baby's life delivers adequate and optimal nutrition. Likewise, any human milk your baby gets beyond the first year, in addition to solid food, still contains vital nutrients and helps protect her from illness. Therefore, no one should pressure you to wean your baby.
2. Take Baby Steps
When you do decide to wean, you should do it gradually to prevent breast engorgement and infection. Sudden weaning may cause your child undo stress and she may even reject the bottle entirely. If your child is less than a year old, you can try to give her a bottle in place of her least favorite feeding. In most children, it's best to substitute a bottle at a time when she is not tired. Many children cling to morning, naptime and bedtime nursing because Mom's breasts are also a source of comfort. If your child refuses a bottle from you, have someone else, such as Dad, try giving it her.
3. Use Distractions
If your child is around a year or older and has been using a cup, there is no reason to offer a bottle in place of the breast. Some mothers simply stop offering a child the breast or only offer it at the child's request. If you feel that your child is at the breast out of boredom, try distracting her by giving her a snack, taking her on a walk or playing a game. Some children, like Pavlov's dog, grow accustomed to a particular "nursing spot," like a rocking chair. Avoid sitting in your nursing spot to discourage your child from asking for the breast.
4. Change the Bedtime Routine
Most babies and children are reluctant to give up the bedtime feeding. This is because, for them, the breast is more about feeling secure than it is about receiving nourishment. Try centering your child's bedtime routine on books and quiet songs. Perhaps she will accept a back rub in lieu of the breast. It's important, however, that you don't refuse your child the breast if she requests it. Bedtime feedings will decrease in frequency as your child gets older and grows more interested in stories and cuddling.
5. Try, Try Again
If you find that you and your child are having difficulty with weaning, it's possible that the time is not right. It could be that your child is feeling stressed or anxious about a change in her routine, such as a move to a new home. Likewise, children who have been recently ill are more likely to be "clingy" and less tolerant of weaning. The best course of action is to keep breastfeeding, wait a few weeks and try again.
