Topic Overview
What is weaning?
Weaning is the term used to
describe the process of switching a baby from:
- Breast-feeding to
bottle-feeding.
- Breast- or bottle-feeding to a
cup.
- Breast- or bottle-feeding to solid foods.
Your baby will go through one or more of these weaning
processes. All types of weaning usually work best when they are done
gradually—over several weeks, months, or even longer.
Weaning a
baby from the breast is a big change for moms as well as for babies. Besides
affecting you physically, it may also affect you emotionally.
Some moms feel a little sad to lose some of the closeness that
breast-feeding provides. But you will also have more freedom, because others
can feed your baby. Don't be surprised if you feel both happy and sad that your
child is becoming more independent.
How do you know if your baby is ready to wean?
Signs that a baby is ready to wean often appear after the baby has
learned to crawl or learned to walk. Your breast-feeding baby may suck a few
times and then stop nursing. He or she may just start to lose interest in your
breast.
Bottle-fed babies who are ready to wean may start spitting
out the nipple or throwing or hiding the bottle before it is empty. Your baby
may show more interest in drinking from a cup.
When is the best time to wean?
There is no right
or wrong time. And there is no correct length of time that it should take. It
depends on how ready you and your child are to start weaning.
Some moms wait longer because they are not ready to give up the closeness
that breast-feeding brings. Others are ready to wean sooner or have
responsibilities or life changes that make it necessary.
Choose a
time when your child is ready. Try not to start weaning when your child or your
family is under stress. Stress can range from cutting a new tooth to moving to
a new house or starting a new day care program.
What is the best way to wean a baby?
Gradual
weaning is best for both babies and moms. Look for signs that your baby is
ready. When you are both ready, try dropping one feeding every 5 to 7 days.
This will help give you and your baby time to adjust to new ways of feeding. If
you are breast-feeding, gradual weaning helps keep your breasts from becoming
too full, a problem called
.