You may need to stop breastfeeding due to returning to work after maternity leave, medical reasons, or getting ready to wean your baby. Stopping breastfeeding suddenly will make the breasts feel sore and swollen and will confuse the baby. Learn how to wean your baby in stages by following these steps.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making the Right Plan
Step 1. Decide on a replacement for breastfeeding
When you are ready to stop breastfeeding, you need an appropriate replacement that is nutritionally sufficient to meet the needs of the baby. Seek information from your pediatrician about foods that will ease your baby's transition from breastfeeding to bottle or cup feeding. These options are two of the many options available to mothers who want to stop breastfeeding:
- Continue to give pumped breast milk. Just because you're no longer breastfeeding, doesn't mean you have to stop breastfeeding. This is a great option for mothers who can't breastfeed their babies but don't want to stop breastfeeding yet.
- Replace breast milk with formula. Ask your doctor about the right vitamin-fortified formula for your baby.
- Replace breast milk with solid foods and cow's milk. If your baby is 4-6 months old, he or she may be ready to eat solids with breast milk or formula. Infants aged 1 year and over may also be given cow's milk.
Step 2. Decide when to wean your baby from bottle feeding
In some cases, stopping breastfeeding is also a good time to wean your baby from bottle-feeding and switch to a cup. Consider the following steps:
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Babies need fluid nutrition in the form of breast milk or formula during the first year, but they can start drinking from a cup from 4 months of age.
Stop Breast Feeding Step 2Bullet1 - Babies who drink from a bottle after 1 year of age can develop tooth decay and other dental problems.
Method 2 of 3: Making the Transition
Step 1. Change feeding during the day
To gradually wean your baby, opt for feeding during peak hours of the day and alternate breastfeeding with another activity of your choice. Put pumped breast milk or formula in a bottle or cup to feed baby.
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Feed the baby in a new room in the house. Weaning a baby is a physical and psychological transition. Doing so in a new room can help your baby reduce his associations with certain food atmospheres.
Stop Breast Feeding Step 3Bullet1 - Provide extra comfort and hugs during feedings to help the transition go more smoothly.
Step 2. Change feeding every few days
As babies grow to get used to new feeding styles, change feeding every two or three days. Do not rush through this process as the baby can get confused and plans to wean the baby may fail.
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Give your baby breast milk or formula in a cup or bottle, even if you don't plan on replacing them completely. Getting your baby used to alternative eating utensils is an important transitional step.
Stop Breast Feeding Step 4Bullet1 - Shorten any breastfeeding sessions you are still doing.
- Continue changing and shortening feedings for a few weeks until your baby is almost able to go from bottle-feeding to cup-feeding, depending on which one you choose.
Step 3. Help baby get used to doing activities without breastfeeding
For example, many babies feed before bed. Start putting your baby to bed without feeding him so he will be able to sleep without this activity.
- Replacing breastfeeding with other rituals can also help. For example, consider reading him a story, playing a game, or rocking him in a rocking chair before bedtime.
- Do not replace breastfeeding with objects, such as dolls or pacifiers. These items will make the weaning process more difficult for the baby.
Step 4. Provide extra comfort to compensate for the baby to stop breastfeeding
Babies need the skin-to-skin contact they get while breastfeeding just as much as they need food. Providing extra hugs during the weaning process is an important step.
Method 3 of 3: Handling Complications
Step 1. Continue weaning
Weaning is a different process for every baby. It may take several months before the baby is able to drink milk from a cup or bottle without complaining. Meanwhile, don't give up; stick to the routine you have planned and continue to change foods gradually over time as needed.
- Know that your baby needs extra comfort when he is sick. It's okay to go back to breastfeeding during times like this.
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Getting your baby into the habit of spending time with your dad, sibling, or sibling can help. As your baby's relationship with other people develops, he will not become dependent on suckling with you as his only source of comfort.
Stop Breast Feeding Step 7Bullet2
Step 2. Know when to take your baby to the doctor
Sometimes the transition from breastfeeding results in medical complications. If you're not sure weaning is the healthiest option for your child, it's best to contact your doctor. Look for the following problems that are common during weaning:
- Baby refuses to eat solid food even if he is more than 6-8 months old.
- Baby has cavities.
- Baby is only focused on you and suckling, and doesn't seem interested in other people or other activities.
Step 3. Don't forget to ease the transition of your own body
As your baby suckles less, your breasts will start to produce less milk. However, sometimes the breast becomes swollen or inflamed. Try the following techniques to make yourself more comfortable:
- Express very small amounts of breast milk with a pump or manually when not feeding the baby. Don't empty your breasts as this will signal your body to produce more milk.
- Apply cold compresses to the breasts 3-4 times per day, about 15-20 minutes each, if you need additional relief. This will help reduce inflammation and tighten the membranes that produce milk.
Tips
- If your baby doesn't want to drink milk from a bottle instead, you can give formula in a cup that has a lid with a small opening for drinking, with a spoon, or a dropper.
- Do not wear clothes that have the smell of breast milk. If the baby smells this smell, the weaning process will be difficult for the baby.
