Stopping breastfeeding at 6 months: Breastfeeding – deciding when to stop

Опубликовано: March 19, 2023 в 6:29 pm

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Категории: Miscellaneous

Breastfeeding – deciding when to stop

Breastfeeding

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond.

Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning. It is up to you and your baby to decide when the time is right.

Some babies decrease the number of breastfeeds as they begin to commence solid feeds. The first foods are really educational tastes and not much food is ingested. Once they’re established on solids, and start taking 3 solid feeds a day, they start gaining the nutritional benefits from solids and rely more on them for their growth and development (around 9 months).

Breastmilk in the first year

Breastmilk contains all the nourishment needed to promote normal healthy growth and development in babies in their first 6 months of life and remains the most important food during their first year.

Solids during your baby’s first year complement breastmilk and do not replace breastfeeds. Your baby should still breastfeed on demand, as your breastmilk is their primary source of nutrition until closer to the end of their first year.

Babies weaned from breastmilk prior to their first birthday will need to be given infant formula. Please consult your maternal and child health nurse for further information on this.

Infant formulas are generally not necessary after the first 12 months, as your child should then be consuming a large range of foods including dairy products. If you need to replace a milk feed (breastfeed or formula), full cream cow’s milk can be used.

Breastfeeding benefits

Breastfeeding even for a short time is beneficial.

In the first few days after your baby’s birth, your breasts produce colostrum. This rich substance contains vital ingredients, including immunoglobulins and cells that help your baby’s immune system.

There is ample evidence that babies who are breastfed for the first 6 months of life do not experience as many (or as severe) episodes of common childhood illnesses. These include gastroenteritis, respiratory illnesses and middle ear infections.

Stopping breastfeeding early

Sometimes, weaning needs to happen earlier or more quickly than planned.

It is normal for a parent to feel sad when they wean, especially if it is earlier than expected. A parent may feel they have no choice but to wean. However, most breastfeeding difficulties can be overcome with help. An Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor, lactation consultant or maternal and child health nurse can offer you information and support.

Returning to the paid workforce need not mean having to wean. Many parents combine breastfeeding with part or full-time work, study and other commitments.

Take your time to wean your baby

Depending on your baby’s age and need for sucking, you can wean either to a cup or bottle. If you decide on a bottle, eventually your baby will need to be weaned from that.

Start with whichever breastfeed of the day your baby seems least interested in. If the breasts are uncomfortable when a feed is missed, you may need to express a small amount for comfort, to avoid blocked ducts or discomfort from fullness. Reduce either the time of expressing or volume removed over days for the breasts to adjust. Then cut out another breastfeed every few days or even each week, depending on your breast comfort and your baby’s willingness to cooperate.

The concentration of antibodies to bacterial and viral diseases in breastmilk is increased as weaning progresses and milk supply reduces. This ensures that your baby is protected as they are being introduced to new foods and exploring new surroundings.

Remember to give your baby plenty of cuddles during the weaning process so that you and your baby still have plenty of close time together.

Slowly reducing the number of breastfeeds protects your baby during the weaning period and will also help you avoid problems such as mastitis. If you need to wean your baby quickly, talk to a healthcare professional or a lactation consultant about caring for your breasts.

When to introduce solid foods

Breastmilk or infant formula should be your baby’s main source of nutrition for around the first year of life. Health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with a gradual introduction of appropriate foods in the second 6 months and ongoing breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond.

Babies show they are ready to start solids when they:

  • start showing interest when others are eating
  • start making gestures that seem to say ‘feed me too’
  • stop pushing out any food put in their mouth (disappearance of the tongue-thrust reflex)
  • start being able to hold their head up and sit without support.

Talk to your maternal and child health nurse about your baby’s readiness to eat.

Iron requirements

A baby born at full term has a store of iron passed on from the mother during pregnancy. You may be concerned about your baby’s store of iron running low at around 6 months of age. Breastmilk contains small amounts of readily absorbed iron, and recent studies have shown that the risk of iron deficiency is very low in full-term healthy breastfed babies who continue to breastfeed past 6 months as solids are introduced.

Breastfeeding while pregnant

If you become pregnant, you may choose to continue to breastfeed or you may like to gradually wean your baby. This is an individual choice. Whether or not you choose to continue breastfeeding, it is important to maintain a healthy diet.

Seek advice from your health professional or the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Extended breastfeeding

Some parents and babies enjoy breastfeeding so much they are in no hurry to stop. It is not unusual for children up to 4 years of age to continue to be breastfed.

Family members and friends may feel uncomfortable about extended breastfeeding and it can be helpful to have information to give your family and friends about why you have decided to keep breastfeeding. This may include information about the continued health benefits, security and comfort for your child.

The child who does not want to be weaned

You may be ready to cease breastfeeding, but your child may resist all your attempts to do so. Your approach will depend on your child’s age. There are many strategies for weaning a baby.

Unfortunately the child would need to be able to take a bottle, sippy cup, or straw cup comfortably before you are able to wean, to ensure they are able to take adequate feed volumes.

If your child can talk and understand well, talk with them about your breastfeeding. Explain that you are going to stop and introduce other ways that you can enjoy being close together. You could seek professional advice about weaning or difficulties associated with weaning.

Where to get help

  • Your maternal and child health nurse
  • Australian Breastfeeding Association Breastfeeding Helpline Tel. 1800 686 268
  • A lactation consultant – contact Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) Tel. (02) 9431 8621
  • Maternal Child Health Line Tel. 13 22 29 (24 hours, 7 days)
  • Your GP (doctor)

Weaning: When and how to stop breastfeeding

When’s the right time to stop breastfeeding your baby, and what’s the best way to do it? Read on for plenty of practical weaning advice







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Once you’ve established breastfeeding, how long should you continue? Three months? Six months? A year? Or several years?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health bodies recommend that babies are fed entirely on breast milk for their first six months of life and continue having their mother’s milk alongside other foods – known as complementary foods – until at least the age of two.1

This is because breast milk isn’t just food. A natural comforter if your child is worried or tired, it also contains immunity-boosting components that increase dramatically in number whenever she’s ill. 2

Anthropologists estimate the natural age for humans to stop breastfeeding is even higher than two. Looking at factors including tooth development, body weight, comparison with other primates and historical evidence, some say it could be two to four years, while others believe our ancestors might have been breastfed until the ages of six or seven.3

Today, more than 60% of mums in developed countries give their baby some formula or complementary food before the age of six months,4 even though WHO guidelines don’t recommend this. 

When’s the right time to start weaning my baby?

Weaning is the process of stopping feeding your baby with breast milk. Ideally, the first step towards weaning your baby is introducing complementary foods alongside your breast milk around the age of six months. The weaning process continues until breast milk is completely replaced by other foods and drinks.

“After six months, your baby begins to need higher levels of certain nutrients – such as iron, zinc and vitamins B and D – that she can’t get from your breast milk or her own reserves alone,” explains UK health visitor and nurse Sarah Beeson.

“But solid food will only complement your baby’s milk intake to start with, and replace it gradually. Breast milk will remain her major source of nutrients for many months to come.”

A typical seven-month-old still gets 93% of her calories from milk. Even at 11 to 16 months, milk may still provide around half her daily calorie intake.5

“Mums sometimes think breast milk isn’t important once their baby has started eating solids, but in fact there’s no better milk for her, however old she is,” says Sarah.

Indeed the entire weaning process can take as long as mum and baby want it to: “When to stop breastfeeding is your choice,” says Sarah. “Don’t feel pressured by what friends are doing or what family members – or even strangers – say. All that matters is what feels right for you and your baby.”

How to stop breastfeeding

Whenever you decide to start weaning your child off breast milk, it’s best to do it gradually. Stopping breastfeeding suddenly could put you at risk of engorgement, blocked ducts or mastitis, as well as being an abrupt change for your baby’s digestive and immune systems to cope with. It may also be difficult for you both emotionally.

Do I need to stop breastfeeding?

Sometimes mums mistakenly think they need to stop breastfeeding when they don’t. If you’re returning to work, breastfeeding can be a great way of maintaining intimacy during a big change in both your lives. You can express milk for your baby at work and keep nursing sessions as a special time together at the beginning and end of the day. Or if you need to travel without your baby, you could express milk to take or send home.

If you get ill, it doesn’t always mean you need to stop breastfeeding either – read our advice on breastfeeding while you’re sick and be sure to consult with your healthcare professional.

Stopping breastfeeding before six months

If you feel unable to continue breastfeeding until the six-month mark and want to try mother-led weaning, start by cutting out one breastfeed a day and replacing it with a bottle of formula.

“Ideally, start with the mid-day feed. Babies are remarkable and can identify the scent of their mother’s milk nearby, so ask your partner or a relative to give your baby the bottle while you are in another room,” says Sarah.

“Be mindful of good hygiene when preparing feeds. It may be that your baby takes fewer feeds of expressed breast milk than from the breast during a 24-hour period. Don’t force her to take more milk than she wants.”

You’ll probably notice your breasts feel full and tender as your body adjusts to producing less milk. If this becomes uncomfortable, try expressing a little breast milk – just enough to relieve the discomfort without stimulating your body to make more.

Once your body is used to this new volume – usually after a few days – cut out another feed each day. Repeat until you’re no longer breastfeeding and your baby is fully weaned.

“I had complications after my first birth which meant I lost a lot of weight very quickly and I also suffered with mastitis. My supply was low and at three months, I needed to stop,” says Jennifer, mum of two, UK. “I swapped one feed at a time so didn’t struggle too much physically, but I found it hard mentally.”

If you want to maintain the intimacy and health benefits of breastfeeding, but need to cut back, try partial weaning, where only some of the feeds are replaced with formula.

Stopping breastfeeding after six months

As your baby starts to have solid foods at around six months, you will find that her breastfeeds naturally become less frequent over time. Within a year she will probably be down to a couple of feeds a day, complemented by meals and healthy snacks.

However, if you’d like to cut back further, do it gradually, dropping one breastfeed at a time and offering your baby formula milk instead if she is less than 12 months old. Cow’s milk should wait until she is at least a year old.

“My son was down to three breastfeeds a day and having three meals plus snacks when I decided to start weaning him. I gradually replaced each feed with a bottle of formula – leaving the night one until last, at 11 months,” says Ruth, mum of one, UK. “The slow pace meant I had no problems, just a little fullness for a few days.”

There are various ways to distract your child from the change in her feeding patterns. Some mums offer a drink and a snack instead, which you could share to bring a feeling of closeness. You could also alter your daily routine, play a favourite game, or replace a feed with a cuddle from you or your partner.  Some children will take longer than others to feel happy with the change, but things will get easier over time. If you’re having any difficulties with weaning, it’s always helpful to seek support from your healthcare professional.

Stopping breastfeeding naturally over time

If you choose to let your toddler decide when to stop breastfeeding (known as baby-led weaning or natural-term breastfeeding), the weaning process is likely to be slow and gradual. Over the months, her feeds will probably become shorter and less frequent, while some mums report their child simply losing interest one day.

“My daughter self-weaned at four,” says Sarah, mum of one, UK. “She gradually slowed down and hardly fed at all from three-and-a-half. Then she seemed to forget when we were on holiday. Six months on, she sometimes wants to latch on, but knows the milk is gone.”

Your body should have plenty of time to adapt, so you’re unlikely to experience any uncomfortable engorgement. You may find it tough emotionally, though, so make time for plenty of cuddles and bonding moments.

“Baby-led weaning was right for me because my son had never had formula or a bottle. I didn’t want to stop suddenly and deny him,” says Kelly, mum of one, UK. “He lost interest at two-and-a-half. It was the best scenario for us, although I was quite emotional.”

What if I need to stop breastfeeding quickly?

Although it’s best not to stop breastfeeding abruptly, sometimes it’s necessary for health reasons, or because you and your baby can’t be together.

If your baby has been breastfed until this point, you’ll almost certainly need to express milk to avoid your breasts becoming uncomfortably engorged. Some women find a breast pump easiest for this, while others prefer to do it by hand. Again, only express enough to ease any discomfort – you don’t want to encourage your body to produce more milk.

While your breasts may feel swollen and tender at first, they will adapt. Your breast milk contains something called feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL). When your baby stops breastfeeding, FIL tells your body to slow production, but it may take a few days or even weeks for your breasts to adjust.

Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to relieve any pain (although ibuprofen has contraindications for those with asthma). Always follow the manufacturer’s and pharmacist’s guidance and consult a healthcare professional about any medications you need to take.

“I had to give up breastfeeding suddenly when my daughter was eight months old because I needed to take strong painkillers,” says Peggy, mum of one, Switzerland. “I found it very hard – she kept looking for my breast and crying. I held her tightly against me for reassurance while giving her a bottle. After a month, she seemed OK with it.”

Can I continue breastfeeding if I want to get pregnant again?

While breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive, it’s not foolproof. And it’s unlikely to be effective after six months, or if you’re not exclusively breastfeeding. This means you could conceive while still nursing your child.

Pregnant breastfeeding mums sometimes receive conflicting advice about whether to wean. Tandem feeding two children of different ages is certainly possible and when your new baby arrives, your body will produce milk to fit each of their needs.

Some mums find that their older child weans naturally during the pregnancy or drops certain feeds. This may be due to changes in the composition of your milk during pregnancy, which mean that it tastes different and less sweet.6 If your breastfeeding child is under a year old when she starts to wean, keep an eye on whether she continues to gain weight.

You should take advice from your healthcare professional if you want to continue breastfeeding while pregnant if you have previously had a premature birth, a miscarriage or are suffering any bleeding.

If you need medical help to conceive, you may find that doctors will not administer certain fertility drugs or treatments if you’re breastfeeding. Discuss all the options before making a decision on weaning.

The last word on baby weaning

Whenever and however you stop breastfeeding, be gentle with yourself and your baby. It’s a big shift physically, hormonally and emotionally for you both, so do it with thought and care.

“While my body coped with weaning fine, I felt very emotional. It was something we’d shared for so long and it had come to an end,” says Jane, mum of two, USA. “I was working long hours, five days a week, and breastfeeding made me feel very relevant in their lives. But when that stopped, we soon found other ways to bond.”

References

1 World Health Organisation. [Internet] Health Topics: Breastfeeding: 2018 [Accessed: 08.02.2018]. Available from: http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en

2 Hassiotou et al. Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl Immunology. 2013;2(4):e3.

3 Dettwyler KA. When to wean: biological versus cultural perspectives. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2004; 47(3)712-723.

4 Victora CG et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475-490.

5 Dewey KG et al. Breast milk volume and composition during late lactation (7-20 months). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1984;3(5):713-720.

6 Prosser CG et al. Mammary gland function during gradual weaning and early gestation in women. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci. 1984;62(Pt 2):215-228.

Stopping breastfeeding at 6 months

Stopping breastfeeding …

36 responses

Last –
Remove

#2

#3

6

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9,0003

#10

1. Rozhanya.

#11

1. Go to the forum of the Rozhany.

#12

#13,0003

#14

#18

Guest

another cuckoo mother, millionnafic children to give birth if you don’t want to feed???

#19

Anna

If you have the opportunity to sit at home for 3 years like a cash cow with a boob, good luck . … And others may also want to work and live !!!!

#20

#21

#22

#23

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#24

#25

9000 #26

Elena

What does cuckoo mean??? It’s you *****!!! to give birth that is necessary only in order to sit with a boob at the mouth of a child before he goes to grade 11 !!! I am also going to breastfeed for up to six months, but in general, to be honest, I don’t like this whole topic with boobs, I don’t understand those who get high from guards directly, and with foam at the mouth proves that this is all a woman is needed for !!! They describe some kind of mythical benefit, now such mixtures can be more useful than your “empty” milk, and in general with this guards the child’s tummy hurts and don’t understand what it pours out on, and this gang of titties propagandizes more consumption of calories in day, that is, you must become a fat cash cow for the Guards period and for your man to run away to another slender “cuckoo” !!! Sometimes I have the impression that the guards are propagandized by fat women so that everyone becomes the same as they are, I don’t see another explanation for such a schizophrenic love for the guards !!!!

#27

Elena

What does cuckoo mean??? It’s you *****!!! to give birth that is necessary only in order to sit with a boob at the mouth of a child before he goes to grade 11 !!! I am also going to breastfeed for up to six months, but in general, to be honest, I don’t like this whole topic with boobs, I don’t understand those who get high from guards directly, and with foam at the mouth proves that this is all a woman is needed for !!! They describe some kind of mythical benefit, now such mixtures can be more useful than your “empty” milk, and in general with this guards the child’s tummy hurts and don’t understand what it pours out on, and this gang of titties propagandizes more consumption of calories in day, that is, you must become a fat cash cow for the Guards period and for your man to run away to another slender “cuckoo” !!! Sometimes I have the impression that the guards are propagandized by fat women so that everyone becomes the same as they are, I don’t see another explanation for such a schizophrenic love for the guards !!!!

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#28

av

I think it’s okay to stop feeding completely until 6 months. I stopped on the same day at 5 months. And he didn’t ask for more… It’s you *****!!! to give birth that is necessary only in order to sit with a boob at the mouth of a child before he goes to grade 11 !!! I am also going to breastfeed for up to six months, but in general, to be honest, I don’t like this whole topic with boobs, I don’t understand those who get high from guards directly, and with foam at the mouth proves that this is all a woman is needed for !!! They describe some kind of mythical benefit, now such mixtures can be more useful than your “empty” milk, and in general with this guards the child’s tummy hurts and don’t understand what it pours out on, and this gang of titties propagandizes more consumption of calories in day, that is, you must become a fat cash cow for the Guards period and for your man to run away to another slender “cuckoo” !!! Sometimes I have the impression that the guards are propagandized by fat women so that everyone becomes the same as they are, I don’t see another explanation for such a schizophrenic love for the guards !!!!

#28

ab

I think it’s normal to stop breastfeeding completely before 6 months. I stopped on the same day at 5 months. And he didn’t ask for more… for nursing, unless of course there is a hereditary disposition to fullness.

#31

Ksenya

That diet is just exhausting, too, so that you want to quit guards, have a normal tasty meal and forget everything like a bad dream! I have been on this damn diet for 4.5 months now, and I no longer have the strength! I have always been thin 45 kg, but now it’s scary to look at all, it looks like an anorexic! I eat lean soups, buckwheat and cry, I dream of sweets, of cake, and I hate guards! If I lived separately from my mother, and no one would put pressure on me and force me to feed my boobs, I would have transferred the child to the mixture long ago! I don’t see any panacea in breast milk, the “yazhemamki” are enraged, screaming everywhere about the fucking benefits of guards! Phew, sore . .)
I am also going to quit by 6 months and switch to formula. Mom has already dedicated to the plans, swears, but this time I will not back down. I look forward to that beautiful day when I experience a gastronomic orgasm from a devoured cake!

#32

Ksenya

That diet is just exhausting, too, so that you want to quit guards, eat normally and forget everything like a bad dream! I have been on this damn diet for 4.5 months now, and I no longer have the strength! I have always been thin 45 kg, but now it’s scary to look at all, it looks like an anorexic! I eat lean soups, buckwheat and cry, I dream of sweets, of cake, and I hate guards! If I lived separately from my mother, and no one would put pressure on me and force me to feed my boobs, I would have transferred the child to the mixture long ago! I don’t see any panacea in breast milk, the “yazhemamki” are enraged, screaming everywhere about the fucking benefits of guards! Phew, sore . .)
I am also going to quit by 6 months and switch to formula. Mom has already dedicated to the plans, swears, but this time I will not back down. I look forward to that beautiful day when I experience a gastronomic orgasm from a devoured cake!

#33

Alena

Girls we are 5 months old I have breast problems a lot of milk I go every morning to pumping to the clinic and throughout the day I pump for a very long time already 42 kg lost a lot of milk in the freezer drank a lot already 4 tablets to suppress lactation nothing helped the doctors in shock and I also how to stop breastfeeding when the child does not want to give water from a bottle

#34

HELEN.MASSARO

go to the pediatrician for a consultation. sucked only the breast, they gave up only 1 month ago, and he is three years old. Good luck.

#35

Ksenya

That diet is just exhausting, too, so that you want to quit guards, eat normally and forget everything like a bad dream! I have been on this damn diet for 4.5 months now, and I no longer have the strength! I have always been thin 45 kg, but now it’s scary to look at all, it looks like an anorexic! I eat lean soups, buckwheat and cry, I dream of sweets, of cake, and I hate guards! If I lived separately from my mother, and no one would put pressure on me and force me to feed my boobs, I would have transferred the child to the mixture long ago! I don’t see any panacea in breast milk, the “yazhemamki” are enraged, screaming everywhere about the fucking benefits of guards! Phew, sore ..)
I am also going to quit by 6 months and switch to formula. Mom has already dedicated to the plans, swears, but this time I will not back down. I look forward to that beautiful day when I experience a gastronomic orgasm from a devoured cake! #37

Guest I don’t follow any diets, trying not to eat harmful foods (although it doesn’t always work out) and I drink a bunch of vitamins. And it’s all right. By the way, breastfeeding diets are recommendations only from post-Soviet countries.

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The doctor “SM-Doctor” told me how to properly wean a child from the breast

The baby is crying, the chest is full, but you are determined to curtail breastfeeding. There can be many reasons: it’s time to go to work, it’s time to send the child to the garden, the state of health, and even “I just decided so. ”

Weaning can be a real test of strength for the whole family: there are times when children completely refuse to give up their breasts and simply tyrannize their mother, almost tearing off her clothes. Is it possible to avoid problems along the way? How to make the process as comfortable as possible for mom and baby? Parents.ru learned from an expert what mistakes mothers make when weaning a baby.

Tatyana Kuznetsova
pediatrician, nephrologist, breastfeeding consultant at the SM-Doctor clinic in Maryina Roshcha.

Too early

Breastfeeding is a very short period in a child’s life. It would be ideal to supplement the child until the age when his need for attachments fades by itself. The age at which the child himself, without mother’s help and serious efforts on her part, is ready to give up breastfeeding usually comes after three years. Mom’s body is ready to complete lactation earlier – already in 1. 5-2 years of the baby.

Completion of lactation at an earlier date is not physiological and, as a rule, is associated with errors and diseases:

  • infrequent feedings,
  • by adding water,
  • early feeding,
  • cracked nipples,
  • lactostasis,
  • mastitis and, as a result, lack of milk and underweight of the child,
  • or maternal health problems.

Weaning before 1-1.5 years is possible, both planned and emergency, and, as a rule, there are good reasons for this: hospitalization of the mother, the need to take medications that are incompatible with feeding the child, situations in the family that require the mother to leave, and others unseen circumstances.

Too fast

First of all, it is very important to determine how ready a particular mother-baby couple is to complete breastfeeding. The readiness of the mother’s body is easy to determine. The main indicator is how the breast is filled with milk during a long (up to 12-24 hours) break in the attachment of the baby. If a mother has not fed her child for several hours, and her breasts do not fill up to discomfort and do not need to be pumped, then the mother is ready.

As for the baby, it is considered that the child is ready if he has only 1-3 attachments per day and at the same time he does not suck on nipples (pacifiers, bottles), pens, toys, rags, clothes, bottom sponge, etc. . In all other cases, it is necessary to gradually reduce the number of applications to 1-3 per day, and only then take the last step.

If the baby is already 1.5 years old, you can try to prepare him for weaning gradually. For this, children older than one and a half years require at least two months. Smooth weaning consists of several stages, each of which can take about 1-2 weeks.

  • Cut down on latching while your baby is awake, remove ‘bored latching’. Do not provoke the baby: do not change clothes in front of him, do not walk in underwear, do not sit idle in the presence of the child.
  • Put your baby to bed without breastfeeding.
  • Next, remove the evening falling asleep under the breasts. First, take the breast from the baby if he fell asleep after pumping, but still holds it in his mouth.

Get up early in the morning before your child. Distract to extraneous things, offer to play, look out the window. One fine day, the baby will simply forget to breastfeed in the morning.

In the gradual process of weaning, the most important thing is not to rush things and follow the rule “one step forward, two steps back.” Then your weaning will be smooth and painless.

Too radical

Among mothers, extremely traumatic methods of weaning a child from the breast are still practiced – “pulling the breast”, taking drugs that suppress lactation, lubricating the nipples with brilliant green or mustard, leaving home for a day or two / weekends. As a result, this leads to hormonal imbalance, lactostasis and even mastitis in mothers and serious psychological trauma in children. For a child, weaning is a very difficult period in life, and the mother must be there, compensating for the lack of breasts with her attention, affection and care.

It is also important to take into account that the time of weaning should not coincide with a vacation, a move, a mother’s going to work or a baby in a kindergarten, the appearance of a nanny in the house, a child’s teething, a baby’s illness. In this case, it is better to wean the child 2-3 months before the planned event, or 2-3 months after.
The cessation of breastfeeding should not take place simultaneously with the resettlement of the baby in a separate bed, especially a room. With this it is better to wait 3-4 months. And another factor that you should pay attention to is the psycho-emotional state of the baby. If he is now having a difficult period, he is rebellious or often naughty, it is also better to wait a bit with excommunication.

Too dangerous

Stopping breastfeeding at a stage when the mother’s body is not yet ready for this can lead to serious consequences for her health. In the best case, the mother will be forced to pump regularly for some time. There may also be pain, engorgement of the mammary glands, the development of lactostasis, which is quite difficult for a mother to cope with without the help of a baby. In addition, such an unplanned hormonal restructuring by the body can provoke the development of depressive conditions, as well as prolonged (up to several years!) The release of milk from the mammary glands after the cessation of breastfeeding.

What if…

…doesn’t work

By reducing the number of daytime attachments, nighttime attachments may become longer and more frequent for a while. If after a couple of weeks the situation does not change, this most likely means that the child is still difficult to come to terms with such restrictions. In such a situation with weaning, it may be better to wait.

When a baby begins to suck on his thumb, bottom lip, or anything else, these symptoms cannot be ignored.