Breastfeeding is typically recommended until age 12 months. By this age most babies no longer have problems with food allergies and their digestive systems have strengthened to the point where they can handle other foods besides breast milk. However, you may prefer to end breastfeeding after four months because you need to return to work or you have other commitments that make breastfeeding difficult. There are several ways to ease your 4-month-old from the breast to the bottle.
Step 1
Choose a time to wean your child when your family will not be under stress or changes in routine such as a move or a vacation and your baby will be on his normal schedule.
Step 2
Introduce more moments outside of breastfeeding where there is an emotional connection between you and the baby. Make time to play with, read to or cuddle your baby when breastfeeding is not part of the interaction. This can help both the baby and you as you transition from the closeness of breastfeeding to bottle feeding.
Step 3
Breastfeed only when your baby initiates the contact. This will help you identify scheduled feedings where the baby is not as interested in nursing.
Step 4
Give your baby a bottle at the feeding time she seems least interested in.
Step 5
Remove one more breastfeeding every two to three days, recommends MayoClinic.com. Replace the feeding by offering the bottle instead. Hunger should help increase motivation to drink from the bottle instead of your breast. Continue removing breastfeedings until the child is completely on the bottle.
Step 6
Encourage other family members to bottle-feed the baby without you in the room. Your baby may be more likely to take a bottle from someone else when you're not nearby.
Tips and Warnings
- If your baby keeps refusing the bottle, take a week off and try again.
- Weaning too quickly can cause painful breast engorgement. Consider using a breast pump while weaning to help reduce the pain associated with not regularly nursing your baby.
