What is weaning?
When your baby stops breastfeeding and she gets all her nutrition from sources other than the breast, then she is considered to be weaned. Although babies are also weaned from the bottle, the term primarily refers to when a baby stops breastfeeding.
Some mothers choose a time that they think is best to wean their baby, and others prefer to leave that decision to the baby. Breastfeeding experts always recommend baby-led or child-led weaning, which is letting your baby or toddler decide when she wants to stop breastfeeding. If it is prompted by the mother, it may require plenty of patience, and can take time, depending on how well and how quickly your child adjusts. Some mothers say it takes only a few weeks, especially if their baby is becoming bored with it anyway. Others say it takes at least a month, up to six months, and everything in between. The experience is different for everyone.
Weaning is a long goodbye - emotional, sometimes painful, and liberating at the same time. But weaning needn't signal an end to the intimacy you and your child have established through breastfeeding. It just means you have to replace breastfeeding with other nurturing activities. If you've often fed your child to comfort her, find other ways to make her feel better. Read a book or sing a song together, or play outside instead.
When should I start weaning?
You are the best judge of when it's time to wean, and you don't have to set a deadline unless you and your child are ready to do so. However, the Department of Health now recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (26 weeks).
How do I wean?
Slowly. Experts advise you not to stop abruptly, as it can be traumatic for your baby and very uncomfortable for you. A weekend away from the baby with your husband, for example, is not a good way to end the breastfeeding relationship, it could leave you with engorged breasts and possibly mastitis.
If your child shows no sign of slowing down, weaning is likely be greeted with some resistance. Try to be patient. Understand that your child views breastfeeding not only as a source of nutrition but also of comfort. With this in mind, you can help her adjust. Try these methods:
Only offer the breast when she indicates that she wants it. If your child seems uninterested or distracted when you feed her, or latches on for only a few seconds, she may be signaling that it's a good time to wean. Drop a feed and see what happens. Offer a cup or bottle of milk instead. You can use your own pumped milk as a substitute, infant milk formula, or cow's milk if your child is at least a year old. If you reduce feeds one at a time, your child will have time to adjust to the changes. Your milk supply will also reduce as the demand drops, without leaving your breasts engorged or giving you possible mastitis, a breast inflammation.
Postpone and distract. Try postponing feeds if you are only feeding intermittently. When your toddler asks for the breast, tell her you'll feed her later and distract her. This method works well if you have an older child you can reason with. Instead of breastfeeding in the early evening, you could ask her to wait until bedtime.
I've been trying for a month to wean, and it's been nothing but a huge struggle.
If you've tried everything to wean your child and nothing is working, maybe the time isn't right. Have you recently gone back to work? Your child may still be adjusting to this new development. Has your child been sick? Often babies who are not feeling well will want to feed more often - in fact, breastfeeding may be in a sick child's best interest. Has your household gone through a major life change, such as a move to another area? Events such as these will also make weaning more difficult. If so, perhaps now is not the time to make another change in your child's life. Try again in another month. Sooner or later, it will happen.
Reviewed March 2006
I think this is time for my Umar. He's already 2 years and 3 months.No wonder our sunnah for breastfeeding is until 2 years.Its really hard to breastfeed 2 years toddler.My Umar is so lasak and he don't even want to drink formula when he is with me.I already put tamarind,NR oil but its not working.Tak makan saman!!!
I wish i can wean off him slowly and naturally.My Umar is so close to me and tak sampai hati......
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